Leviticus 11:27
New International Version
Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.

New Living Translation
Of the animals that walk on all fours, those that have paws are unclean. If you touch the carcass of such an animal, you will be defiled until evening.

English Standard Version
And all that walk on their paws, among the animals that go on all fours, are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening,

Berean Standard Bible
All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,

King James Bible
And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

New King James Version
And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until evening.

New American Standard Bible
Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

NASB 1995
Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

NASB 1977
‘Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

Legacy Standard Bible
Also whatever walks on its paws, among all the creatures that walk on all fours, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,

Amplified Bible
Also all animals that walk on their paws, among all kinds of animals that walk on four legs, are unclean to you; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until the evening,

Christian Standard Bible
All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,

American Standard Version
And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

English Revised Version
And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all four, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All four-legged animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their dead bodies will be unclean until evening.

International Standard Version
Among the animals, anything that walks on their paws and on four legs is unclean for you. Anyone who touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening.

Majority Standard Bible
All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,

NET Bible
All that walk on their paws among all the creatures that walk on all fours are unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening,

New Heart English Bible
Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whatever goeth upon its paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean to you: whoever toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

World English Bible
Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And anything going on its paws, among all the beasts which are going on four—they [are] unclean to you; anyone who is coming against their carcass is unclean until the evening;

Young's Literal Translation
And any one going on its paws, among all the beasts which are going on four -- unclean they are to you; any one who is coming against their carcase is unclean until the evening;

Smith's Literal Translation
And every one going upon his hands among all beasts going upon four, they are unclean to you: every one touching upon their carcass shall be unclean till evening.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That which walketh upon hands of all animals which go on all four, shall be unclean: he that shall touch their carcasses shall be defiled until evening.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whatever 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.

New American Bible
Also by the various quadrupeds that walk on paws; they are unclean for you; anyone who touches their carcasses shall be unclean until evening,

New Revised Standard Version
All that walk on their paws, among the animals that walk on all fours, are unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until the evening,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whatever goes upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all fours, are unclean to you; whosoever touches their carcasses shall be unclean until the evening.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everything that walks on its hands of every creature that walks on four is defiled to you, and everyone touching their corpses shall be defiled until evening.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you; whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And every one among all the wild beasts that moves upon its fore feet, which goes on all four, is unclean to you; every one that touches their dead bodies shall be unclean till evening.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
26Every animal with hooves not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you. Whoever touches any of them will be unclean. 27All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, 28and anyone who picks up a carcass must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. They are unclean for you.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:7-8
But of those that chew the cud or have a completely divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: the camel, the rabbit, or the rock badger. Although they chew the cud, they do not have a divided hoof. They are unclean for you, / as well as the pig; though it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat its meat or touch its carcass.

Acts 10:12-15
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. / Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” ...

Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Romans 14:14
I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

Genesis 7:2
You are to take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate;

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Ezekiel 4:14
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

Genesis 8:20
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Acts 11:6-9
I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. / Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’ / ‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ...

1 Corinthians 10:25-26
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, / for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

Hosea 9:3
They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.

Romans 14:20
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.


Treasury of Scripture

And whatever goes on his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean to you: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:20,23
All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you…

Jump to Previous
Animals Ball Beast Beasts Body Carcass Carcasses Creatures Dead Evening Foot Four Four-Footed Fours Goes Manner Paws Touches Toucheth Touching Unclean Walk Walks Whatever Whatsoever
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Animals Ball Beast Beasts Body Carcass Carcasses Creatures Dead Evening Foot Four Four-Footed Fours Goes Manner Paws Touches Toucheth Touching Unclean Walk Walks Whatever Whatsoever
Leviticus 11
1. What animals may be eaten
4. and what may not be eaten
9. What fishes
13. What fowls
29. The creeping things which are unclean














And all the four-footed animals
This phrase refers to quadrupeds, animals that walk on four legs. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "אַרְבַּע" (arba), meaning "four," and "רֶגֶל" (regel), meaning "foot" or "leg." The specificity of "four-footed" indicates a broad category of animals, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the dietary laws. Historically, this classification would have been significant for the Israelites, setting them apart from surrounding nations and their dietary practices.

that walk on paws
The Hebrew word for "paws" is "כַּף" (kaf), which can also mean "palm" or "sole." This description highlights animals that have padded feet, such as dogs and cats. The distinction of animals by their mode of locomotion is a unique aspect of Levitical law, underscoring the importance of separation and holiness in daily life. The Israelites were called to be distinct, and even their diet was a reflection of their covenant relationship with God.

are unclean for you
The term "unclean" in Hebrew is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which signifies ritual impurity. This is not a statement about hygiene but about ceremonial status. Being "unclean" meant being temporarily unfit for worship or participation in the community's religious life. This concept of uncleanness served as a constant reminder of the need for purity and the holiness required to approach God.

whoever touches their carcasses
The Hebrew word for "touches" is "נָגַע" (naga), which implies contact or reaching out. The emphasis here is on the physical act of touching, which results in becoming unclean. This regulation would have had practical implications, as touching a dead animal could lead to disease, but it also had spiritual significance, teaching the Israelites about the consequences of impurity and the need for separation from death and decay.

will be unclean until evening
The phrase "until evening" indicates a temporary state of impurity. In Hebrew, "עַד־הָעֶרֶב" (ad-ha'erev) signifies the end of the day, a time of transition. This temporal aspect of uncleanness highlights God's grace and the possibility of restoration. By evening, the individual could be cleansed and reintegrated into the community, symbolizing the renewal and forgiveness available through adherence to God's laws.

(27) And whatsoever goeth upon his paws.--Rather, and whatsoever goeth upon his palms, that is, those animals whose feet are not divided into two parts, but which have feet with fingers like a hand, such as the lion, the bear, the ape, the wolf, the cat, &c.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
וְכֹ֣ל ׀ (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the four-footed
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

animals
הַֽחַיָּה֙ (ha·ḥay·yāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

that walk
הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת (ha·hō·le·ḵeṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

their paws
כַּפָּ֗יו (kap·pāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan

are unclean for you;
טְמֵאִ֥ים (ṭə·mê·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2931: Unclean

whoever
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

touches
הַנֹּגֵ֥עַ (han·nō·ḡê·a‘)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

their carcasses
בְּנִבְלָתָ֖ם (bə·niḇ·lā·ṯām)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5038: A flabby thing, a carcase, carrion, an idol

will be unclean
יִטְמָ֥א (yiṭ·mā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

evening,
הָעָֽרֶב׃ (hā·‘ā·reḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:27 Whatever goes on its paws among all (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 11:26
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