Clean and Unclean Animals
(Deuteronomy 14:1–21; Acts 10:9–16)

1And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2Say to the sons of Israel: These are the animals that you ought to eat out of all the living things of the earth. 3All that has a divided hoof, and that chews over again, among the cattle, you shall eat. 4But whatever certainly chews over again, but has a hoof that is not divided, such as the camel and others, these you shall not eat, and you shall consider them to be among what is unclean. 5The rock rabbit which chews over again, and whose hoof is not divided, is unclean, 6and so also is the hare, for it too chews over again, yet its hoof is not divided, 7and also the swine, which, though its hoof is divided, does not chew over again. 8The flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their carcasses, because they are unclean to you.

9These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is lawful to eat. All that has little fins and scales, as much in the sea, as in the rivers and ponds, you shall eat. 10But whatever does not have fins and scales, of those things that live and move in the waters, shall be abominable to you, 11and detestable; their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall avoid. 12All that does not have fins and scales in the waters shall be polluted.

13These are those things among the birds which you must not eat, and which are to be avoided by you: the eagle, and the griffin, and the osprey, 14and the kite, as well as the vulture, according to their kind. 15and all that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness, 16the ostrich, and the owl, and the gull, and the hawk, according to its kind, 17the owl, and the sea bird, and the ibis, 18and the swan, and the pelican, and the marsh hen, 19the heron, and the plover according to its kind, the crested hoopoe, and also the bat.

20Of all that flies, whatever steps upon four feet shall be abominable to you. 21But whatever certainly walks upon four feet, and also has longer legs behind, with which it hops upon the earth, 22you shall eat, such as the beetle in its kind, and the cricket, and grasshopper, and the locust, each one according to its kind. 23But among flying things, whatever has only four feet shall be detestable to you.

24And whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be defiled, and he shall be unclean until evening. 25And if it will be necessary to carry any of these dead things, he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until the sun sets. 26Every animal that certainly has a hoof, but which is not divided, nor does it chew over again, shall be unclean. And whoever will have touched it shall be contaminated. 27Whatever walks upon its hands, out of all the animals that advance on all fours, shall be unclean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be polluted until evening. 28And whoever will have carried this kind of carcass shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until evening. For all these are unclean to you.

29Likewise, these shall be considered among the polluted things, out of all that moves upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the crocodile, each one according to its kind, 30the shrew, and the chameleon, and the gecko, and the lizard, and the mole. 31All these are unclean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be unclean until evening. 32And anything upon which something from their carcasses will have fallen shall be defiled, whether it is a vessel of wood, or a garment, or skins, or haircloths, or anything by which work is done. These shall be dipped in water and shall be defiled until evening, but then afterwards these shall be clean. 33But an earthen vessel, into which something from these will fall, shall be defiled; and therefore it is to be broken. 34Any of the foods that you eat, if water from such a vessel will have been poured upon it, it shall be unclean. And every liquid which one may drink from such a vessel shall be unclean. 35And if anything from among these kinds of dead things has fallen upon it, it shall be unclean, whether it be an oven, or a pot with feet, these shall be unclean and shall be destroyed. 36Yet truly, fountains and cisterns, and all reservoirs of water shall be clean. Whoever will have touched their carcasses shall be defiled. 37If it falls upon seed grain, it shall not defile it. 38But if anyone has poured water upon the seed grain, and afterwards it was touched by the carcasses, it shall be immediately defiled.

39If any animals will have died, from which it is lawful for you to eat, whoever will have touched its carcass shall be unclean until evening. 40And whoever will have eaten or carried anything of these shall wash his clothes, and he shall be unclean until evening.

41All that creeps across the earth shall be abominable, neither shall it taken up as food. 42Whatever advances by four feet upon the chest, or that has many feet, or that drags across the soil, you shall not eat, because it is abominable. 43Do not be willing to contaminate your souls, nor shall you touch any of these, lest you become unclean. 44For I am the Lord your God. Be holy, for I am Holy. Do not pollute your souls with any creeping thing, which moves across the land. 45For I am the Lord, who led you away from the land of Egypt, so that I would be your God; you shall be holy, for I am Holy.

46This is the law of animals and flying things, and of every living soul that moves in the waters or creeps upon the land, 47so that you may know the difference between clean and unclean, and so that you may know what you ought to eat, and what you ought to refuse.