Keraia
Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:31

Clean and Unclean Animals · Leviticus 11:1–47
Read Leviticus 11

Translations

Modern
These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.
Traditional
These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
Literal
These are unclean to you among every swarming thing; anyone who touches them in their death shall be unclean until the evening.
Latin
Omnia hæc immunda sunt. Qui tetigerit morticina eorum, immundus erit usque ad vesperum:

Original

Hebrew
English
These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.

Notes

Leviticus 11:29–31

This list of ceremonially unclean creatures that crawl includes both warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals that move along the ground. Snakes are also part of this group (Leviticus 11:42).

Leviticus 11:1–15:33

These chapters explain the rules about purity. Mixing different types of animals was forbidden (see Deuteronomy 22:9–11). This is because it opposed God's natural order. Creatures like fish without fins and scales, meat-eating animals, crawling insects, and animals without split hooves were considered "abnormal." They crossed the boundaries between "normal" types and were not suitable for food or offerings (see also Deuteronomy 14:1–21). The dietary laws intended to set Israel apart as a holy people from other nations (Leviticus 11:44–45).

Parallels

Deuteronomy 14:1–21 Acts 10:9–16

Glossary

Animals Biblical Concept of Law Buzzard Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Deuteronomy, Book of Dietary Laws Frog Gecko Gospel of Matthew History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Lizard Medicine and Medical Practice

Topics

Creeping Things: A General Term for Animals Creeping Things: Unclean Defilement: Caused by Touching Carcass of an Unclean Thing Food: Things Prohibited As Food Reptiles: Unclean and not Eaten Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Disinfection Sanitation: Food