Leviticus 11 15

Leviticus 11:15 kjv

Every raven after his kind;

Leviticus 11:15 nkjv

every raven after its kind,

Leviticus 11:15 niv

any kind of raven,

Leviticus 11:15 esv

every raven of any kind,

Leviticus 11:15 nlt

ravens of all kinds,

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 15 Meaning

Leviticus 11:15 declares that all types of ravens are considered ceremonially unclean and are thus prohibited for consumption by the Israelites. This injunction is part of God's detailed dietary laws, distinguishing clean from unclean animals to establish a framework for the holiness and separation required of His chosen people, marking them distinct from the surrounding nations.

Leviticus 11 15 Context

Leviticus 11 establishes a foundational dietary code for the Israelites, distinguishing animals into "clean" (permitted for consumption) and "unclean" (prohibited). This chapter is pivotal in defining the Israelites' distinct identity as a holy people set apart for God. The laws detail characteristics for mammals (hooves and chewing cud), fish (fins and scales), and various birds and insects. Specifically, verses 13-19 list various unclean birds. The prohibition of the raven in verse 15, along with other birds of prey or carrion-eaters, reflects a principle of separating from animals that might consume carrion or have a lifestyle associated with decay, disease, or predatory behavior. These laws served both practical (hygiene, public health) and profound theological purposes (holiness, separation, identifying with God's purity, avoiding pagan practices).

Leviticus 11 15 Word analysis

• and: Hebrew: וְ (v') - A simple conjunction, connecting this specific prohibition to the preceding list of unclean birds (Lev 11:13-14), indicating a continuation of the same category of prohibition. It signifies this animal is part of the overall unclean classification.
• every: Hebrew: כָּל (kol) - Means "all," "every," or "the whole." This is a crucial qualifier, emphasizing that the prohibition applies universally to all individuals and variants within the raven "kind." There are no exceptions or specific sub-species permitted; the entire category is forbidden.
• raven: Hebrew: עֹרֵב ('orev) - Refers to birds of the crow family (Corvidae), including various types of ravens and possibly some larger crows. These birds are known for their intelligence, omnivorous diet, and scavenging habits, often feeding on carrion. This association with death and decay likely contributed to their designation as unclean, symbolizing defilement and contrasting with the purity expected of God's people.
• after his kind: Hebrew: לְמִינֵהוּ (l'mînehû) - Literally "to its kind" or "according to its species/genus." This phrase is derived from the root מִין (min), meaning "kind," "species," or "category." This term first appears extensively in Genesis 1 (e.g., Gen 1:11, 1:12, 1:21, 1:24, 1:25), highlighting God's creation of distinct biological categories that reproduce "after their kind." In Leviticus 11, the repetition of this phrase for multiple animals, including the raven, reinforces the comprehensive nature of the prohibition: it's not just a specific type of raven but the entire biological classification that shares the inherent characteristics defining a "raven." This specificity prevents evasion of the law by identifying new, unlisted raven types.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "and every raven": This grouping connects the individual animal directly to the overarching principle of comprehensive prohibition. The inclusion of "every" alongside "raven" indicates a blanket rule without exception for any bird falling under this designation. It extends the purity standards without allowing for loophole.
• "raven after his kind": This phrase functions as a definitive classification. It's not merely a specific raven, but the entire genetic line or biological family known as ravens. This implies that all physical and behavioral traits defining a raven make it inherently unclean under this Mosaic law. It aligns with the Creation account's established order and implies a recognition of stable biological categories from God's design. This broad classification also subtly warns against experimentation with forbidden animals by altering their type.

Leviticus 11 15 Bonus section

The designation of the raven as unclean by Levitical law provides an interesting theological contrast when juxtaposed with other biblical mentions of ravens. For instance, God explicitly commands ravens to feed Elijah during a famine (1 Kgs 17:4, 6), and both Job (38:41) and Psalm 147:9 highlight God's providential care in feeding the young ravens that cry for food. Jesus Himself points to the ravens as examples of God's provision in Luke 12:24, encouraging believers not to worry about food.

This shows that the raven, though unclean for human consumption under the Mosaic covenant, is nonetheless a part of God's good creation, subject to His providential care, and even at times, an instrument of His will. This underscores that "unclean" in the ceremonial sense does not equate to "evil" or "cursed" in a universal sense but rather signifies a boundary or distinction for Israel's specific covenant relationship and pursuit of holiness. It highlights the limitation of the clean/unclean law to Israel's diet and identity, not a denigration of the animal itself within creation's order. The consistent use of "after his kind" throughout Genesis 1 and Leviticus 11 emphasizes God's ordered creation, where each species has its distinct nature and characteristics, providing a divine framework for understanding biological categories.

Leviticus 11 15 Commentary

Leviticus 11:15 is a concise yet significant detail within Israel's elaborate purity code. The prohibition of the raven underscores the principle of distinguishing between clean and unclean, vital for a people called to be holy. Ravens are natural scavengers, consuming carrion and offal, which in ancient cultures, and biblically, was often associated with death, impurity, and even evil or a lack of self-sustenance from God's direct provision. By forbidding the raven and other similar birds (like vultures, kites, buzzards listed nearby), God drew clear lines.

This dietary law was not merely about hygiene, though there were certainly health benefits; its primary purpose was theological and pedagogical. It was to instill a daily reminder of Israel's distinctive relationship with God. They were not to assimilate to the practices of their pagan neighbors, who often consumed such animals or associated them with deities. The strictures on diet cultivated a holy disciplined life, a sense of "set-apartness" in their mundane activities. While the New Testament reveals the ceremonial food laws are no longer binding for believers (Acts 10, Mk 7), the underlying principles of holiness, separation from worldly defilement, and striving for spiritual purity remain paramount for those who are "a holy nation" (1 Pet 2:9) in Christ. The specific designation of "every raven after its kind" emphasized thoroughness and God's sovereignty over every facet of Israelite life, promoting their unique identity and fostering their devotion.