1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
15 Every raven after his kind;
16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind,
17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.
20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.
25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
26 The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.
28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.
29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.
33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.
34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.
35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.
36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.
37 And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.
38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.
39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.
40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
Leviticus is the third book of the Old Testament and is considered to be the central book of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It is attributed to Moses and contains instructions and laws given by God to the Israelites during their journey in the wilderness. Chapter 11 of Leviticus deals with the laws of clean and unclean animals, and is often referred to as the "dietary laws" or "food laws" of the Israelites. This chapter is significant in understanding the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Israelites and their relationship with God. In this essay, we will explore the main themes and meanings of Leviticus Chapter 11 in the KJV Holy Bible.
The first half of Leviticus Chapter 11 outlines the laws of clean and unclean animals. These laws were given by God to the Israelites to regulate their consumption of food and maintain their spiritual purity. According to these laws, certain animals were considered clean and could be eaten, while others were considered unclean and were forbidden to be consumed. The clean animals included cattle, sheep, goats, and certain types of fish and birds, while the unclean animals included pigs, camels, and various types of insects and reptiles. These dietary restrictions were meant to serve as a reminder to the Israelites that they were a holy and chosen people, set apart by God.
The chapter also mentions the characteristics of clean and unclean animals. Clean animals were those that had cloven hooves and chewed the cud, while unclean animals did not possess these traits. This distinction was a way for the Israelites to easily identify which animals were permissible for consumption and which were not. The Israelites were also instructed to avoid touching the carcasses of unclean animals, as it would make them unclean and in turn, impure before God.
The dietary laws outlined in Leviticus Chapter 11 serve as a symbol of the Israelites' relationship with God. By following these laws, the Israelites were showing their obedience and devotion to God. It was a way for them to physically demonstrate their faith and commitment to God's commandments. These laws also set the Israelites apart from other nations, as their dietary restrictions were unique and distinct. In this way, the Israelites were reminded of their chosen status and their special relationship with God.
Another important aspect of the dietary laws is the emphasis on cleanliness and purity. The Israelites were required to be physically and spiritually clean in order to approach and worship God. This emphasis on purity also extended to their food choices, as consuming unclean animals would make them unclean and unable to participate in religious rituals and ceremonies. The dietary laws served as a constant reminder to the Israelites to maintain their moral and spiritual purity.
The dietary laws in Leviticus Chapter 11 have often been a topic of debate and controversy, especially in relation to the teachings of the New Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus declares that it is not what goes into a person's mouth that defiles them, but what comes out of it (Matthew 15:11). This statement is often interpreted as a dismissal of the dietary laws and their significance. However, it is important to note that Jesus did not abolish the laws, but rather fulfilled them through his sacrifice and teachings. In the book of Acts, the apostle Peter also receives a vision in which he is told that all animals are now clean and can be consumed (Acts 10:9-16). This further emphasizes the idea that the dietary laws were meant to serve a purpose during a specific time period and were fulfilled by the coming of Jesus.
Additionally, in the New Testament, the concept of spiritual cleanliness and purity is emphasized over physical cleanliness. Jesus teaches that it is not external actions, such as following dietary laws, that make a person pure, but rather their inner thoughts and intentions (Mark 7:14-23). This does not diminish the importance of following God's commandments, but rather highlights the need for a pure heart and mind in order to truly please God.
As Christians, it can be easy to overlook the laws and regulations outlined in Leviticus Chapter 11, as they seem outdated and irrelevant in our modern society. However, it is important to remember that these laws were given by God to the Israelites for a specific purpose and hold significance in understanding the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Israelites. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of obedience and purity in our relationship with God.
The dietary laws in Leviticus Chapter 11 may also have practical health benefits. Many of the animals that were considered unclean, such as pigs and shellfish, are known to carry diseases and parasites that can be harmful to humans. By following these dietary restrictions, the Israelites were also protecting themselves from potential health risks.
Furthermore, the concept of spiritual purity and the emphasis on inner thoughts and intentions is still relevant today. It serves as a reminder for Christians to focus on their spiritual well-being and to prioritize their relationship with God above external actions. In this way, Leviticus Chapter 11 continues to hold meaning and relevance in our lives today.
Leviticus Chapter 11 is a significant chapter in the KJV Holy Bible, as it outlines the laws of clean and unclean animals given by God to the Israelites. These laws hold symbolic and practical significance and serve as a reminder of the Israelites' relationship with God and the importance of obedience and purity. While the dietary laws may no longer be applicable in the same way in our modern society, the underlying themes and principles still hold relevance in our lives as Christians. Leviticus Chapter 11 serves as a reminder to prioritize our spiritual well-being and to remain obedient to God's commandments.
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