Lev 11:1-23 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Lev 11:1-47: 11:1–15:33 These chapters detail the regulations pertaining to purity. The mixing of types of animals was forbidden (see Deut 22:9-11 ) because it represented a violation of the normal created order. “Abnormal” creatures—such as fish without fins and scales, carnivores, crawling insects, and animals without split hooves—cross boundaries between “normal” types and were unfit for food or offerings (see also Deut 14:1-21 ). The dietary laws were meant to distinguish Israel as a holy people from the surrounding nations (Lev 11:44-45 ).

Summary for Lev 11:1-47: 11:1–15:33 ^a These chapters detail the regulations pertaining to purity. The mixing of types of animals was forbidden (see Deut 22:9-11 ^b) because it represented a violation of the normal created order. “Abnormal” creatures—such as fish without fins and scales, carnivores, crawling insects, and animals without split hooves—cross boundaries between “normal” types and were unfit for food or offerings (see also Deut 14:1-21 ^c). The dietary laws were meant to distinguish Israel as a holy people from the surrounding nations (Lev 11:44-45 ^d).
Summary for Lev 11:2-8: 11:2-8 ^e Some scholars have suggested that unclean animals were to be avoided for reasons of public health, but the evidence does not support this. Horse meat, for example, is no less healthy than beef, yet it was considered unclean because the horse does not have a split hoof (see 11:2-3 ^f). The regulations existed because an unclean animal was unacceptable as an offering to God and, therefore, it was also unacceptable as food for God’s people. Jesus proclaimed all foods clean for Christians (Mark 7:14-19 ^g; Acts 10:9-16 ^h).
Summary for Lev 11:2-3: 11:2-3 ⁱ these ... you may use for food: Animals that have split hooves and chew the cud were considered “normal” and ceremonially clean (see also Deut 14:3-21 ^j).
Summary for Lev 11:5-6: 11:5-6 ^k Neither the hyrax nor the hare truly chews the cud, though both appear to. They are considered unclean because they do not have split hooves.
11:9 ^l marine animals: Fish considered clean for the Israelites had both fins and scales.
11:10 ^m The prohibition included fish such as eels and sharks that have fins but not scales, as well as crustaceans and mollusks, which have neither fins nor scales.
Summary for Lev 11:13-19: 11:13-19 ⁿ The list of unclean birds includes birds of prey and scavengers, both of which come in contact with dead animals and blood. This renders them unclean and unfit. Bats (11:19 ^o) fly, but are not birds; they are therefore “abnormal” and ceremonially unclean.
Summary for Lev 11:21-22: 11:21-22 ^p insects that walk along the ground and have jointed legs: This phrase eliminates creatures that creep or crawl low to the ground (11:27 ^q). Leviticus 11:42 ^r indicates that multi-legged creatures, such as centipedes, are unclean. Locusts and grasshoppers are examples of clean insects (see Matt 3:4 ^s).