Berean Study Bible Clean and Unclean AnimalsIsrael belonged to God in a covenant relationship marked by His fatherly care and authority. Their conduct was to reflect the holiness of the God who had chosen them. Exo 4:22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says:… do not cut yourselves Pagan mourning rites often included self-inflicted wounds, sometimes connected with attempts to honor or seek help from the dead. Israel was not to imitate practices rooted in idolatry and superstition. Lev 19:28 You must not make any cuts in your bodies for the dead… or shave your foreheads on behalf of the dead, Mourning was permitted, but not in forms associated with surrounding nations and their religious customs. God’s people were to grieve with confidence in His sovereignty over life and death. Lev 21:5 Priests must not make bald spots on their heads,… for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Israel belonged to the LORD in a unique covenant relationship. Their holiness, meaning being set apart for a special purpose, required separation from the idolatry and moral corruption of surrounding nations, reflecting God’s character through obedience to His commands. Exo 19:6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests… The LORD has chosen you Israel’s election rested on God’s purpose and faithfulness, not on Israel’s size, strength, or righteousness. Through Abraham’s descendants, God established a people through whom He would preserve His covenant promises and bring blessing to the nations. Deu 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.… to be a people for His prized possession Israel was God’s treasured possession, claimed by Him and valued for His purposes. Their privileged place carried the obligation to live as His people, honoring Him among the nations. Exo 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,… out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. Though the LORD rules over every nation, He set Israel apart to receive His law, worship Him alone, and bear witness to His holiness. Israel’s calling formed part of God’s redemptive plan, fulfilled through the Messiah, who brings salvation to people from every nation. Deu 10:15 Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers… You must not eat Israel’s dietary laws marked the people as holy to the Lord and distinguished them from surrounding nations. Obedience in ordinary meals reinforced their covenant identity and taught that every area of life belonged under God’s rule. Jesus later declared all foods clean, fulfilling the ceremonial purpose of these restrictions and directing attention to the purity of the heart. Ezk 4:14 “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself.”… any detestable thing. Animals designated unclean under the Mosaic Law were not to be eaten. The distinctions between clean and unclean taught Israel to recognize the difference between what God set apart and what He forbade. Under the new covenant, believers are no longer bound by Israel’s food laws, yet God’s call for His people to remain separate from sin continues. Lev 11:41-42 Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable;… These are the animals that you may eat: God distinguished Israel from the surrounding nations through laws that governed daily life, including food. These commands taught Israel to live as His covenant people in obedience and holiness. Gen 9:3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you;… The ox, Cattle were important for plowing, transportation, milk, meat, and sacrifice. Their strength made them essential to Israel’s agricultural life. Lev 3:1-5 If one’s offering is a peace offering… the sheep, Sheep supplied wool, milk, and meat and were regularly brought for sacrifice. They also became a familiar picture of God’s people under His care. Lev 3:7-11 If he is presenting a lamb for his offering,… the goat, Goats provided milk, meat, and hair and were used in several offerings. On the Day of Atonement, a goat carried away the sins confessed over it, portraying the removal of guilt from the people. Lev 3:12-16 If one’s offering is a goat, he is to present it… the deer, Deer were permitted as food under Israel’s dietary laws and were among the wild game found throughout the land. Their grace and speed made them familiar figures in daily life. Pro 5:19 A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always;… the gazelle, Gazelles were also clean animals and were prized for their beauty, agility, and abundance in the open country. Sng 2:9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.… the roe deer, The roe deer represents another smaller species of deer available for food, showing that God’s provision included a range of animals suited to the land. 1Ki 4:23 ten fat oxen, twenty range oxen,… the wild goat, Wild goats lived among the rocky heights and dry wilderness areas, where their sure-footedness enabled them to survive in difficult terrain. 1Sa 24:2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel… the ibex, The ibex, with its distinctive curved horns, was another mountain-dwelling animal permitted for Israel’s use. 2Sa 22:34 He makes my feet like those of a deer… the antelope, Antelope were swift animals of the plains and open regions, adding to the variety of clean game available to the people. Gen 27:3 Take your weapons—your quiver and bow—and go out… and the mountain sheep. Mountain sheep inhabited rugged country and were valued for their strength and endurance. Together, these animals show that the dietary laws distinguished between clean and unclean creatures while allowing Israel to receive the good provision of the land. Mat 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep… You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two Israel’s food laws distinguished clean animals from unclean ones through visible, objective marks. An animal’s fully divided hoof identified it as belonging to the class permitted for food, helping preserve Israel’s separation from surrounding nations and their religious practices. Lev 11:26 Every animal with hooves not completely divided… and that chews the cud. The animal also had to be a ruminant, repeatedly chewing regurgitated food. Both conditions were required; an animal possessing only one was unclean. These commands governed Israel’s covenant life and reinforced the holiness God required of His people. Lev 11:4 But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof;… But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, Israel’s food laws required both marks for an animal to be clean. The regulations governed ordinary life and reinforced the distinction God established between Israel and the surrounding peoples. Lev 11:2-3 Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth,… you are not to eat the following: Animals lacking either required feature were forbidden as food. Obedience in such daily matters formed part of Israel’s covenant responsibility before the Lord. Lev 11:8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses;… the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. These animals were known in the lands of Israel and the wilderness. Though associated with chewing the cud, none possessed the fully divided hoof required for clean animals. Lev 11:4 But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof;… Although they chew the cud, Their feeding habits gave the appearance associated with cud-chewing animals, but that characteristic did not override the full requirement of the law. Ezk 44:23 They are to teach My people the difference… they do not have a divided hoof. The absence of a completely divided hoof identified them as outside the class of animals permitted for Israel’s food. Lev 11:26 Every animal with hooves not completely divided… They are unclean for you, They were not to be eaten by Israelites. The command preserved the boundaries God set for His people and called them to obedience in their daily conduct. Lev 11:43-47 Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature;… as well as the pig; Pigs were excluded from Israel’s diet and marked as unclean among the animals listed in the law. This restriction set Israel apart from neighboring peoples who commonly ate pork. Mrk 5:11-13 There on the nearby hillside, a large herd… though it has a divided hoof, A divided hoof was one required mark of a clean land animal, but it was not sufficient by itself. Lev 11:7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof… it does not chew the cud. Because the pig did not meet both requirements, it remained unclean despite its divided hoof. Lev 11:26 Every animal with hooves not completely divided… It is unclean for you. Israel’s food laws governed ceremonial cleanliness and reinforced the nation’s distinct calling before God. Lev 20:25 You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean… You must not eat its meat Eating pork was forbidden as an act of covenant obedience. Lev 11:8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses;… or touch its carcass. Contact with its dead body brought ceremonial uncleanness and required the prescribed cleansing. Lev 11:24 These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches… Of all the creatures that live in the water, Israel’s food laws extended to rivers, lakes, and seas, where fish and other aquatic creatures were readily available. These commands distinguished Israel from surrounding peoples and formed part of the covenant order that marked the nation as holy before the Lord. Gen 1:20-21 And God said, “Let the waters teem with living creatures,… you may eat anything with fins and scales, Fish possessing both features were permitted as food, while creatures lacking either were excluded. The rule gave Israel a visible and practical standard for obedience, even in ordinary meals, reminding the people that every area of life belonged under God’s command. Lev 11:9-12 Of all the creatures that live in the water,… but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; Israel was forbidden to eat aquatic creatures lacking both fins and scales. These dietary boundaries distinguished clean animals from unclean ones and formed part of the covenant obligations given through Moses. They marked Israel as a people set apart for the Lord and taught obedience in ordinary matters of life. Lev 11:10 But the following among all the teeming life and creatures… it is unclean for you. Such creatures were ceremonially unclean and could not be eaten by Israelites. The restriction concerned covenant purity rather than the moral character of the animal itself. These laws reminded Israel of its distinct calling among the nations. Under the new covenant, Christ fulfilled the ceremonial requirements of the law, and holiness is shown through faith and obedience flowing from a cleansed heart. Lev 11:46-47 This is the law regarding animals, birds… You may eat God permitted Israel to receive food from His provision while obeying the boundaries He established for covenant life. Dietary obedience marked the nation as distinct and kept daily needs connected to worship and holiness. Gen 9:3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you;… any clean bird, Birds designated as clean could be eaten, while predatory and scavenging birds were excluded. The distinction reinforced Israel’s calling to discern what God declared holy and to live according to His commands. Gen 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD… but these you may not eat: Israel’s food laws marked the people as distinct as a holy people in their daily life under God’s covenant. Birds associated with predation, carrion, and death were excluded from the diet, reinforcing the pattern of holiness required in the land. Lev 11:13-19 Additionally, you are to detest the following birds,… the eagle, Though admired for its strength and flight, the eagle was a bird of prey and was not permitted as food. Its place among the forbidden birds shows that usefulness or grandeur did not determine ceremonial cleanliness. Job 39:27-30 Does the eagle soar at your command and make his nest… the bearded vulture, This large scavenging bird feeds on carrion and bones. Its habits placed it among the birds Israel was to avoid, preserving the separation between clean food and animals connected with decay. Mat 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather. the black vulture, The black vulture also feeds on carcasses and was therefore unclean for Israel’s use. The prohibition formed part of the practical, visible obedience God required from His people. Ezk 39:17-20 And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says:… the red kite, A scavenging bird of prey common in the land, the red kite was excluded from Israel’s diet as unclean. Ezk 39:4 On the mountains of Israel you will fall… the falcon, Falcons were swift and powerful hunters, known throughout the ancient Near East. Their inclusion marked them as unsuitable for food under the covenant laws. Lev 11:16 the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, any kind of kite, All varieties of kite were forbidden, showing that Israel’s dietary boundaries extended to the whole group of these carrion-feeding birds. Lev 11:14 the kite, any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, Ravens and related birds were forbidden as food among Israel’s unclean birds. Their scavenging habits, including feeding on carrion, made them unsuitable for the diet God prescribed for His people. These distinctions set Israel apart from surrounding nations and taught obedience in ordinary matters of life. Although ravens could be used by God for His purposes, including providing food for Elijah during the drought, their ceremonial uncleanness remained part of the law given to Israel. Lev 11:15 any kind of raven, the ostrich, A large, flightless bird of Africa and the Middle East, the ostrich was known for its size, speed, and habitation of open, barren country. Its presence among unclean birds marked it as unsuitable for Israel’s food. Job 39:13-18 The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match… the screech owl, This nocturnal bird was associated with lonely ruins and desolate places. Its inclusion among the unclean birds fit the separation required in Israel’s diet. Isa 34:14 The desert creatures will meet with hyenas… the gull, Common along the Mediterranean coast and inland waters, gulls feed on fish, carrion, and refuse. Their scavenging habits placed them among the birds Israel was forbidden to eat. Zep 2:14 Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind.… any kind of hawk, Hawks are swift birds of prey that hunt smaller animals and birds. Every variety was excluded from Israel’s diet, maintaining the distinction between clean and unclean creatures. Lev 11:14 the kite, any kind of falcon, the little owl, The little owl was among the birds Israel was forbidden to eat. Its nocturnal habits and association with lonely, ruined places suited its place among creatures regarded as unclean under the Law. Lev 11:17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the great owl, The prohibition included larger owls as well, showing that Israel’s dietary distinctions extended across the kinds of birds known to the people. Owls often appeared in desolate settings, imagery later associated with devastation and judgment. Lev 11:18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the white owl, The inclusion of the white owl completed this portion of the list of forbidden owls. Such detailed commands marked Israel as a people set apart, teaching them to observe God’s distinctions in ordinary matters of life. Lev 11:19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. the desert owl, The desert owl was counted among the birds Israel was forbidden to eat. Its association with barren and abandoned places made it a fitting image of desolation under God’s judgment. Psa 102:6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. the osprey, The osprey is a powerful fish-eating bird of prey commonly found near rivers, lakes, and coastlands. Though skillful in hunting, it was excluded from Israel’s food, reinforcing the distinction between what was clean and unclean. Lev 11:13 Additionally, you are to detest the following birds,… the cormorant, The cormorant is a water bird that dives for fish and often lives along shorelines and marshes. Its inclusion among unclean birds reminded Israel that holiness involved obedience to God’s commands in ordinary matters of life. Lev 11:17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the stork, Storks were common migratory birds in the land of Israel, recognizable by their long legs, necks, and broad wings. Though they are known for caring attentively for their young, they were forbidden as food because they belonged to the birds God designated as unclean. Their diet included small animals, reptiles, and carrion. Psa 104:17 where the birds build their nests; the stork makes her home… any kind of heron, Herons inhabited marshes, streams, and coastal areas throughout the region. These long-legged wading birds fed on fish, frogs, insects, and other small creatures. Every variety was included among the unclean birds, leaving no distinction between related species. Lev 11:19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. the hoopoe, The hoopoe was a familiar bird in the Middle East, marked by its crested head and curved bill. It fed largely on insects and larvae and often searched for food in the ground. It too was excluded from Israel’s diet under the laws given by God. Lev 11:17-19 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,… or the bat. Though bats are mammals according to modern classification, they were grouped with flying creatures in the biblical list. Their nocturnal habits and insect-based diet placed them among the animals Israel was not permitted to eat. Isa 2:20 In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats… All flying insects are unclean for you; Israel’s dietary laws marked certain creatures as unsuitable for food and set the nation apart in its daily life under God’s covenant. These boundaries reinforced the holiness God required of His people. Lev 11:20 All flying insects that walk on all fours… they may not be eaten. The prohibition was to be observed as God’s command, not left to individual preference. Israel’s food practices continually identified them as a people belonging to the Lord. Lev 11:47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean… But you may eat God permitted Israel to eat birds not prohibited in the preceding laws, providing for their daily needs while preserving the distinctions He established for His covenant people. Lev 11:2-3 Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth,… any clean bird. Clean birds were suitable for food because they met the standards God gave Israel, reinforcing obedience and separation from the practices of surrounding nations. Gen 8:20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD… You are not to eat any carcass; An animal that died naturally was unclean for Israel to eat. The restriction marked obedience to God’s ordering of daily life and kept His people distinct from the practices of surrounding nations. Lev 11:39-40 If an animal that you may eat dies, anyone… you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. The animal was not forbidden as ordinary commerce or aid to non-Israelites. Israel, however, was bound by covenant obligations that did not apply in the same way to those outside the nation. Lev 17:15 And any person, whether native or foreigner… For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. Israel’s conduct was to reflect its belonging to the LORD. Their food laws, worship, justice, and family life were all governed by their calling as a people set apart for Him. Deu 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.… You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. This command prohibited a practice connected with pagan worship and rejected the mixing of life-giving milk with the death of the young animal. Israel was not to adopt the religious customs of Canaan or treat God’s created order with contempt. Exo 34:26 Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil…
Giving TithesIsrael was required to treat this obligation as a deliberate act of covenant obedience, acknowledging God as the giver of the land and its increase. Num 18:28 So you are to present an offering to the LORD… a tenth of all the produce A tenth of the harvest belonged to the Lord and supported the worship and ministry established among His people. Lev 27:30 Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed… brought forth each year The command followed the yearly harvest cycle, making gratitude and dependence on God a regular part of Israel’s life. 2Ch 31:5-6 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites provided… from your fields. Since the land and its produce were gifts received under God’s covenant, returning a portion recognized His ownership and Israel’s responsibility as stewards. Deu 24:19 If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf… And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, Israel was to bring the tithe of its harvest and the firstborn of its animals to the appointed sanctuary. Grain, wine, and oil represented the ordinary produce by which families lived, while the firstborn belonged especially to the LORD. The sacred meal acknowledged that the land, increase, and livestock had come from God’s provision. Deu 12:17-18 Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain… in the presence of the LORD your God The tithe was consumed as part of worship, not as a private meal. Families gathered before the LORD in covenant fellowship, rejoicing in His gifts and recognizing His authority over their lives. Deu 12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God,… at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, Worship was not to be shaped by local custom or conducted at pagan high places. God would designate one central sanctuary for Israel’s worship, a place later established in Jerusalem with the temple. This united the tribes under the worship of the one true God. Deu 12:11 then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name.… so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. Regular participation in this worship taught Israel reverence, obedience, and dependence upon the LORD. Remembering His provision was meant to preserve the nation’s faithfulness throughout each generation. Deu 31:12-13 Assemble the people—men, women, children… But if the distance is too great for you to carry God made provision for Israelites who lived far from the sanctuary and could not reasonably transport a tithe of crops or animals over long distances. Worship at the place He chose was required, but the law accounted for the practical realities of travel across the land. Deu 12:21 If the place where the LORD your God chooses… that with which the LORD your God has blessed you, The tithe came from the increase God had given through fields, flocks, and herds. Israel’s material prosperity was to be received as His provision rather than as an independent human achievement. Deu 16:17 Everyone must appear with a gift as he is able,… because the place where the LORD your God will choose Israel was to worship at the central sanctuary appointed by God, first associated with the tabernacle and later established at Jerusalem. This guarded the nation from adopting the scattered high places and local worship practices of the surrounding peoples. Deu 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God… to put His Name God identified the sanctuary as the place where He would cause His Name to dwell, marking it as the authorized center of Israel’s covenant worship and the visible testimony of His presence among them. 1Ki 8:29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day,… is too far away, Distance did not release an Israelite from the duty to bring the tithe before the LORD; it provided the reason for the alternative arrangement described in the following verses. 1Ki 8:46-50 When they sin against You—for there is no one… then exchange it for money, If the distance to the place of worship made transporting the tithe impractical, the produce or livestock could be sold and converted to money. This provision ensured that Israelites could still bring their tithe without neglecting the Lord’s command. Lev 27:27 But if it is among the unclean animals, then… take the money in your hand, The worshiper was personally responsible to carry the proceeds of the tithe to the appointed sanctuary. The requirement preserved both the value of the offering and the individual’s participation in Israel’s worship. Deu 12:26 But you are to take your holy things and your vow offerings… and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Israel was to worship at the location God designated rather than according to personal preference or local custom. This command promoted obedience, unity among the tribes, and the proper worship of the Lord. Deu 12:5 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God… Then you may spend the money on anything you desire: Israelites living far from the chosen place of worship could convert their tithe produce into silver and carry the money there. This provision made obedience possible without diminishing the duty to worship before the LORD. Deu 12:20-21 When the LORD your God expands your territory you may eat it… cattle, sheep, wine, strong drink, or anything you wish. The money could be used for animals and beverages suitable for the festival meal, according to God’s commands. The tithe celebrated the LORD’s provision and supported joyful worship at the sanctuary. Deu 12:17-18 Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain… You are to feast there in the presence of the LORD your God The meal was shared at the place God chose for His name, acknowledging that the land’s abundance came from Him. Worship included offerings, fellowship, and grateful enjoyment of His gifts. Deu 12:7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God,… and rejoice with your household. The entire household participated, making worship and remembrance of God’s faithfulness a central part of family life. Deu 12:12 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God… And do not neglect the Levite within your gates, Levites lived throughout Israel’s towns rather than in a tribal territory of their own. Their service in worship, instruction, and the care of holy things depended on the faithful support of the surrounding community. Deu 12:19 and be careful not to neglect the Levites.… since he has no portion or inheritance among you. The Levites received no inherited farmland in Canaan because the Lord assigned them to His service. Israel’s tithes and offerings provided for their households, reminding the nation that those devoted to the work of God were not to be overlooked. Deu 10:9 That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance… At the end of every three years, Israel was to set aside a special tithe at the close of each third year. This provision recognized the needs of Levites, who received no tribal land inheritance, and established an orderly means of caring for vulnerable members of the community. Amo 4:4 Go to Bethel and transgress; rebel even more at Gilgal!… bring a tenth of all your produce for that year The tithe came from the harvest God had given—grain, wine, oil, fruit, and livestock increase. It acknowledged that the land and its abundance belonged to the Lord and provided material support for those dependent on the community’s faithfulness. Lev 27:30-33 Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed… and lay it up within your gates. The produce was stored locally in each town rather than carried to the central sanctuary. Keeping it within the gates made it accessible to the Levite, the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow, ensuring that those without land or household support could share in Israel’s provision. Neh 10:37-39 Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms… Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), The Levites received no tribal territory because the Lord assigned them to serve in matters of worship and to assist the people in their covenant life. Their needs were supplied through the tithes brought by Israel. Deu 18:1-2 The Levitical priests shall have no portion… the foreigner, Resident foreigners lived among Israel without the protections and land holdings enjoyed by native families. God required His people to include them in the community’s provision rather than treat them as outsiders without recourse. Lev 19:33-34 When a foreigner resides with you in your land,… the fatherless, Children without fathers were especially exposed to poverty and exploitation in a society where household support and inheritance normally came through the father. Israel was responsible to see that they were not abandoned. Psa 68:5 A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows… and the widow within your gates Widows often lacked financial security after the loss of their husbands. The responsibility belonged to the towns and households where they lived, making care for the vulnerable a practical part of Israel’s obedience. Exo 22:22-24 You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.… may come and eat and be satisfied. The tithe was to provide sufficient food for those with no dependable inheritance, land, or household provider. God intended that the needy share in the abundance He had given His people. Deu 26:12-13 When you have finished laying aside a tenth… And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands. As Israel faithfully honored the Lord with its increase and cared for those dependent on His provision, He promised to bless their labor and the produce of their land. Deu 24:19 If you are harvesting in your field and forget a sheaf… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. 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