Leviticus 11 46

Leviticus 11:46 kjv

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

Leviticus 11:46 nkjv

'This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth,

Leviticus 11:46 niv

"?'These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground.

Leviticus 11:46 esv

This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground,

Leviticus 11:46 nlt

"These are the instructions regarding land animals, birds, marine creatures, and animals that scurry along the ground.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 46 Meaning

This verse serves as a summary and conclusion to the preceding detailed instructions concerning clean and unclean animals in Leviticus chapter 11. It explicitly states that the entire chapter contains "the law" – divine instruction – pertaining to all categories of living creatures: land animals, birds, aquatic life, and creeping things. These instructions are presented as a comprehensive guide for the Israelites to distinguish between ritually permissible and forbidden foods, which was integral to their sanctification and distinctive identity as God's chosen people.

Leviticus 11 46 Context

Leviticus chapter 11 forms a core part of the Mosaic Law given at Mount Sinai, following the construction of the Tabernacle and the consecration of the priesthood. The book of Leviticus overall focuses on how a holy God could dwell among His people, Israel, and how they, an unholy people, could draw near to Him in worship and daily life. The context of chapter 11 is specifically about distinguishing between "clean" and "unclean" for the sake of ritual purity. These dietary laws, along with regulations for skin diseases, bodily discharges, and contact with corpses, outlined strict boundaries to separate the Israelites from the defilement of the pagan nations around them and to impress upon them the nature of God's holiness. They established a physical and symbolic separation to teach deeper spiritual truths about being set apart for God.

Leviticus 11 46 Word analysis

• This (זֶה - zeh): Points to the preceding comprehensive instructions within chapter 11, reinforcing them as a singular, divinely mandated body of rules. It gives authority to the entire list that just concluded.
• is the law (תּוֹרָה - torah): This term signifies much more than a mere rule; it is a divine teaching, instruction, or direction. It carries the weight of God's revealed will and is foundational to Israel's covenant relationship with Him. Its inclusion underscores the theological and non-negotiable nature of the dietary code.
• of the beasts (בְּהֵמָה - b'hemah): Refers specifically to land animals, particularly large domesticable mammals, which were primary sources of meat. The criteria for these included having a cloven hoof and chewing the cud.
• and of the fowl (וְהָעוֹף - ve-ha'oph): Denotes birds. The specific types of birds deemed unclean generally included predatory birds, scavengers, and those associated with nocturnal activities or impurity.
• and of every living creature (וּלְכֹל נֶפֶשׁ הַחַיָּה - u-le-kol nefesh ha-hayyah): A broader category, emphasizing all forms of life that possess a living "soul" or "breath" (nefesh). It highlights the exhaustive nature of God's instructions across all biological classifications known at the time.
• that moveth in the waters (הָרֹמֶשֶׂת בַּמַּיִם - ha-romeset ba-mayim): Pertains to aquatic animals. The criterion for being clean was possessing both fins and scales, explicitly excluding all other sea creatures such as shellfish, eels, and crustaceans, which were likely considered detritus eaters or odd in appearance, linking to ritual impurity.
• and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth (וּלְכֹל שֶׁרֶץ הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל הָאָרֶץ - ve-le-kol sheretz ha-romes al ha-aretz): Refers to "swarming" or "creeping" things, which include reptiles, amphibians, and various insects. The term sheretz often carries a connotation of abhorrence and defilement due to their association with decay and their tendency to appear from the earth, and with the exception of specific types of locusts, they were universally categorized as unclean.

Leviticus 11 46 Bonus section

• The classifications of animals (land, air, water, creeping) roughly correspond to general biological divisions recognized then, indicating an organized divine instruction that encompasses all relevant living categories.
• The distinctions often align with observable characteristics of animals—those that move in predictable, "orderly" ways were often clean, while those that were anomalous or associated with decay/uncleanliness (like scavengers or reptiles) were typically unclean. This reinforced an understanding of divine order in creation.
• The concept of Torah as instruction extends beyond mere rules to embody divine wisdom, guidance, and principles for living in covenant relationship with God. It was a means of educating Israel in discerning what honors God and promotes their well-being.
• Though ceremonial laws like dietary restrictions have been fulfilled in Christ, they serve as enduring illustrations of God's meticulous nature, His desire for His people to be set apart, and the principle that all aspects of life are subject to His holy standard.

Leviticus 11 46 Commentary

Leviticus 11:46 concisely wraps up one of the foundational blocks of the Mosaic Law: the food regulations. By explicitly naming these extensive instructions "the law," it signifies their divine origin and the seriousness of their observance. The comprehensive listing of animal categories—land, air, water, and creeping things—demonstrates that no area of a person's diet or interaction with the natural world was beyond God's purvey. The primary purpose was not merely hygiene or physical health, although such benefits may have accrued, but profound spiritual separation. These laws taught Israel the difference between clean and unclean, ultimately reinforcing the call to holiness because their God is holy (Lev 11:44-45). By defining what they could and could not eat, God shaped their daily lives, visually and practically setting them apart from the polytheistic practices and defilements of surrounding nations, embedding a consciousness of purity and distinction. In the New Covenant, the explicit commands concerning dietary restrictions were superseded (Mk 7; Acts 10), signaling a shift from external, ceremonial distinctions to internal, spiritual transformation through Christ (Col 2:16-17; Heb 9:10), yet the call to holiness (1 Pet 1:15-16) and discernment remains eternally relevant.