Leviticus 11:5 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:5 mean?

Leviticus 11:5 says that the coney, an animal often thought to be a rock badger or hyrax, is considered unclean for the Israelites because it chews the cud but does not have a divided hoof. This means the Israelites were not allowed to eat this animal according to the dietary laws given by God through Moses.

In this verse, God is giving Moses and Aaron instructions about which animals the Israelites can and cannot eat. The focus here is on animals that seem to have one characteristic of clean animals (chewing the cud) but lack the other (a divided hoof). The verse is part of a larger section listing clean and unclean animals, helping the Israelites understand how to follow God's laws in their daily lives.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:5

• כָּרְגָּן (shaphan, transliterated as "coney"): This word refers to a small, furry animal, often identified as the hyrax or rock badger. The exact animal is debated, but it is not the rabbit as sometimes thought.
• עֹלֶה (ʿoleh, transliterated as "cheweth"): This word means "to go up" or "to bring up," and in this context, it refers to the animal appearing to bring up food to chew again, as ruminants do.
• גֵּרָה (gerah, transliterated as "cud"): This word means "cud," the partially digested food that some animals regurgitate and chew again. The hyrax appears to chew in a way similar to ruminants, though it is not technically one.
• פָּרַס (paras, transliterated as "divideth"): This word means "to divide" or "to split," referring to the split hoof characteristic of clean animals.
• פַּרְסָה (parsah, transliterated as "hoof"): This is the word for "hoof," the hard foot of certain animals. The divided hoof is a key sign of a clean animal in these laws.
• טָמֵא (tame, transliterated as "unclean"): This word means "unclean" or "impure," indicating that the animal is not to be eaten or touched according to the law.

Why Leviticus 11:5 matters

• Leviticus 11:5 clarifies that not all animals that chew the cud are considered clean; both chewing the cud and having a divided hoof are required for an animal to be acceptable as food.
• This verse helps the reader see the careful distinctions in the dietary laws, showing that the rules were specific and not based on just one trait.
• Understanding the meaning of "coney" and the original Hebrew words helps avoid confusion with other animals, such as rabbits, and gives insight into the ancient context and the practical reasons behind these laws.