Leviticus 11:2 kjv
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.
Leviticus 11:2 nkjv
"Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:
Leviticus 11:2 niv
"Say to the Israelites: 'Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:
Leviticus 11:2 esv
"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
Leviticus 11:2 nlt
"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "Of all the land animals, these are the ones you may use for food.
Leviticus 11 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 11:1 | And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,... | Introduction to dietary laws, divine origin. |
| Lev 11:3 | Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. | Immediate follow-up, specifying clean land animals. |
| Lev 11:4 | Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: the camel... | Immediate follow-up, specifying unclean animals. |
| Deut 14:3 | "You shall not eat any abominable thing." | Reiteration of dietary distinctions in Deuteronomy. |
| Deut 14:4 | These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,... | Deut repeats and confirms clean animals. |
| Gen 1:29 | And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed...and every tree with seed...You shall have them for food." | Original pre-Fall vegetarian diet. |
| Gen 9:3 | Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. | Post-Flood permission to eat all living things. |
| Gen 7:2 | Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate, and two pairs of the animals that are not clean... | Distinction of clean/unclean predates Mosaic Law. |
| Ezek 44:23 | They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. | Priestly role in teaching distinctions. |
| Acts 10:14 | But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." | Peter's strict adherence to dietary laws. |
| Acts 10:15 | And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." | Divine abrogation of food laws for Gentiles. |
| Mark 7:18-19 | And he said to them, "...do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,...Thus he declared all foods clean." | Jesus declares all foods ritually clean. |
| Rom 14:2 | One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. | Discussing freedom and conscience regarding food. |
| Rom 14:14 | I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. | Emphasizes spiritual conscience over food law. |
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | Kingdom priorities beyond food laws. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink... These are a shadow of the things to come. | Dietary laws as a shadow of Christ. |
| 1 Tim 4:3-5 | ...forbidding marriage and requiring abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. | God's creation, all foods good when received with thanksgiving. |
| Isa 66:17 | "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig's flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together," declares the Lord. | Condemnation of eating unclean foods. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will receive you. | Call to separation, echoing clean/unclean principle. |
| Ezek 4:14 | Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never defiled myself...nor has unclean meat come into my mouth." | Ezekiel's commitment to food laws. |
| Psa 119:9 | How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. | Purity through adherence to God's word. |
| 1 Pet 1:16 | since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." | Basis for all separation and purity laws. |
Leviticus 11 verses
Leviticus 11 2 Meaning
Leviticus 11:2 introduces the divine instructions given to the people of Israel regarding dietary laws, specifically what "living things" they are permitted to eat from among land animals. It sets the foundational premise for the extensive list of clean and unclean creatures detailed throughout the rest of the chapter. This verse emphasizes God's direct command through Moses, establishing a boundary for consumption as a means of defining holiness and separation for His covenant people.
Leviticus 11 2 Context
Leviticus 11:2 is part of a larger section (Leviticus 11-15) detailing various laws concerning ritual purity and defilement. Following the narrative of Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized worship and subsequent death (Leviticus 10), which highlighted the critical importance of observing God's precise commands, the detailed laws about clean and unclean animals in chapter 11 further emphasize God's expectation of holiness from His people. These dietary laws distinguish Israel from surrounding nations, setting them apart as a consecrated people to Yahweh. The entire chapter deals with clean and unclean land animals (verses 2-8), aquatic creatures (verses 9-12), birds (verses 13-19), and insects (verses 20-23), concluding with general rules about defilement from carcasses (verses 24-40) and a summary of the holiness principle (verses 41-47). The immediate context shows this verse initiating the list for land animals.
Leviticus 11 2 Word analysis
- Speak (דַּבְּרוּ - Dabb'ru): An imperative verb, directly commanding Moses (and Aaron, per 11:1) to communicate God's instruction to the people. This underscores the divine origin and authoritative nature of these laws. It implies Moses is God's messenger, not inventing these rules himself.
- to the people of Israel (אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - el-b'ney Yisra'el): Lit. "to the sons of Israel." The audience is specific—the covenant nation. These laws are for them, not for all humanity or surrounding nations. This specificity reinforces their identity as God's chosen, set-apart people.
- saying (לֵאמֹ֖ר - lemor): A common Hebrew introductory particle, signaling that what follows is a direct quote of the divine utterance.
- These are (זֹ֣את - zot): A demonstrative pronoun, establishing a direct declaration of identification. What follows will be the definitive list.
- the living things (הַֽחַיָּה֙ - ha-chayyah): From chayyah, referring broadly to animate creatures, often wild beasts or land animals, distinct from domestic animals or "creeping things." Here, it functions as the general category being defined. It sets the scope of the instruction to animals that live and move.
- that you may eat (אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּֽאכְל֛וּ - asher toch'lu): The verb 'akhal means "to eat." The "may eat" indicates divine permission or allowance. This is not a dietary suggestion but a prescribed boundary. It limits the comprehensive permission given to Noah in Gen 9:3, refining it for the specific covenant community of Israel.
- among all the animals (מִכָּל־הַֽבְּהֵמָה֙ - mi-kol-ha-b'hemah): Behemah typically refers to larger domestic or wild land animals, distinct from remes (creeping things) or aquatic life. This phrase defines the specific subset within "living things" (ha-chayyah) that the subsequent verses will delineate. The emphasis is on animals encountered on the land.
- that are on the earth (עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ - al-ha'aretz): Explicitly defines the habitat or domain of these animals, specifically distinguishing them from creatures of the water (fish) or the air (birds), which are addressed later in the chapter. It limits the immediate discussion to terrestrial animals.
Leviticus 11 2 Bonus section
The dietary laws in Leviticus 11, starting with verse 2, were not merely arbitrary rules but served multiple potential purposes:
- Holiness and Separation: Primarily, these laws taught Israel about holiness and set them apart from the idolatrous nations around them. By eating differently, they lived differently, symbolizing their unique covenant relationship with YHWH. This idea echoes God's command to "be holy, for I am holy" (Lev 11:44-45, 1 Pet 1:16).
- Theological Symbolism: Some scholars propose symbolic meanings, such as clean animals often being those with clear and consistent characteristics (like split hooves and chewing cud, which relates to orderly digestion), while unclean animals often display ambiguous or predatory characteristics. This could represent spiritual discernment and moral purity – differentiating between clean and unclean reflects the need to differentiate between righteous and unrighteous behavior.
- Pedagogical Tool: The laws provided a practical, daily means by which ordinary Israelites could remember their God and their covenant obligations. Every meal became an opportunity for obedience and a reminder of their distinctive identity.
- Anticipatory: From a New Testament perspective, these specific dietary laws (along with other ritual laws) were considered a "shadow" of good things to come (Heb 10:1, Col 2:16-17). Their fulfillment is found in Christ, who declared all foods clean (Mk 7:19) and ended the Old Covenant distinctions that separated Jew and Gentile (Acts 10:9-16). The focus shifts from external purity to internal spiritual transformation.
Leviticus 11 2 Commentary
Leviticus 11:2 initiates a profound declaration of God's authority over creation and His covenant people. It moves from a broad post-flood permission to eat any living thing (Gen 9:3) to a specific, detailed limitation for Israel. This shift highlights Israel's unique status as God's chosen nation, set apart for holiness. The laws are not presented as human preferences or health advisories but as divine commands directly communicated by God to Moses, indicating their authoritative, foundational, and binding nature. The dietary distinctions are one visible manifestation of Israel's separation and a continuous reminder of their covenant relationship with a holy God. Eating what God designated as clean became an act of worship and obedience, defining identity and maintaining ritual purity. These regulations cultivated discipline and discernment, teaching the Israelites to distinguish between the common and the holy in every aspect of life.