111 The Lord spoke again to Moses and to Aaron , saying to them, 2 "Speak to the sons of Israel , saying , ' These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth . 3 'Whatever divides a hoof , thus making split hoofs , and chews the cud , among the animals , that you may eat . 4 'Nevertheless , you are not to eat of these , among those which chew the cud , or among those which divide the hoof : the camel , for though it chews cud , it does not divide the hoof , it is unclean to you. 5 'Likewise, the shaphan , for though it chews cud , it does not divide the hoof , it is unclean to you; 6 the rabbit also, for though it chews cud , it does not divide the hoof , it is unclean to you; 7 and the pig , for though it divides the hoof , thus making a split hoof , it does not chew cud , it is unclean to you. 8 'You shall not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses ; they are unclean to you.
9 ' These you may eat , whatever e is in the water : all that have fins and scales , those in the water , in the seas or in the rivers , you may eat . 10 ' But whatever e is in the seas and in the rivers that does not have fins and scales among all the teeming life of the water , and among all the living creatures that are in the water , they are detestable things to you, 11 and they shall be abhorrent to you; you may not eat of their flesh , and their carcasses you shall detest . 12 'Whatever e in the water does not have fins and scales is abhorrent to you. 13 'These , moreover, you shall detest among the birds ; they are abhorrent , not to be eaten : the eagle and the vulture and the buzzard , 14 and the kite and the falcon in its kind , 15 every raven in its kind , 16 and the ostrich and the owl and the sea gull and the hawk in its kind , 17 and the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl , 18 and the white owl and the pelican and the carrion vulture , 19 and the stork , the heron in its kinds , and the hoopoe , and the bat .
20 'All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. 21 'Yet these you may eat among all the winged insects which walk on all fours : those which have above e their feet jointed legs with which to jump on the earth . 22 'These of them you may eat : the locust in its kinds , and the devastating locust in its kinds , and the cricket in its kinds , and the grasshopper in its kinds . 23 'But all other winged insects which are four-footed e are detestable to you. 24 'By these , moreover, you will be made unclean : whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening , 25 and whoever picks up any of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 11:1-25
Chapter Contents
What animals were clean and unclean.
These laws seem to have been intended, 1. As a test of the people's obedience, as Adam was forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge; and to teach them self-denial, and the government of their appetites. 2. To keep the Israelites distinct from other nations. Many also of these forbidden animals were objects of superstition and idolatry to the heathen. 3. The people were taught to make distinctions between the holy and unholy in their companions and intimate connexions. 4. The law forbad, not only the eating of the unclean beasts, but the touching of them. Those who would be kept from any sin, must be careful to avoid all temptations to it, or coming near it. The exceptions are very minute, and all were designed to call forth constant care and exactness in their obedience; and to teach us to obey. Whilst we enjoy our Christian liberty, and are free from such burdensome observances, we must be careful not to abuse our liberty. For the Lord hath redeemed and called his people, that they may be holy, even as he is holy. We must come out, and be separate from the world; we must leave the company of the ungodly, and all needless connexions with those who are dead in sin; we must be zealous of good works devoted followers of God, and companions of his people.