Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

LEVITICUS 11:36KJV
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Leviticus 11:36 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:36 mean?

Leviticus 11:36 says that a spring or a cistern (a pit with plenty of water) remains clean even if something unclean touches it, but anything that directly touches the dead body (carcase) in the water becomes unclean. This rule makes an exception for large sources of water, which are not made unclean by contact with certain dead things, unlike smaller containers.

In this verse, God is giving Moses and the Israelites specific instructions about ritual cleanliness, especially regarding water sources. The context is a list of laws about clean and unclean animals and what happens if their dead bodies come into contact with various things. The verse recognizes that it would be impractical to declare whole springs or wells unclean, so only direct contact with the dead body makes something unclean.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:36

  • "Fountain" (מַעְיָן, ma‘yan) and "pit" (בּוֹר, bor) both refer to sources of water, but מַעְיָן (ma‘yan) often means a natural spring, while בּוֹר (bor) is a man-made cistern or well. The distinction shows the law covers both natural and artificial water sources.
  • "Plenty" (מַיִם יִהְיֶה, mayim yihyeh) is tied to "water" (מַיִם, mayim), emphasizing that these are large, abundant sources, not just a small vessel. This abundance is why the water as a whole is not made unclean.
  • "Clean" (טָהוֹר, tahor) and "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame) are key ritual terms in Leviticus, marking what is acceptable for worship and daily life. Here, טָהוֹר (tahor) is used for the water source, while טָמֵא (tame) applies to anything that directly touches the dead body.
  • "Carcase" (נְבֵלָה, nevelah) refers to the dead body of an animal considered unclean, which is the source of impurity in this law.

Why Leviticus 11:36 matters

  • This verse clarifies that not everything touched by something unclean automatically becomes unclean, especially when it comes to essential resources like water. It shows a practical approach within the ritual laws.
  • The rule highlights the difference between direct and indirect contact with impurity, which is a recurring theme in Leviticus and helps explain other laws about cleanliness.
  • Leviticus 11:36 connects to the broader chapter, which is about maintaining holiness and health in the community, balancing strictness with everyday needs.

Where else these words appear

“plenty” Hebrew H4723 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
  • 1 Chronicles 29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
  • Jeremiah 14:8 O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?

“fountain” Hebrew H4599 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
  • Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

“carcase” Hebrew H5038 · used in 41 verses

  • Leviticus 5:2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
  • Leviticus 17:15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
  • 2 Kings 9:37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

“pit” Hebrew H953 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
  • 1 Chronicles 11:22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
  • Jeremiah 37:16 When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;