Leviticus 11:32

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

Translations

Modern
When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And on all that, from their death, it falls, shall be unclean. From every vessel of wood, or garment, or skin, or sackcloth. Every vessel in which work is done, it must be put in the water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; and it shall be clean.
Latin
…et super quod ceciderit quidquam de morticinis eorum, polluetur, tam vas ligneum et vestimentum, quam pelles et cilicia: et in quocumque fit opus, tingentur aqua, et polluta erunt usque ad vesperum, et sic postea mundabuntur.

Original

Hebrew
English
When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.

Notes

Dead animals could make objects and people ceremonially unclean. Even a ceremonially clean animal that died without its blood drained was unclean (Leviticus 11:39–40). If a person touched the body of a dead animal, they were unclean until evening. Household items that touched the body of a dead animal needed purification or the people had to destroy the items (11:25, 28, 32, 40; 11:33, 35).

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 Gecko Gospel of Matthew History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Lizard Medicine and Medical Practice Sackcloth

Topics

Creeping Things: Unclean Defilement: Caused by Touching Carcass of an Unclean Thing Dress: Ceremonial Purification of Food: Things Prohibited As Food Garments: Cleansed by Water from Ceremonial Uncleanness Sanitation: Carcasses Sanitation: Contagion Sanitation: Disinfection Sanitation: Food