Deuteronomy 14:8 kjv
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.
Deuteronomy 14:8 nkjv
Also the swine is unclean for you, because it has cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud; you shall not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.
Deuteronomy 14:8 niv
The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
Deuteronomy 14:8 esv
And the pig, because it parts the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch.
Deuteronomy 14:8 nlt
And you may not eat the pig. It has split hooves but does not chew the cud, so it is ceremonially unclean for you. You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses.
Deuteronomy 14 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 7:2 | Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee...and of beasts that are not clean by two. | Distinguishing clean/unclean animals early. |
| Lev 11:7-8 | And the swine, though he divide the hoof...yet he cheweth not the cud, he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. | Parallel and fuller decree on swine's uncleanness. |
| Isa 65:4 | Which remain among the graves...eating swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels. | Describes rebellious people defiling themselves with swine's flesh. |
| Isa 66:17 | They that sanctify themselves...eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. | Judgment against those who practice these defiling acts. |
| Acts 10:13-15 | Rise, Peter; kill, and eat...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. | Peter's vision declaring all foods clean through Christ. |
| Acts 10:28 | Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation...God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. | Connects food laws to purity and fellowship, pointing to Gentiles. |
| Acts 11:7-9 | The same words repeated to Peter's recounting of the vision. | Reinforcement of the New Covenant's inclusiveness regarding food. |
| Mark 7:19 | Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly...purging all meats. | Jesus declares all foods clean, emphasizing internal purity over external rules. |
| Rom 14:14 | I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself... | Paul teaches on liberty concerning dietary restrictions for believers. |
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. | Spiritual priorities over external regulations for Christians. |
| 1 Cor 8:8 | But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. | Food choices do not affect one's standing with God. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink...which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. | Ceremonial laws (including food) are a shadow fulfilled in Christ. |
| 1 Tim 4:3-5 | Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving...for every creature of God is good. | Warning against false teachings that forbid certain foods. |
| Ezek 4:14 | Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. | Ezekiel's adherence to dietary laws, even under duress. |
| 2 Mac 6:18 | Eleazar...was compelled to open his mouth wide and to eat swine's flesh. | An example of Jewish refusal to eat unclean meat under dusecution. |
| Gen 1:29-30 | God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed...and every tree...to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth...I have given every green herb for meat. | Initial dietary permission, predating specific clean/unclean laws for Noah/Moses. |
| Gen 9:3 | Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. | Expanded dietary permission after the flood, a general statement before Mosaic Law. |
| Deu 14:3 | Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. | General introductory statement to the dietary laws, framing them as avoiding abominations. |
| Lev 10:10 | And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean. | The overall purpose of purity laws is to distinguish, central to covenant. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. | Highlights God's unchanging nature, while laws change to reflect progress in redemptive history. |
Deuteronomy 14 verses
Deuteronomy 14 8 Meaning
Deuteronomy 14:8 explicitly states the prohibition against eating or even touching the dead body of a pig (swine). This animal is declared "unclean" because while it possesses one characteristic of clean land animals (a divided hoof), it lacks the other necessary characteristic (chewing the cud). This detailed specification underscores the divine criteria for determining ritual purity and separation for the people of Israel.
Deuteronomy 14 8 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 14 belongs to a section of laws reiterating and expanding upon the Mosaic Covenant given at Sinai, preparing the Israelites for life in the Promised Land. The overarching theme of this chapter, stated in verse 2, is that Israel is "a holy people to the Lord your God." The preceding verses (14:1-2) deal with cultic practices that defile this holiness (like self-mutilation for the dead, a pagan practice). Immediately following, the chapter shifts to dietary laws (14:3-21), presenting clean and unclean foods as a fundamental aspect of their distinct identity. This section establishes boundaries for daily life, reinforcing the idea of separation from surrounding Canaanite cultures, whose religious practices and food customs differed significantly. The detailed regulations for what could and could not be eaten underscored Israel's unique status as a consecrated nation set apart by God.
Deuteronomy 14 8 Word analysis
- And the swine (וְהַחֲזִיר - vəhaḥăzîr): Refers to the domestic pig. This animal held a particularly low status among ancient Semitic peoples and was often associated with idolatry or considered disgusting. Its mention here highlights a significant point of distinction from surrounding cultures where pork might have been consumed, particularly by Egyptians or Canaanites, but strongly forbidden for Israel.
- because it divideth the hoof (כִּי מַפְרִיס פַּרְסָה - kî maphrîs parsâ): This means the hoof is completely cloven, or split. It fulfills one of the two requirements for a clean land animal. This detail shows a specific, not arbitrary, divine criteria.
- yet divideth not the cud (וְגֵרָה לֹא יִגָּרֵר - vəgērâ lō’ yiḡārer): This specifies the second characteristic. "Cud" refers to partially digested food brought up from the stomach to be chewed again (rumination). Animals like cows, sheep, and goats ruminate. Swine do not. This omission of the second trait is key to its "unclean" status.
- it is unclean (טָמֵא הִוא - ṭāmē’ hî’): Meaning ritually impure or defiled. This uncleanness is not primarily about hygiene (though it had health benefits) but about ceremonial separation and holiness before God. To consume it would ceremonially defile the eater.
- unto you (לָכֶם - lâḵem): Emphasizes that this law is specifically for Israel, reinforcing their unique covenant relationship and calling to be distinct.
- ye shall not eat of their flesh (לֹא תֹאכְלוּ מִבְּשָׂרָם - lō’ ṯōḵəlû mibbesârâm): A strict prohibition on consumption, indicating a fundamental dietary restriction tied to their covenant identity.
- nor touch their dead carcase (וּבְנִבְלָתָם לֹא תִגָּעוּ - ûḇəniḇlāṯām lō’ ṯiḡḡā‘û): This extends the prohibition beyond consumption to physical contact with a dead pig. Touching an unclean animal's carcass rendered a person ritually impure, requiring cleansing rituals before re-entry into the camp or participation in worship. This detail demonstrates the pervasive nature of the purity laws.
Words-group analysis
- "dividing the hoof" AND "not chewing the cud": This phrase defines the specific biological criteria for an unclean animal in Israelite law. It highlights a precise, divinely instituted distinction rather than a general, undefined dislike. It implies that conformity to God's standard is not partial but complete.
- "unclean unto you": This declaration makes the pig intrinsically "not holy" for Israel. This status of impurity mandates complete separation and signifies the divine distinction Israel was to maintain in all aspects of life, not merely dietary choices. The dietary laws serve as a tangible symbol of their covenantal distinctiveness and call to holiness.
- "ye shall not eat... nor touch": This double prohibition emphasizes the total avoidance commanded. It speaks to both internal defilement (eating) and external defilement (touching a carcass), covering all forms of engagement that would compromise ritual purity and communal holiness.
Deuteronomy 14 8 Bonus section
The strictness concerning swine might also stem from its symbolic association in the ancient Near East. Some scholars suggest that the pig, known for wallowing in mud and consuming refuse, was perceived as the epitome of impurity, thus becoming a particularly potent symbol of what God desired His people to be set apart from. Additionally, its high fat content and propensity for parasites in ancient times could have made it less healthful than other common meat sources, though again, this was likely a secondary consideration to the primary theological rationale. The New Covenant reinterprets these laws, showing that while God's character (holiness) remains unchanging, the means by which humanity relates to that holiness have evolved through Christ. The shift from physical dietary restrictions to spiritual principles emphasizes the universal nature of the church and salvation for all nations.
Deuteronomy 14 8 Commentary
Deuteronomy 14:8, focusing on the swine, reiterates a key dietary law from Leviticus 11. It's not an isolated command but part of a larger framework designed to mark Israel as a "holy people" to God. The pig serves as a vivid example of an animal that, though seemingly meeting one criterion for "cleanness" (cloven hoof), fails the second (not chewing the cud). This detailed specification underscores the divine requirement for complete conformity, symbolizing how Israel was to wholly follow God's commands, not just partially. These laws transcended mere hygiene, though practical benefits often resulted; their primary purpose was theological and ceremonial. They fostered a sense of separation and identity, distinguishing Israel from pagan nations who consumed such animals and often used them in idolatrous worship. By forbidding these foods, God taught Israel about the absolute purity He demands and the practical expression of their consecration to Him in everyday life. In the New Testament, through Christ, the ceremonial aspect of these food laws is revealed to be fulfilled, indicating that spiritual purity and inner righteousness supersede external dietary restrictions, allowing the church to include all people regardless of their prior cultural dietary habits.