Leviticus 22 8

Leviticus 22:8 kjv

That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith; I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:8 nkjv

Whatever dies naturally or is torn by beasts he shall not eat, to defile himself with it: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:8 niv

He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, and so become unclean through it. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22:8 esv

He shall not eat what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, and so make himself unclean by it: I am the LORD.'

Leviticus 22:8 nlt

He may not eat an animal that has died a natural death or has been torn apart by wild animals, for this would defile him. I am the LORD.

Leviticus 22 verses

Leviticus 22 8 Meaning

Leviticus 22:8 forbids priests from eating the flesh of an animal that has died of itself (a carcass) or was torn by wild beasts. Eating such meat would make the priest ritually unclean. The verse concludes with God's self-declaration, "I am the LORD," emphasizing His authority and the non-negotiable nature of this commandment, stemming from His inherent holiness which demands purity in those who minister to Him. This rule safeguarded the sanctity of the priesthood and their access to holy offerings.

Leviticus 22 8 Context

Leviticus 22 immediately follows laws regarding priestly purity in chapter 21. Chapter 22 details conditions under which priests could eat "holy things" – portions of offerings and sacrifices designated for them and their households. The overarching theme is the absolute holiness of Yahweh and the strict requirements for those who mediate His presence to the people. Eating ritually impure food would render the priest unclean, preventing him from partaking of the holy things, thereby potentially profaning the sacred and bearing guilt. This particular verse reinforces that priests must uphold a higher standard of purity even in their daily food consumption, a stricter rule than for the common Israelite concerning terephah. Historically, in ancient Israelite culture, dead animals were associated with decay and corruption, and thus with ritual impurity, emphasizing the vital distinction between life and death within the holy realm. This prohibition served to distinctly mark the priests of Yahweh apart from practices in surrounding pagan cultures where priests might engage in practices that defiled, reinforcing Yahweh's unique demands for purity and separation.

Leviticus 22 8 Word analysis

• He shall not eat: This is a direct command, a negative prohibition (Lo Yochal, לֹא יֹאכַל). It specifically refers to the priest, identified by the preceding verses in Leviticus 22, setting a clear boundary for his conduct.
• what dies of itself: nevelah (נְבֵלָה). This Hebrew term specifically denotes an animal carcass, one that has died naturally and not by ritual slaughter. In a theological sense, anything that dies without being offered back to the source of life (God) is considered tainted by death, which is conceptually opposed to holiness. Eating it would introduce "death" into the sacred sphere.
• or is torn by beasts: ṭĕrēpāh (טְרֵפָה). This refers to an animal mauled or killed by a wild animal. Such an animal would not have been properly bled according to dietary laws (Lev 17:10-14, Deut 12:23), rendering it unclean. Furthermore, the violent manner of its death separates it from animals suitable for sacrifice or holy consumption.
• thus making himself unclean by it: yit·ma (יִטְמָא), meaning 'to defile himself' or 'to become unclean.' This phrase highlights the transfer of ritual impurity from the forbidden food to the person consuming it. This impurity then impacts the priest's ability to engage with holy things without defiling them and incurring guilt. It's a state of being incompatible with holiness, requiring a cleansing process to re-engage with sacred duties.
• I am the LORD: Aní Yahweh (אֲנִי יְהוָה). This divine self-attestation is a foundational statement throughout Leviticus, particularly in the Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-27). It functions as the ultimate validation and source of authority for the commandment. It underscores that these laws are not arbitrary human rules but are rooted in God's holy character and His sovereign right to define purity for His covenant people and, especially, His consecrated priests.

Leviticus 22 8 Bonus section

The specific distinction between nevelah (died naturally) and terephah (torn by beasts) reflects an intentional legislative precision. While both render the animal ritually impure and are forbidden for the priest, terephah implied a loss of control over the animal's death, often with blood not properly drained, intensifying its impurity. The rule underscores God's meticulous care for ritual order and holiness even in everyday life for His chosen servants. In ancient Israel, such stringent purity laws, particularly for the priestly caste, distinguished Yahwism sharply from neighboring pagan cults, many of whom did not hold such views on physical purity for their religious leaders, or might even consume carrion as part of ecstatic rituals. This highlighted Yahweh's absolute separation from all forms of corruption and the absolute need for His servants to mirror that separation. For a priest, consuming impure meat compromised his fitness to stand as an intermediary between a holy God and His people, as impurity transferred from him to the holy objects or sacrifices he handled.

Leviticus 22 8 Commentary

Leviticus 22:8 sets a foundational standard of purity for the Israelite priesthood. It's not merely a dietary rule but a profound theological statement. Priests were set apart, consecrated to God to handle the most sacred objects and sacrifices. Their purity, both physical and ritual, was paramount to avoid desecrating what belonged to Yahweh. Eating animals that died naturally or were torn conveyed a state of impurity, symbolizing decay and being outside the divinely ordained process of life and death, particularly involving blood. Such an act would disqualify a priest from participating in sacred service and consuming holy offerings until proper purification. The constant reminder "I am the LORD" is a solemn affirmation of divine authority, echoing that these rules flow directly from God's character and His demand for holiness in His presence. While the specific food prohibitions are fulfilled and changed for New Testament believers in Christ, the underlying principle of purity, holiness, and setting oneself apart for God's service remains. Believers, as a "royal priesthood," are called to spiritual purity in their lives and actions, abstaining from anything that spiritually defiles them or dishonors the Name of the Lord they bear.