Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves about in the water and every creature that moves along the ground. New Living Translation “These are the instructions regarding land animals, birds, marine creatures, and animals that scurry along the ground. English Standard Version This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, Berean Standard Bible This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. Berean Literal Bible This is the law of the beast and the bird and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that swarms upon the earth, King James Bible This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: New King James Version ‘This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, New American Standard Bible This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, NASB 1995 This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, NASB 1977 This is the law regarding the animal, and the bird, and every living thing that moves in the waters, and everything that swarms on the earth, Legacy Standard Bible This is the law regarding the animal and the bird and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, Amplified Bible This is the law regarding the animal and the bird and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth, Berean Annotated Bible This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. Christian Standard Bible “This is the law concerning animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground, Holman Christian Standard Bible This is the law concerning animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the ground, American Standard Version This is the law of the beast, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth; English Revised Version This is the law of the beast, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: GOD'S WORD® Translation "These are the instructions about animals, birds, and every living creature that swims in the water and every creature that swarms on the ground. Good News Translation This, then, is the law about animals and birds, about everything that lives in the water, and everything that moves on the ground. International Standard Version This is the law concerning animals, every living creature that moves on the waters or swarms on land. NET Bible This is the law of the land animals, the birds, all the living creatures that move in the water, and all the creatures that swarm on the land, New Heart English Bible "'This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that crawls on the earth, Webster's Bible Translation This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThis is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. World English Bible “‘This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionThis [is] a law of the beasts, and of the bird, and of every living creature which is moving in the waters, and of every creature which is teeming on the earth, Berean Literal Bible This is the law of the beast and the bird and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that swarms upon the earth, Young's Literal Translation This is a law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature which is moving in the waters, and of every creature which is teeming on the earth, Smith's Literal Translation This the law of cattle, and of bird, and of every living soul creeping in the water, and for every soul creeping upon the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou shall be holy, because I am holy. This is the law of beasts and fowls, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and creepeth on the earth: Catholic Public Domain Version This is the law of animals and flying things, and of every living soul that moves in the waters or creeps upon the land, New American Bible This is the instruction for land animals, birds, and all the creatures that move about in the water, as well as any animal that swarms on the ground, New Revised Standard Version This is the law pertaining to land animal and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms upon the earth, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThis is the law of beast and of fowl and of every living creature that moves in the water and of every creature that creeps upon the earth; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated This is the Written Law of cattle and of birds and of every living soul that swarms in water and of every soul that creeps in the Earth: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917This is the law of the beast, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that swarmeth upon the earth; Brenton Septuagint Translation This is the law concerning beasts and birds and every living creature moving in the water, and every living creature creeping on the earth; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Clean and Unclean Animals…45For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. 46This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. 47You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.’ ”… Cross References This is the law regarding animals, Deuteronomy 14:4-8 These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud. … Leviticus 20:25-26 You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. / You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own. Genesis 7:2-3 You are to take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate; / and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth. birds, Deuteronomy 14:11-18 You may eat any clean bird, / but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, / the red kite, the falcon, any kind of kite, … Leviticus 1:14-17 If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon. / Then the priest shall bring it to the altar, twist off its head, and burn it on the altar; its blood should be drained out on the side of the altar. / And he is to remove the crop with its contents and throw it to the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. … Genesis 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar. all living creatures that move in the water, Deuteronomy 14:9-10 Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything with fins and scales, / but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you. Genesis 1:20-21 And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” / So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good. Psalm 104:25-26 Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. / There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. and all creatures that crawl along the ground. Genesis 7:8-9 The clean and unclean animals, the birds, and everything that crawls along the ground / came to Noah to enter the ark, two by two, male and female, as God had commanded Noah. Genesis 7:21-23 And every living thing that moved upon the earth perished—birds, livestock, animals, every creature that swarms upon the earth, and all mankind. / Of all that was on dry land, everything that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. / And every living thing on the face of the earth was destroyed—man and livestock, crawling creatures and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth, and only Noah and those with him in the ark remained. Genesis 1:24-25 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. / God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Acts 10:12-15 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. / Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” … Mark 7:18-19 “Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) Romans 14:14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. Treasury of Scripture This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth: Leviticus 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; Leviticus 14:54 This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall, Leviticus 15:32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith; Jump to Previous Animal Animals Beast Beasts Bird Birds Cattle Crawleth Creature Creepeth Creeps Earth Flat Fowl Goes Ground Law Moves Moveth Moving Pertaining Regarding Regulations Soul Swarmeth Swarms Teeming Water WatersJump to Next Animal Animals Beast Beasts Bird Birds Cattle Crawleth Creature Creepeth Creeps Earth Flat Fowl Goes Ground Law Moves Moveth Moving Pertaining Regarding Regulations Soul Swarmeth Swarms Teeming Water WatersLeviticus 11 1. What animals may be eaten4. and what may not be eaten 9. What fishes 13. What fowls 29. The creeping things which are unclean This is the law regarding animals The laws concerning animals in Leviticus 11 are part of the Holiness Code, which outlines how the Israelites were to live as a people set apart for God. These dietary laws distinguished clean from unclean animals, serving as a daily reminder of their covenant relationship with God. The distinction between clean and unclean animals is also seen in Genesis 7, where Noah is instructed to take clean animals by sevens and unclean by twos into the ark. This separation underscores the theme of holiness and purity that runs throughout the Old Testament. birds all living creatures that move in the water and all creatures that crawl along the ground Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe prophet and leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God, including dietary laws. 2. Israelites The chosen people of God to whom these laws were given as part of their covenant relationship with Him. 3. Mount Sinai The place where Moses received the laws from God, including the dietary laws outlined in Leviticus. 4. Clean and Unclean Animals Categories of animals defined by God to guide the Israelites in their dietary practices. 5. The Wilderness The setting where the Israelites received these laws during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Teaching Points Understanding God's HolinessThe dietary laws were given to set the Israelites apart as a holy nation. They remind us of God's holiness and our call to live distinct lives. Obedience and Trust Following God's commands, even when they seem difficult or unclear, is an act of trust and obedience. This principle applies to all areas of our lives. Symbolism of Purity The distinction between clean and unclean animals symbolizes the importance of spiritual purity and separation from sin. Christ's Fulfillment of the Law Jesus fulfilled the law, including dietary restrictions, allowing us to focus on the heart's condition rather than external observance. Community and Consideration While we have freedom in Christ, we should be considerate of others' convictions and seek unity within the body of Christ. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Leviticus 11:46?2. How does Leviticus 11:46 guide us in discerning clean and unclean animals? 3. What spiritual principles can we derive from Leviticus 11:46 about holiness? 4. How does Leviticus 11:46 connect with New Testament teachings on purity? 5. In what ways can Leviticus 11:46 influence our daily decision-making? 6. How can we apply the concept of discernment from Leviticus 11:46 today? 7. Why does Leviticus 11:46 emphasize distinguishing between clean and unclean animals? 8. How does Leviticus 11:46 relate to modern dietary practices? 9. What is the historical context of Leviticus 11:46? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 11? 11. How does cleanliness relate to godliness in the Bible? 12. Does God disapprove of eating shrimp? 13. Acts 10:9-16 - Does Peter's vision about eating unclean animals contradict Leviticus 11 and God's previous dietary laws? 14. In Leviticus 11:12, all creatures without fins and scales are forbidden. How can this sweeping restriction be justified scientifically? What Does Leviticus 11:46 Mean This is the lawLeviticus 11:46 opens with “This is the law,” a firm reminder that the dietary guidelines just given are not suggestions but divine commands. God’s authority stands behind every detail, just as earlier in the chapter He declared, “For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). When the Lord calls something “law,” He is staking His holy character on it, echoing moments like Exodus 20:1 where His voice introduces the Ten Commandments, and Deuteronomy 6:1 where Moses says, “These are the commands, statutes, and ordinances the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you.” The repetition underlines that obedience is an act of worship, recognizing God’s right to order every corner of life. regarding animals and birds The phrase continues, “regarding animals, birds…,” pointing back to verses 1-23 where God classifies land animals and winged creatures. • Animals with a divided hoof and that chew the cud—such as the ox, sheep, and goat (Leviticus 11:3)—are declared clean, a pattern reiterated in Deuteronomy 14:4-5. • Birds are divided into the clean (like the dove, noted in offerings in Luke 2:24) and the unclean (like the vulture, Leviticus 11:13-19). These distinctions remind us of Genesis 7:2-3, where Noah already knew the difference between clean and unclean animals before the Law was given. Even Jesus referenced birds to illustrate the Father’s care (Matthew 6:26), underscoring that these creatures still testify to God’s order and provision. all living creatures that move in the water Next we read, “all living creatures that move in the water,” directing attention to verses 9-12. • Clean: “Whatever has fins and scales in the seas and in the streams you may eat” (Leviticus 11:9). • Unclean: Anything in the water “without fins and scales” (v. 10). This classification reaches back to Genesis 1:20, where God spoke marine life into existence, and forward to John 21:11, where Jesus provides a miraculous catch—fins and scales present in abundance! The law sets Israel apart, teaching discernment even at the dinner table, so that every meal became a reminder of covenant identity. all creatures that crawl along the ground Finally, “and all creatures that crawl along the ground” covers the insects, lizards, and small animals listed in verses 29-31 and 41-43. • Some locust varieties are clean (v. 22), a helpful protein source in the desert (cf. Mark 1:6, where John the Baptist ate locusts and wild honey). • Most crawling things—mice, geckos, chameleons—are unclean, and touching their carcasses requires purification (Leviticus 11:31). The sweeping scope echoes Genesis 1:24, where every creeping thing is part of God’s creative tapestry, yet Romans 1:23 warns how idolatry can degrade worship by exchanging the glory of God “for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” By defining clean and unclean, the Lord shields Israel from both physical harm and spiritual compromise. summary Leviticus 11:46 serves as God’s closing signature on a chapter that spans cattle to creeping things. He labels these rules “law,” rooting them in His holiness. By specifying land animals, birds, aquatic life, and ground-crawling creatures, the Lord teaches that His concern touches every habitat and habit. Each category recalls earlier Scriptures and anticipates later lessons, showing that obedience, separation from impurity, and daily reminders of God’s character are woven into even the simplest act of eating. (46) This is the law of the beasts.--This is a recapitulation of the different classes of animals proscribed in the dietary laws. It will, however, be seen that in this summary they are not enumerated in the same order in which they are discussed in the chapter before us. In the dietary law the order of the four classes is as follows :--(1) the land animals, (2) the water animals, (3) the birds of the air, and (4) the swarming animals; whilst the order of the summary is:--(1) the land animals, (2) the birds of the air, (3) the water animals, and (4) the swarming animals. Exactly the same is the case in the summary of the sacrificial law. (See Leviticus 7:37-38.)Hebrew Thisזֹ֣את (zōṯ) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, is the law תּוֹרַ֤ת (tō·w·raṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law regarding animals, הַבְּהֵמָה֙ (hab·bə·hê·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal birds, וְהָע֔וֹף (wə·hā·‘ō·wp̄) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5775: Flying creatures all וְכֹל֙ (wə·ḵōl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every living הַֽחַיָּ֔ה (ha·ḥay·yāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life creatures נֶ֣פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion that move הָרֹמֶ֖שֶׂת (hā·rō·me·śeṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 7430: To glide swiftly, to crawl, move with short steps, to swarm in the water, בַּמָּ֑יִם (bam·mā·yim) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen and all וּלְכָל־ (ū·lə·ḵāl-) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every creatures נֶ֖פֶשׁ (ne·p̄eš) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion that crawl הַשֹּׁרֶ֥צֶת (haš·šō·re·ṣeṯ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 8317: To wriggle, swarm, abound along עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the ground. הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land Links Leviticus 11:46 NIVLeviticus 11:46 NLT Leviticus 11:46 ESV Leviticus 11:46 NASB Leviticus 11:46 KJV Leviticus 11:46 BibleApps.com Leviticus 11:46 Biblia Paralela Leviticus 11:46 Chinese Bible Leviticus 11:46 French Bible Leviticus 11:46 Catholic Bible OT Law: Leviticus 11:46 This is the law of the animal (Le Lv Lev.) |
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