Leviticus 11 35

Leviticus 11:35 kjv

And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.

Leviticus 11:35 nkjv

And everything on which a part of any such carcass falls shall be unclean; whether it is an oven or cooking stove, it shall be broken down; for they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:35 niv

Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean.

Leviticus 11:35 esv

And everything on which any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean. Whether oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces. They are unclean and shall remain unclean for you.

Leviticus 11:35 nlt

Any object on which the carcass of such an animal falls will be defiled. If it is an oven or hearth, it must be destroyed, for it is defiled, and you must treat it accordingly.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 35 Meaning

Leviticus 11:35 outlines a specific purity law concerning the carcase of an unclean animal. It mandates that any oven or pottery range (fixed cooking apparatus) upon which a portion of such a carcase falls must be completely broken down, for they are considered defiled and remain so until destroyed. This emphasizes the highly contagious nature of ritual impurity from dead unclean animals and the necessity of radical action to maintain the community's holiness.

Leviticus 11 35 Context

Leviticus chapter 11 details a comprehensive set of purity laws regarding clean and unclean animals, determining what is permissible to eat and what renders a person, or objects, ceremonially unclean upon contact. This chapter serves a dual purpose: practical hygiene in a pre-scientific age, and more significantly, theological distinction for Israel as a holy people set apart for Yahweh. The distinction between "clean" and "unclean" (טָהוֹר, tahor and טָמֵא, tame') is fundamental to Israel's identity and worship, teaching them to appreciate the sacredness of life and the dangers of associating with that which is spiritually dead or common. Verse 35 specifically addresses what happens when the carcass of an unclean creature (like a rodent, mentioned earlier in the chapter) touches porous, fixed cooking vessels like ovens and stove ranges. Such objects, being earthen and absorbent, cannot be purified by simple washing, necessitating their destruction to prevent the spread of defilement within the home and, by extension, the community. This radical action highlights the severity of defilement and God's demand for thorough removal of anything compromising holiness.

Leviticus 11 35 Word Analysis

• And everything (וְכֹ֣ל, ve-chol): Denotes comprehensive coverage, implying no exceptions within the category.
• whereupon (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, asher): Introduces a conditional clause, specifying the circumstances for impurity.
• any part (מִזִּקְנֵימָ֣הּ, mi-ziq'ne-ma): Implies that even a small piece or trace of the carcase is enough to cause defilement, underscoring the extreme contagiousness.
• their carcase (נְבֵלָ֣ה, nevelah): Refers specifically to the dead body of an animal (as distinguished from "death" or "slaughter"). In Leviticus, nevelah often signifies an animal that died naturally or was torn, not properly slaughtered, rendering it inherently unclean for consumption and contact (Lev 7:24; Deut 14:21). This term reinforces the profound defilement associated with death outside of God's commanded practices.
• falleth (יִפֹּֽל, yippol): Suggests an accidental or unintentional contact, yet the defilement still occurs, showing that ritual purity is based on physical contact, not intent.
• shall be unclean (יִטְמָ֑א, yitma'): From the root טָמֵא (tame'), meaning to be ritually impure or defiled. This is a state of spiritual uncleanness that prohibits participation in sacred activities and necessitates separation or purification rites. It's not about physical dirt but ceremonial pollution before a holy God.
• whether it be oven (תַּנּוּר֙, tannur): Refers to a baked clay oven, often domed, built into the ground or house structure. Being made of porous earthenware, once defiled, it was impossible to truly cleanse it. Its fixed nature in the home made its contamination a serious matter for daily life.
• or ranges for pots (כִּירַ֣יִם, ki·ra·yim): This term usually denotes a double stove or cooking range, often built from earth or stones, likely with multiple openings for pots. Like the oven, its construction materials made it highly absorbent and thus impossible to purify once contaminated.
• they shall be broken down (יִנָּתֵץ֙, yinnatetz): From נָתַץ (natatz), meaning "to tear down," "break down," "destroy completely." This is a strong command for utter destruction, signifying that mere washing is insufficient. It represents a radical, decisive action to eradicate the impurity, preventing its continued spread or re-use.
• for they are unclean (כִּי־טְמֵאִ֖ים הֵֽם, ki-tme'im hem): States the definitive reason for their destruction: their inherent state of ritual defilement.
• and shall be unclean unto you (וּטְמֵאִ֥ים יִהְי֥וּ לָכֶֽם, u-tme'im yihyu lakhem): Reinforces the permanent nature of their defilement and its implication for the Israelite community, emphasizing the law's direct relevance to their purity.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And everything whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean": This phrase establishes the pervasive and easily transferable nature of ritual impurity from dead unclean animals. It highlights the domino effect: defilement quickly spreads from a primary source (carcase) to any object it touches.
• "whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down": This specific directive underscores the gravity of impurity and the necessity of complete eradication for porous, fixed household items. Unlike smooth vessels that could be washed, these absorbent clay structures retained impurity irrevocably, demanding their total demolition to safeguard the purity of the Israelite household.
• "for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you": This concluding phrase provides the theological justification for the harsh decree. It emphasizes the absolute and lasting defilement of these objects and how their continued existence would pose a threat to the Israelites' holiness, directly connecting their physical purity to their relationship with a holy God.

Leviticus 11 35 Bonus Section

The concept of a "contagion of impurity" but a limited "contagion of holiness" is an important aspect seen in passages like Haggai 2:11-14, which confirms that impurity spreads more easily and fundamentally than holiness. This adds depth to the severe requirements of Leviticus 11, where even a slight touch can necessitate destruction, demonstrating God's meticulous care for Israel's sanctity. The tannur (oven) and kirayim (ranges for pots) were central to household life, emphasizing that even the most domestic aspects of Israelite existence were under divine scrutiny regarding purity, impacting food preparation directly, and thus teaching an omnipresent awareness of God's demands for holiness in everyday living. This prefigured the New Covenant where every aspect of life is to be lived for God's glory (1 Cor 10:31).

Leviticus 11 35 Commentary

Leviticus 11:35 serves as a potent reminder of the pervasive nature of ritual defilement and the divine demand for complete separation from it. The command to "break down" ovens and cooking ranges that have been touched by an unclean carcase highlights the impossibility of adequately cleansing porous, absorbent materials under the Old Covenant purity laws. Unlike smooth vessels which could be immersed or washed (Lev 11:32), these earthen cooking apparatuses absorbed impurity too deeply, rendering them permanently defiled. This law was not merely a primitive health code; it served to visually and practically reinforce the Israelites' distinctiveness and their need for thorough purification to approach a holy God. It taught that God's holiness permits no compromise with anything defiling, emphasizing radical severance from sources of spiritual contamination. The intensity of this requirement foreshadows the New Testament truth that true cleansing requires more than surface washing; it demands a fundamental, inward transformation and, at times, a radical departure from old ways (Col 3:5-10).

Examples of practical usage/spiritual lessons:

• Radical Holiness: Just as physical defilement was dealt with radically, so too must believers deal with spiritual impurities. No compromise with sin.
• Inward Purity: The shift in the New Testament (Mark 7:15) teaches that spiritual defilement originates not from external contact but from the heart. However, the severity of physical defilement in the OT illustrates how deeply sin can permeate.
• Removing Obstacles: Sometimes, habits or environments (like the "oven" in one's life) that continually lead to sin must be "broken down" and removed entirely from one's life to pursue holiness effectively.