Leviticus 11:4 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:4 mean?

Leviticus 11:4 states that the Israelites were not allowed to eat certain animals, even if those animals chewed the cud or had divided hooves, using the camel as an example. The camel chews the cud but does not have a divided hoof, so it is considered unclean and not to be eaten.

In this verse, God is giving Moses and Aaron specific dietary instructions for the Israelites. The focus is on identifying which animals are considered clean or unclean for food, based on physical characteristics. The camel is singled out because, although it chews the cud (a sign of a clean animal), it does not have a split hoof, so it does not meet both requirements.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:4

• "Chew" (עָלָה, `alah): This word means "to go up" or "to bring up," and in this context, it refers to the animal bringing up food to chew it again, which is what ruminants do. This detail matters because it clarifies what "chewing the cud" actually means.
• "Cud" (גֵּרָה, gerah): This word refers to the partially digested food that ruminant animals regurgitate and chew again. Understanding this helps explain why some animals were considered for the clean/unclean distinction.
• "Divide" (פָּרַס, paras): This verb means "to split" or "to divide," and here it describes the physical characteristic of the hoof. The requirement is not just for the hoof to be split, but fully divided.
• "Hoof" (פַּרְסָה, parsah): This word refers to the hard covering of the foot in certain animals. The verse emphasizes that both chewing the cud and having a divided hoof are needed for an animal to be considered clean.

Why Leviticus 11:4 matters

• Leviticus 11:4 clarifies that both chewing the cud and having a divided hoof are required for an animal to be clean, not just one or the other. This prevents confusion about which animals could be eaten.
• The verse highlights the careful attention to physical details in the dietary laws, showing that the rules were specific and not arbitrary.
• By using the camel as an example, the verse helps the reader understand how to apply the general rule to specific animals, making the law practical and understandable for everyday life.