Ezekiel 44:31
◄  Ezekiel 44:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The priests must not eat anything, whether bird or animal, found dead or torn by wild animals.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The priests may not eat meat from any bird or animal that dies a natural death or that dies after being attacked by another animal.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The priests shall not eat of anything, whether bird or beast, that has died of itself or is torn by wild animals.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"The priests shall not eat any bird or beast that has died a natural death or has been torn to pieces.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
The priests may not eat any bird or animal that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts."

International Standard Version (©2012)
However, the priests are not to eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or that has been torn apart."

NET Bible (©2006)
The priests will not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or was torn to pieces by a wild animal.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The priests must never eat any bird or animal that has died naturally or was killed by other wild animals.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The priests shall not eat of anything that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

American King James Version
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

American Standard Version
The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or beast.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself or caught by a beast, whether it be fowl or cattle.

Darby Bible Translation
The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or of that which is torn, whether of fowl or of beast.

English Revised Version
The priests shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

Webster's Bible Translation
The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether of fowl or beast.

World English Bible
The priests shall not eat of anything that dies of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or animal.

Young's Literal Translation
Any carcase and torn thing, of the fowl, and of the beasts, the priests do not eat.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

44:1-31 This chapter contains ordinances relative to the true priests. The prince evidently means Christ, and the words in ver. 2, may remind us that no other can enter heaven, the true sanctuary, as Christ did; namely, by virtue of his own excellency, and his personal holiness, righteousness, and strength. He who is the Brightness of Jehovah's glory entered by his own holiness; but that way is shut to the whole human race, and we all must enter as sinners, by faith in his blood, and by the power of his grace.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - The commandment of the Mosaic Law is here renewed against eating the flesh of any fowl or beast that had either died a natural death or been mangled in the killing (comp. Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8) - a commandment which, while enjoined specially upon the priests (Leviticus 22:8), was equally binding upon all (Exodus 20:31; Deuteronomy 14:21).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The priests shall not eat of anything that is dead of itself, or torn,.... They shall have no need to eat of such things, being plentifully provided for with better; nor will it become them so to do through avarice, not allowing themselves to enjoy what is liberally given them. Here the Jewish doctors (t) observe that it is said, the priests shall not eat of these things, suggesting that Israelites might; this puzzles them, therefore they say, Elijah will explain this verse; and the gloss says, till Elijah comes, and explains it to us, we know not how to explain it. In the mystic sense it may signify, that the priests of the Lord should have no communication with such as are dead in sin, or are given to rapine and violence, and should abstain from everything of this kind themselves.

Whether it be fowl or beast; whether Pharisees and high flown professors of religion, or earthly and worldly persons, and such that are immersed in carnal pleasures, in sensual and brutish lusts. The allusion is to the law in Leviticus 17:15, which was common to all Israelites, priests and people.

(t) T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 45. 1.

Ezekiel 44:31 Parallel Commentaries

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Rules for the Levites
…29They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering: and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30And the first of all the first fruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in your house. 31The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.

Leviticus 11:40 Anyone who eats some of its carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash their clothes, and they will be unclean till evening.
Leviticus 22:8 He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, and so become unclean through it. I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 14:21 Do not eat anything you find already dead. You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.
Ezekiel 4:14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth."