Leviticus 11:7 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 11:7 mean?

Leviticus 11:7 says that pigs, even though they have split hooves, are considered unclean for the Israelites because they do not chew the cud. This means that pigs were not allowed to be eaten or touched according to the dietary laws given to Israel.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses and Aaron, giving them instructions for the Israelites about which animals are considered clean or unclean. The verse highlights a specific animal, the pig, and explains why it does not meet the requirements for clean animals: it only meets one of the two needed characteristics. This is part of a larger section where God sets out rules for daily living and worship for the people of Israel.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 11:7

• "swine" (חֲזִיר, chazir): This is the Hebrew word for pig, a common animal in the region, but specifically named here as unclean.
• "divide" (פָּרַס, paras): This word means to split or divide, used here to describe the pig’s hoof, which is physically split.
• "hoof" (פַּרְסָה, parsah): Refers to the hard foot of certain animals; the verse points out the pig’s hoof is divided.
• "clovenfooted" (שָׁסַע, shasa‘ and שֶׁסַע, shesa‘): These words describe an animal whose hoof is split into two parts, a key sign for clean animals.
• "cheweth" (גָּרַר, garar): Means to chew or drag, used here for the act of chewing the cud, which pigs do not do.
• "cud" (גֵּרָה, gerah): Refers to the partly digested food that some animals bring up and chew again; pigs do not have this trait.
• "unclean" (טָמֵא, tame’): This word means ritually impure or not suitable for eating or touching according to Israelite law.

Why Leviticus 11:7 matters

• Leviticus 11:7 clarifies that not all animals with split hooves are clean; both chewing the cud and having split hooves are required, which helps avoid confusion about which animals are permitted.
• The verse shows the careful attention to detail in Israel’s dietary laws, reflecting a broader concern for ritual purity and distinctiveness from other nations.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of later references in the Bible to pigs and uncleanness, especially in stories where eating pork is an issue or symbol.