Leviticus 11:3 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:3 mean?

Leviticus 11:3 gives the Israelites a clear rule about which animals they are allowed to eat: only animals that both have split hooves and chew the cud are permitted as food. This verse sets out a basic guideline for distinguishing clean land animals from unclean ones in Israel’s dietary laws.

In this part of Leviticus, God is speaking to Moses and Aaron, instructing them on how the people of Israel should live as a distinct community. The verse is part of a larger section listing which animals are considered clean or unclean, shaping daily life and religious practice for the Israelites.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:3

• "parteth" (פָּרַס, pāras) means to split or divide, specifically referring to the hoof being split into two parts. This detail is important because it is not just any hoof, but a divided one, that qualifies an animal as clean.
• "hoof" (פַּרְסָה, parsāh) refers to the hard covering of an animal’s foot. The focus on the hoof’s structure shows the importance of visible, physical traits in these laws.
• "clovenfooted" (שֶׁסַע, shesa‘ and שָׁסַע, shāsa‘) describes an animal whose hoof is split or cleft into two parts. This word emphasizes the requirement for a fully divided hoof, not just a partially split one.
• "cheweth" (עָלָה, ‘ālāh) means to bring up or to chew again, pointing to the process of rumination, where an animal regurgitates and re-chews its food.
• "cud" (גֵּרָה, gērāh) is the partially digested food that certain animals bring up and chew again. This trait, along with the split hoof, is a key marker of a clean animal.
• "beasts" (בְּהֵמָה, behemah) refers broadly to land animals or cattle, setting the scope for which creatures these rules apply to.
• "eat" (אָכַל, ’ākal) simply means to consume as food, making clear that these are rules about diet.

Why Leviticus 11:3 matters

• This verse clarifies that both traits—chewing the cud and having a split hoof—are required for an animal to be considered clean, clearing up confusion about animals that have only one of these features.
• The focus on physical characteristics shows how the Israelites’ diet was tied to visible, everyday distinctions, making the law practical and easy to follow.
• Leviticus 11:3 is foundational for understanding later discussions about clean and unclean animals in the Bible, and it shapes Jewish dietary practices (kashrut) up to the present day.