Leviticus 11 8

Leviticus 11:8 kjv

Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:8 nkjv

Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:8 niv

You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Leviticus 11:8 esv

You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Leviticus 11:8 nlt

You may not eat the meat of these animals or even touch their carcasses. They are ceremonially unclean for you.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 8 Meaning

Leviticus 11:8 strictly prohibits the eating of the flesh of certain designated animals, particularly swine, and also forbids the touching of their dead bodies. The foundational reason given is that these animals are considered ritually "unclean" for the people of Israel, meaning they were unsuitable for consumption, sacrifice, or close contact within a holy covenant community. This directive underscored God's call for separation and purity among His chosen people.

Leviticus 11 8 Context

Leviticus 11 forms a core part of the Mosaic Law, specifically focusing on the dietary and purity regulations for the Israelite community. This chapter immediately follows the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests and the tragic incident of Nadab and Abihu, which underscored the critical importance of proper reverence and adherence to God's commands in His presence. Leviticus 11 provides an exhaustive list of animals, birds, and sea creatures categorized as either "clean" (kosher) or "unclean" (non-kosher) for consumption. The immediate verses prior to 11:8 (11:1-7) begin the classification, defining land animals based on having divided hooves and chewing the cud. Verse 8, concerning the pig, is a direct application of this criteria, noting it has divided hooves but does not chew the cud, thus classifying it as unclean. The overarching purpose of these laws was to distinguish Israel from the surrounding nations, reinforce their identity as God's peculiar people, and instill a practical sense of holiness necessary for their relationship with a holy God. These rules were not just dietary guidelines but comprehensive purity regulations affecting daily life and religious practice.

Leviticus 11 8 Word analysis

• "Of their flesh" (Hebrew: mib-bə·śā·rām):
  • "flesh" (bā·śār - בָּשָׂר): Refers to meat, specifically the edible part of an animal. It highlights the direct prohibition on consumption. The phrase emphasizes the animal's physical substance.
• "you shall not eat" (Hebrew: lō-tō·ḵê·lū):
  • "eat" (ʾā·ḵal - אָכַל): A direct command prohibiting consumption. This is a primary function of the dietary law, ensuring internal purity by controlling what is ingested.
• "and their carcasses" (Hebrew: wə·’eṯ-niḇ·lā·ṯām):
  • "carcasses" (nəḇē·lāh - נְבֵלָה): Specifically means a dead body or a fallen carcass, distinguishing it from live animals. This word often implies an object of defilement or decay. The inclusion of "carcasses" extends the prohibition beyond consumption to interaction with the dead animal.
• "you shall not touch" (Hebrew: lōʾ tiḡ·ā‘ū):
  • "touch" (nāḡaʿ - נָגַע): This term signifies any physical contact. The prohibition on touching reinforces the severity of the "unclean" status, extending the defilement beyond internal ingestion to external physical interaction. This highlights that defilement could be incurred even without consuming.
• "they are unclean" (Hebrew: ṭə·mê·’îm hêm):
  • "unclean" (ṭāmēʾ - טָמֵא): This is a ritual, not a moral, term. It denotes a state of ritual impurity, making one unfit to participate in sacred acts or interact with holy things without prior purification. It indicates that the very nature of these animals renders them unsuitable for association with God's holy people. This status separates them from what is permitted and holy.
• "to you" (Hebrew: lā·ḵem):
  • Emphasizes the specific application of these laws to the Israelite community, distinguishing them from other nations who might not have such restrictions. It underlines their unique covenant relationship with God.

Words-group analysis:

• "Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch": This phrase creates a comprehensive barrier. It's a double negative injunction covering both active consumption and passive physical contact with the forbidden animals, alive or dead. This duality ensures a wide sphere of separation, signifying the deep extent of the "unclean" status. The distinction between "flesh" and "carcasses" might imply a distinction between consuming meat from a slaughtered animal and encountering a spontaneously dead one, both forbidden.
• "they are unclean to you": This provides the theological and ritual rationale for the preceding prohibitions. The "unclean" status is not arbitrary but is a foundational category established by God for Israel. This status meant defilement and potential separation from the holy community until ritual purification. This phrase underscores that the entire injunction stems from a divine declaration of ritual impurity that directly impacts Israel's holy status before God.

Leviticus 11 8 Bonus section

The Levitical laws on clean and unclean animals often carried polemic undertones, implicitly challenging the practices of surrounding pagan nations who might consume or use these animals in their worship or daily life without distinction. By prohibiting swine, for instance, God was drawing a sharp contrast between Israel's unique covenant purity and the idolatrous customs of the Gentiles. While the literal food laws have been superseded for believers in the New Covenant (Mk 7:19, Acts 10), the underlying principles of discerning between holy and unholy, and living a life separated for God, remain foundational. The Old Testament distinction served as a "shadow" (Col 2:17) pointing to the greater spiritual reality of true holiness and separation from worldly defilement, which is now achieved not through adherence to dietary laws but through Christ and obedience to His Spirit.

Leviticus 11 8 Commentary

Leviticus 11:8 is a precise example of God's establishment of clear boundaries for His people, Israel, regarding what is clean and unclean. The specific mention of swine highlights an animal considered particularly vile and taboo in ancient Near Eastern cultures, especially when contrasted with its ritual use in some pagan rites. The dual prohibition—not only against eating the flesh but also against touching the carcass—underscores the pervasive nature of the uncleanness. This was not merely about diet; it was about preventing ritual defilement in daily life, maintaining separation, and upholding a standard of holiness commanded by God. The laws were not primarily health regulations, though some health benefits might have been incidental; their core purpose was symbolic and theological, teaching Israel about purity, holiness, and distinctiveness in their relationship with a holy God. This verse, like the chapter as a whole, prepared Israel for true worship and proper engagement with God’s presence, making them mindful of sin and the need for purification, a concept fulfilled and deepened in the New Covenant through Christ, where internal purity and faith supersede external rituals.