Leviticus 11 25

Leviticus 11:25 kjv

And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:25 nkjv

whoever carries part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening:

Leviticus 11:25 niv

Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.

Leviticus 11:25 esv

and whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 11:25 nlt

If you pick up their carcasses, you must wash your clothes, and you will remain defiled until evening.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 25 Meaning

Leviticus 11:25 states that any person who physically carries or handles the dead body (carcass) of an animal deemed ritually unclean by God's law must undergo a purification process. This involves washing their outer garments and remaining in a state of ritual impurity until sundown of that day, at which point they are considered ritually clean again. This emphasizes the contagious nature of ritual defilement arising from contact with death, which stands in opposition to God's holy and life-giving presence.

Leviticus 11 25 Context

Leviticus 11:25 is part of a detailed series of dietary and purity laws found in Leviticus, specifically within the larger section from chapters 11-15 which addresses sources of ritual defilement. Chapter 11 focuses on distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, determining which animals are permissible for food and which are forbidden. Beyond consumption, this chapter also defines how contact with the carcasses of these animals—especially those that died naturally or were not slaughtered ritually—can render a person ritually unclean. These laws served to impress upon Israel the holiness of God and their responsibility to maintain a distinct, pure lifestyle in His presence. They were intended to set Israel apart from surrounding nations whose practices and diets were often less discriminatory and involved deities and practices anathema to Yahweh. The concept of death bringing impurity underscored God as the source of all life and rejected any form of association with what opposes life or is corrupt.

Leviticus 11 25 Word analysis

• whosoever beareth: The Hebrew word is nasa (נָשָׂא), meaning "to lift," "to carry," "to bear." This implies active involvement or handling, not merely accidental, transient contact. It signifies the individual's responsibility for their actions that bring them into contact with defiling objects, emphasizing that such contact has immediate ritual consequences.
• ought of their carcase: The Hebrew phrase is min-nivlatam (מִנִּבְלָתָם). Nivlah refers to a "carcass" or "dead body," specifically one that has died naturally (not slaughtered according to clean methods). It pertains to the animals listed in the preceding verses as unclean, highlighting the defiling nature of death and decay, which contrasts sharply with the life and holiness associated with God.
• shall wash his clothes: The Hebrew is v'khibbes b'gadayv (וְכִבֶּס בְּגָדָיו). Khabas means "to wash thoroughly" or "to launder." Washing clothes was a common, outward sign of purification. Garments symbolized a person's external interactions and the defilement that could cling to their public identity. This physical act represents the need for cleansing and restoration before being fully reintegrated into the holy community.
• and be unclean: The Hebrew word is v'tameh (וְטָמֵא). Tameh refers to a state of ritual impurity or defilement. This condition did not imply moral sin but rather a temporary separation from participating in sacred activities or communal worship within the tabernacle/temple. It signified a ritual barrier that needed to be lifted.
• until the even: The Hebrew is ad ha'erev (עַד הָעֶרֶב). This phrase denotes the precise duration of the impurity – until sundown. The ending of the day marked the conclusion of the purification period. This temporal limitation demonstrated God's gracious provision for temporary defilement and restoration, indicating that impurity was not a permanent state but could be resolved.
• Words-group:
  • "whosoever beareth ought of their carcase": This phrase defines the specific act and source of contamination. The direct and active engagement ("beareth") with the deceased form of an unclean animal ("ought of their carcase") highlights a fundamental principle: anything inherently contrary to life and God's design (like a dead body of an animal unfit for clean life) carried a potent defiling power in the Israelite purity system, impacting those who physically engaged with it.
  • "shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even": This fixed prescriptive response indicates a structured system of dealing with impurity. The combination of an immediate physical action ("wash his clothes") followed by a period of limited social interaction ("be unclean") until a natural marker of time ("until the even") underscores God's meticulous instructions for maintaining ritual integrity within the community, providing a clear path from defilement back to purity.

Leviticus 11 25 Bonus section

• Didactic Purpose: Beyond simply avoiding disease, these laws served a significant teaching purpose. They cultivated a constant awareness of God's presence, demanding disciplined self-governance and an understanding of distinction – clean vs. unclean, holy vs. common.
• Symbolic, Not Moral: It's crucial to understand that "unclean" in this context is a ritual status, not a moral judgment. A person becoming unclean by touching a carcass was not sinning, but was temporarily ritually disqualified from certain sacred acts until purification was complete.
• Temporary Impurity: The phrase "until the even" emphasizes the temporary and reversible nature of this specific impurity. Most minor ritual impurities were cleansed after sundown, distinguishing them from more severe or longer-lasting conditions like leprosy or discharge, which might require a priest's declaration and offerings.
• Shadow of a Greater Reality: The physical cleansing rituals of the Old Covenant acted as "types" or shadows pointing forward to the ultimate, once-for-all spiritual cleansing available through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb 9:11-14). While the ceremonial laws are no longer binding for New Covenant believers (Acts 10, Col 2), the underlying principle of God's holiness and humanity's need for spiritual cleansing remains central to faith.

Leviticus 11 25 Commentary

Leviticus 11:25 illustrates the practical implications of God's holy character for the daily life of ancient Israel. The elaborate purity laws in Leviticus were not arbitrary but served as a constant reminder that God, dwelling in their midst, demanded a distinct, sanctified people. Contact with death, embodied in the carcass of an unclean animal, represented the antithesis of God's life-giving nature and introduced impurity. This ritual impurity was not a moral failing but a ceremonial barrier that prevented a person from participating fully in sacred life until cleansed. The requirement to wash clothes and wait until sundown underscored the concept that while defilement was a serious consequence, it was also transient and resolvable through God-ordained procedures. This daily experience of physical purification acted as a profound theological lesson, preparing the Israelites for the understanding that moral defilement—sin—also requires divine cleansing. Ultimately, this system foreshadowed the ultimate and complete spiritual cleansing from sin provided once and for all by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ, making His followers truly and eternally clean before a holy God.