Leviticus 7 19

Leviticus 7:19 kjv

And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.

Leviticus 7:19 nkjv

'The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean may eat of it.

Leviticus 7:19 niv

"?'Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up. As for other meat, anyone ceremonially clean may eat it.

Leviticus 7:19 esv

"Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned up with fire. All who are clean may eat flesh,

Leviticus 7:19 nlt

"Meat that touches anything ceremonially unclean may not be eaten; it must be completely burned up. The rest of the meat may be eaten, but only by people who are ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 7 verses

Leviticus 7 19 Meaning

Leviticus 7:19 stipulates regulations concerning the consumption of sacrificial meat from the peace offering. It decrees that if any part of this sacred flesh comes into contact with an object that is ritually unclean, it is forbidden to be eaten. Instead, such defiled meat must be immediately incinerated to prevent its profanation or improper use. Conversely, the verse confirms that the remaining, undefiled portions of the sacrificial flesh may be consumed, but only by individuals who are ritually pure and free from uncleanness. This instruction underlines the profound sanctity of the offerings and the strict requirements for participation in communal meals with God.

Leviticus 7 19 Context

Leviticus chapter 7 provides detailed instructions for the various offerings outlined earlier, specifically expanding on the burnt offering, grain offering, sin offering, trespass offering, and concluding with the law of the peace offering (7:11-21), to which this verse directly pertains. The peace offering was unique as it allowed the worshiper, along with the priests, to partake of the sacrificial meat, symbolizing communion and fellowship with God. Because of its sacred nature and communal consumption, strict rules regarding purity were essential to maintain the sanctity of the ritual. The chapter repeatedly emphasizes who can eat, what portions are assigned, and how leftovers must be handled. Leviticus 7:19, therefore, serves to reinforce the absolute necessity of ritual purity, not only of the individuals participating but also of the consecrated food itself, for maintaining the holiness required to stand in fellowship with the Most High. Historically, this law was critical in ancient Israel for distinguishing the sacred practices of Yahweh worship from the defiling practices of surrounding pagan nations, stressing that God's holiness could not be compromised by impurity.

Leviticus 7 19 Word analysis

• And the flesh (Hebrew: וְהַבָּשָׂר - v'habasar): Refers specifically to the meat from a consecrated animal, in this immediate context, the peace offering. It emphasizes that this meat is set apart and possesses a holy status. Its value is in its purpose of communion with God.
• that toucheth (Hebrew: יִגַּע - yiggaʿ): From the verb נגע (nagaʿ), meaning to touch, reach, smite. It implies a direct physical contact that results in transfer of ritual impurity. This highlights the contagious nature of uncleanness within the Mosaic Law; defilement could spread by mere contact.
• any unclean thing (Hebrew: כָּל־טָמֵא - kol-tame’): "Unclean" (טָמֵא - tame') refers to a state of ritual impurity according to the Mosaic Law (e.g., from touching a dead body, certain animals, skin diseases, or bodily discharges). It is distinct from moral sin. The phrase "any unclean thing" emphasizes the comprehensive scope of defilement; any source of impurity is sufficient to render the sacred meat unacceptable.
• shall not be eaten (Hebrew: לֹא יֵאָכֵל - lo ye'akhel): A definitive prohibition. The purpose of the meat as sacred food for communion is entirely nullified by its contamination. To eat it would be an act of desecration, turning a holy thing into something defiled, hence making the one who eats also unclean.
• it shall be burnt with fire (Hebrew: בָּאֵשׁ יִשָּׂרֵף - ba'esh yissareph): The prescribed method of disposal for defiled sacred meat. Burning served multiple purposes: it ensured complete destruction of the defiled object, prevented any possible misuse, and ritually separated the impurity from the camp and from potential consumption. Fire in biblical context often symbolizes purification, judgment, or total consumption.
• and as for the flesh (Hebrew: וְהַבָּשָׂר - v'habasar): This reiterates "the flesh," serving as a conjunction to introduce the contrasting instruction for the undefiled portion. It indicates a transition back to the edible, uncontaminated part of the offering.
• all that be clean (Hebrew: כָּל־טָהוֹר - kol-tahor): "Clean" (טָהוֹר - tahor) is the state of ritual purity, the opposite of tame’. Only those free from ritual impurity were permitted to partake. This reinforces the sanctity of the peace offering meal as a fellowship with a holy God, which requires purity from participants.
• shall eat thereof (Hebrew: יֹאכַל בָּהּ - yokhal bah): This is the clear permission for consumption, but with the strict prerequisite of being ritually clean. It defines the boundary of participation in the sacred meal, underscoring the communal and holy aspect of the peace offering.

• Flesh that toucheth any unclean thing: This phrase specifically identifies the condition under which sacred food becomes profaned. It underscores the principle that uncleanness is highly contagious and spreads upon contact, even to objects set apart for God. The proximity of holiness to defilement renders the holy thing unfit for sacred use.
• shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: This pair of clauses presents the absolute, two-part consequence for sacred meat that has become defiled. First, a prohibition on consumption; second, a command for destruction. This demonstrates the zero-tolerance policy for defilement in sacred matters and the seriousness with which God views the purity of things consecrated to Him. The burning ensures total removal of the profaned item, symbolizing removal of defilement from the sacred realm.
• all that be clean shall eat thereof: This clause stands in stark contrast to the preceding prohibition. It sets the condition for acceptable participation in the peace offering meal. Only those who have met the stringent requirements of ritual purity are granted the privilege to partake. This emphasizes the distinct separation between the ritually pure and the impure, underscoring God's demand for holiness in all who draw near to Him or partake in His holy provisions. It reinforces the exclusive nature of sacred fellowship, reserved for the purified.

Leviticus 7 19 Bonus section

The strong emphasis on burning in this verse, and throughout Leviticus for defiled or leftover sacred things, served as a tangible expression of nullification and boundary enforcement. It was a complete removal from human use and interaction, returning it, in essence, to nothingness or its most basic elements. This reflected God's uncompromising nature regarding holiness—contamination could not merely be "washed off" or set aside; it demanded irreversible separation. The "contagion" of uncleanness, a pervasive concept in the Levitical laws, means that purity ( holiness) can be tainted by contact with impurity, while impurity generally overwhelms purity unless specifically addressed by a divine protocol. This principle reinforces the delicate nature of approaching a holy God.

Leviticus 7 19 Commentary

Leviticus 7:19 underscores the profound importance of purity within the covenant community, particularly concerning sacred things consecrated to God. The verse reveals a fundamental principle of Old Covenant worship: God's holiness cannot tolerate defilement. Any part of the peace offering, a sacrifice symbolizing communion with God, that became ritually unclean through contact, ceased to be acceptable for consumption. This was not a moral judgment on the meat itself, but a recognition of its sacred status requiring impeccable ritual purity. Burning the defiled meat was the divine mandate for its disposal, ensuring it could not be profaned by human consumption or association with impurity. Conversely, only the ritually clean could partake of the undefiled portions, affirming that fellowship with a holy God necessitated a purified state from His people. This distinction powerfully teaches that divine interaction requires human conformity to divine standards of purity, illustrating the seriousness with which God protects His holy space and provisions from any stain of uncleanness.