Leviticus 17 15

Leviticus 17:15 kjv

And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.

Leviticus 17:15 nkjv

"And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean.

Leviticus 17:15 niv

"?'Anyone, whether native-born or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be ceremonially unclean till evening; then they will be clean.

Leviticus 17:15 esv

And every person who eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean.

Leviticus 17:15 nlt

"And if any native-born Israelites or foreigners eat the meat of an animal that died naturally or was torn up by wild animals, they must wash their clothes and bathe themselves in water. They will remain ceremonially unclean until evening, but then they will be clean.

Leviticus 17 verses

Leviticus 17 15 Meaning

Leviticus 17:15 prescribes that any person, Israelite or foreigner residing among them, who consumes the meat of an animal that has died naturally or was torn by beasts, becomes ritually unclean. This uncleanness requires a purification process: washing their clothes and bathing themselves in water. This state of impurity lasts until evening, after which they are considered clean. The law underscores the importance of proper handling and consumption of meat, connecting it to ritual purity and the sanctity of life.

Leviticus 17 15 Context

Leviticus 17 is situated within the Holiness Code (Lev 17-26), a section emphasizing how God's people are to live set apart for Him, distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. Chapter 17 specifically deals with the sanctity of blood and the proper procedure for sacrifice and slaughter. The preceding verses (17:10-14) strictly prohibit consuming blood because "the life of the creature is in the blood," making blood sacred and exclusively designated for atonement on the altar. Verse 15, therefore, follows as a logical extension, addressing what happens when meat is consumed that does not respect this sanctity—either because it was not properly bled (died naturally) or its life was violently taken without a ritual purpose (torn by beasts), thus preventing proper blood drainage. These laws ensured physical and ritual purity, distinction from idolatrous practices common in the ancient Near East, which often involved consuming carrion or animals sacrificed to idols without proper ritual. The overall aim was to maintain Israel's holiness before God.

Leviticus 17 15 Word analysis

• every soul (כָּל־נֶ֫פֶשׁ - kol-nephesh): Literally "all soul," implying "every person" or "any individual." Nephesh denotes the totality of a living being, highlighting that this law applies to anyone regardless of status or gender, emphasizing personal responsibility and universal adherence within the community.
• that eateth (אֹכֶ֖לֶת - okhelet): Participle of "to eat," indicating the act of consumption. The defilement is incurred by the ingestion, not just by touching, pointing to a deeper form of impurity impacting the consumer.
• that which dieth of itself (נְבֵלָ֔ה - nevelah): An animal that has died naturally, without ritual slaughter. Its blood has not been drained according to the clean animal slaughtering rites, rendering it unsuitable for consumption under the Law.
• that which is torn with beasts (טְרֵפָ֖ה - terephah): An animal attacked and killed by a wild beast. Similar to nevelah, its blood was not properly shed for food purposes, and the animal might also be diseased or unhealthy.
• whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger (מֵֽאֶזְרָח֙ א֧וֹ מִגֵּ֛ר - me'ezrach o mi'ger): This phrase specifies the law's universal application to both native-born Israelites (ezrach) and foreign residents (ger) dwelling among them. It underscores that fundamental purity requirements for communal worship and living under God's covenant applied to all who resided within the sacred land.
• he shall both wash his clothes (וְכִבֶּ֥ס בְּגָדָיו֙ - vekibbes begadav): A ritual act of cleansing outer garments. This indicated an external defilement and required outward purification.
• and bathe himself in water (וְרָחַ֥ץ בַּמַּ֖יִם - verachatz bammayim): The purification of the body. This signifies the need for internal or personal cleansing from the incurred impurity. These acts together were prescribed throughout the purity laws for various forms of uncleanness.
• and be unclean until the even (וְטָמֵא֙ עַד־הָעֶ֔רֶב - ve'tame ad-ha'erev): This specifies the duration of the ritual impurity. "Until the even" (sunset) marks the end of the day, after which the state of defilement ceases. It means the impurity was temporary and could be ritually removed.
• then shall he be clean (וְטָהֵֽר - ve'taher): The ultimate state of restored ritual purity. This shows the efficacy of the prescribed purification rites and God's provision for restoration from temporary ritual defilement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And every soul that eateth that which dieth of itself, or that which is torn with beasts": This identifies the defiling action (eating specific forbidden meat) and the individuals affected. The defilement stems from contact with "life" (represented by the meat and its un-drained blood) that did not conform to God's ordained process of respectful death and consumption, implicitly tied to the sanctity of blood mentioned earlier in the chapter.
• "whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger": This broad inclusion highlights God's demand for holiness from all who live in covenant proximity, emphasizing a shared standard of ritual behavior regardless of origin, and potentially functioning as a protective measure against practices that could lead to widespread physical or spiritual compromise within the community.
• "he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean": This outlines the prescribed remedy for the ritual defilement. The sequence of actions—washing clothes, bathing, waiting until evening—represents a complete cleansing process that purifies the individual, restoring them to a state where they can participate fully in communal worship and daily life, illustrating God's gracious provision for atonement from temporary ritual uncleanness.

Leviticus 17 15 Bonus section

The strict laws against eating nevelah (that which died of itself) and terefah (that which was torn) may have also served as a preventative measure against consuming diseased or unhealthy meat. While not the primary stated theological reason, avoiding such meats naturally contributed to the physical health of the Israelite community, especially given the lack of modern food inspection and sanitation. This could be seen as God's loving provision for His people's well-being alongside the spiritual injunctions.

Furthermore, this law emphasizes that holiness is not merely about conscious actions or intentional sins, but also about the impact of seemingly ordinary acts on one's ritual standing before God. It instilled a continuous awareness of separation unto God in daily life, cultivating a mindset of careful living and distinguishing Israel from the customs of the nations around them, who often consumed carrion without compunction.

Leviticus 17 15 Commentary

Leviticus 17:15 serves as a practical application and enforcement of the profound theological truths presented throughout Leviticus regarding God's holiness and the sanctity of life. The core issue is not primarily about hygiene, though such laws often had practical health benefits, but about ritual purity necessary to dwell in God's holy presence. The consumption of meat from an animal that died unnaturally or was torn by beasts signified an disregard for the divinely appointed methods of handling life, specifically the shedding of blood (life-force) as an atonement. Since its blood had not been properly presented or drained, consuming such meat was a violation of the deep respect due to life itself, and thereby imparted a ritual uncleanness.

This uncleanness was not a moral sin requiring an atonement sacrifice, but rather a ritual state that prohibited access to the tabernacle and participation in sacred worship. The prescribed cleansing (washing clothes, bathing in water, and waiting until evening) was a means for the defiled person to be restored to a state of purity. This demonstrated God's desire for His people to maintain holiness, and His gracious provision for cleansing when unintentional or inevitable contact with defilement occurred. The law's extension to both native-born and sojourners underscored the universal applicability of basic purity principles within the holy community. In the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from external ritual purity to internal moral purity, as Christ's atoning blood provides cleansing from all sin, transcending the temporary ritual uncleanness of the Old Covenant. However, the underlying principle of reverence for life and the call to holiness remains central for believers.