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Leviticus 11 Clean and Unclean Animals

1 Clean and Unclean Food
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:

3 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

4 “‘There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.

5 The coney, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.

6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.

7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.

8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

9 “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.

10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to detest.

11 And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses.

12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.

13 “‘These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,

14 the red kite, any kind of black kite,

15 any kind of raven,

16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.

20 “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

21 There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.

22 Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper.

23 But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest.

24 “‘You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.

25 Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean till evening.

26 “‘Every animal that has a split hoof not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean.

27 Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.

28 Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean till evening. They are unclean for you.

29 “‘Of the animals that move about on the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard,

30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon.

31 Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.

32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean.

33 If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot.

34 Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any liquid that could be drunk from it is unclean.

35 Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean.

36 A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean.

37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean.

38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39 “‘If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean till evening.

40 Anyone who eats some of the carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean till evening.

41 “‘Every creature that moves about on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten.

42 You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable.

43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.

44 I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.

45 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46 “‘These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground.

47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.’”

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Analysis of Leviticus Chapter 11

Leviticus Chapter 11 deals extensively with the laws of clean and unclean animals, establishing dietary regulations for the Israelites. This chapter is a part of the Holiness Code, which emphasizes the sanctity and distinctiveness of God’s chosen people. By distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, the Israelites were to maintain their holiness and purity, symbolizing their separation from other nations. Here is a detailed analysis of Leviticus Chapter 11:

The Classification of Animals (Verses 1-8)

The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses and Aaron, instructing them to relay His commandments to the Israelites:

“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you. The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.'” (Leviticus 11:2-8)

The Criteria for Land Animals

First and foremost, the criteria for land animals are that they must have both a divided hoof and chew the cud to be considered clean. This signifies that only certain animals were acceptable for consumption, narrowing down the options significantly. The distinctions highlight the importance of ritual purity and the daily choices of the Israelites, as these laws demanded constant awareness and obedience.

Examples of Unclean Animals

The passage provides specific examples of animals that do not meet the criteria: the camel, hyrax, rabbit, and pig. Despite the camel chewing the cud, it does not have a divided hoof. Similarly, the hyrax and rabbit chew the cud but lack divided hooves. The pig, although it has a divided hoof, does not chew the cud. These specific prohibitions indicate that partial observance of dietary criteria was insufficient for maintaining ritual purity.

Furthermore, the stipulation that one must not eat the meat or touch the carcasses of these animals emphasizes the seriousness of adhering to these regulations. The contact with unclean animals rendered an individual ceremonially unclean, necessitating purification rituals to restore cleanliness.

Sea Creatures (Verses 9-12)

The next section addresses sea creatures, establishing a clear boundary between clean and unclean aquatic life:

“Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.” (Leviticus 11:9-12)

Criteria for Water Animals

For water creatures to be deemed clean, they must possess both fins and scales. This criteria excludes a variety of sea life, including shellfish, mollusks, and other non-scalar creatures. These dietary laws reinforced the distinctiveness of the Israelites by forbidding the consumption of common delicacies in surrounding cultures.

Unclean Aquatic Life

The text reiterates that sea creatures lacking fins and scales are not only prohibited from being eaten but must also be regarded as unclean to the touch. This reinforces the holistic approach to purity in the Israelite community, underscoring what they consumed and interacted with.

Birds and Insects (Verses 13-23)

The dietary laws continue with prohibitions against certain birds and instructions about which insects can be regarded as clean:

“These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.” (Leviticus 11:13-19)

Prohibited Birds

The enumeration of specific unclean birds includes birds of prey, scavengers, and other species considered impure. The restrictions perhaps relate to the habits and diets of these birds, associating them with death and decay, which are antithetical to holiness and life.

Clean Insects

“All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you. There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. But all other flying insects that have four legs you are to regard as unclean.” (Leviticus 11:20-23)

Interestingly, the allowances for certain edible insects highlight the nuanced nature of dietary laws. While most flying insects are deemed unclean, exceptions are made for those with jointed legs for hopping. This distinction showcases the specificity of the commandments and the cultural practice of consuming locusts and similar insects.

Contact with Carcasses and Its Consequences (Verses 24-40)

This section elaborates on the implications of touching the carcasses of unclean animals:

“You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.” (Leviticus 11:24-25)

Ritual Impurity

The contact with carcasses of unclean animals rendered a person unclean until evening, necessitating a cleansing process. This underscores the importance of maintaining ritual purity and the temporary nature of uncleanness. The prescribed washing of clothes after handling a carcass emphasizes hygiene and the visible separation from impurity.

Guidelines for Handling Carcasses

“Every animal that does not have a divided hoof or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. These animals are unclean for you.” (Leviticus 11:26-28)

Additionally, specific prohibitions regarding animals that walk on paws underline the comprehensive nature of these regulations. The consistent instructions for washing and the duration of uncleanness highlight the broader rhythm of life that included these purity laws.

Additional Prohibitions

“Of the animals that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon. Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.” (Leviticus 11:29-31)

The inclusion of various reptiles and small creatures reiterates the breadth of unclean animals. The all-encompassing nature of these rules illustrates the comprehensive nature of maintaining ritual purity.

Contamination Through Contact (Verses 41-43)

Verses 41-43 address the broader concept of contamination through contact with certain animals:

“Every creature that moves along the ground is to be regarded as unclean; it is not to be eaten. You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean. Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.” (Leviticus 11:41-43)

Total Prohibition on Ground Creatures

The comprehensive ban on creatures that move along the ground emphasizes the need to avoid any contact or consumption of these beings to preserve holiness. The explicit instructions not to defile oneself through these creatures reflect the overarching theme of purity required for the Israelites to be in communion with God.

Holiness and Distinction (Verses 44-47)

The concluding verses focus on the theological rationale behind these dietary laws:

“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.'” (Leviticus 11:44-47)

The Call to Holiness

God establishes the foundation for these dietary regulations by declaring His own holiness. The Israelites are called to be holy as God is holy, reflecting His character in their daily lives. The dietary laws serve as practical expressions of this holiness, setting the Israelites apart from other nations.

The reference to the Exodus — “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt” — serves as a reminder of God’s redemptive act and His ongoing relationship with His people. This reminder underscores that their obedience to these regulations is a response to God’s deliverance and an act of covenantal faithfulness.

Distinguishing Between the Clean and Unclean

The final verses summarize the regulations, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between clean and unclean creatures. This distinction is not merely a matter of diet but symbolizes the broader calling of the Israelites to live distinct and consecrated lives. Adherence to these laws was a tangible demonstration of their commitment to God’s covenant and their identity as His chosen people.

Conclusion

Leviticus Chapter 11, with its detailed dietary laws, serves as a potent reminder of the Israelites’ call to holiness, purity, and distinctiveness. The meticulous classification of animals, prohibitions on contact with unclean carcasses, and the constant emphasis on purity illustrate the depth of their commitment to God. These laws are rooted not only in physical health but also in spiritual symbolism, marking the Israelites as a people set apart for God’s purposes. As we reflect on this chapter, it invites us to consider how our daily choices and actions reflect our own commitment to holiness and faithfulness in our respective walks of life.