Leviticus 11:3
New International Version
You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.

New Living Translation
You may eat any animal that has completely split hooves and chews the cud.

English Standard Version
Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.

Berean Standard Bible
You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

King James Bible
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

New King James Version
Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat.

New American Standard Bible
Whatever has a divided hoof, showing split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

NASB 1995
Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

NASB 1977
‘Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

Legacy Standard Bible
Whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.

Amplified Bible
You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof [that is, a hoof split into two parts especially at its distal extremity] and chews the cud.

Christian Standard Bible
You may eat any animal with divided hooves and that chews the cud.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You may eat any animal with divided hooves and that chews the cud.

American Standard Version
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.

Contemporary English Version
any animal that has divided hoofs and chews the cud.

English Revised Version
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
all animals that have completely divided hoofs and that also chew their cud.

Good News Translation
that has divided hoofs and that also chews the cud,

International Standard Version
You may eat any animal that has divided hooves with cloven feet and that ruminates its cud,

Majority Standard Bible
You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

NET Bible
You may eat any among the animals that has a divided hoof (the hooves are completely split in two) and that also chews the cud.

New Heart English Bible
Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whatever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

World English Bible
Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
any dividing a hoof, and cleaving the cleft of the hooves, bringing up the cud, among the beasts—you eat it.

Young's Literal Translation
any dividing a hoof, and cleaving the cleft of the hoofs, bringing up the cud, among the beasts, it ye do eat.

Smith's Literal Translation
All cleaving the cloven hoof, and splitting, split the cloven hoof, and lifting up rumination among the cattle, ye shall eat it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever hath the hoof divided, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, you shall eat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
All that has a divided hoof, and that chews over again, among the cattle, you shall eat.

New American Bible
Any animal that has hoofs you may eat, provided it is cloven-footed and chews the cud.

New Revised Standard Version
Any animal that has divided hoofs and is cleft-footed and chews the cud—such you may eat.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud among the beasts, that you may eat.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Everything that cleaves open its hoof and divides it in two and chews cud, eat it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is wholly cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Every beast parting the hoof and making divisions of two claws, and chewing the cud among beasts, these ye shall eat.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
2“Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: 3You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. 4But of those that only chew the cud or only have a divided hoof, you are not to eat the following: The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:6
You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.

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;

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.” ...

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.

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.

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.

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

1 Corinthians 10:25
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,

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.”

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.

Acts 15:29
You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

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.

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.

Hebrews 9:10
They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.


Treasury of Scripture

Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven footed, and chews the cud, among the beasts, that shall you eat.

parteth

Psalm 1:1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

cheweth

Deuteronomy 6:6,7
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: …

Deuteronomy 16:3
Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Jump to Previous
Animal Animals Beast Beasts Cheweth Chews Cleaving Cleft Clovenfooted Cloven-Footed Completely Crushed Cud Divided Divides Dividing Division Eat Feet Food Foot Hoof Hoofs Horn Making Mouth Open Parteth Parts Quite Split Whatever Whatsoever Wholly
Jump to Next
Animal Animals Beast Beasts Cheweth Chews Cleaving Cleft Clovenfooted Cloven-Footed Completely Crushed Cud Divided Divides Dividing Division Eat Feet Food Foot Hoof Hoofs Horn Making Mouth Open Parteth Parts Quite Split Whatever Whatsoever Wholly
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














You may eat any animal
This phrase introduces dietary laws given to the Israelites, emphasizing the distinction between clean and unclean animals. These laws were part of the covenant between God and Israel, setting them apart from other nations. The dietary restrictions served not only as a health measure but also as a means of spiritual discipline and identity.

that has a split hoof completely divided
The split hoof is a specific physical characteristic that distinguishes clean animals. This requirement is symbolic of separation and discernment, reflecting the need for the Israelites to be distinct in their conduct and worship. The divided hoof can also be seen as a metaphor for walking in righteousness, as believers are called to live lives that are set apart and holy.

and that chews the cud
Chewing the cud refers to the process of ruminating, where animals regurgitate and re-chew their food. This characteristic symbolizes meditation on God's Word, as believers are encouraged to continually reflect on and internalize Scripture. The act of ruminating can be likened to the spiritual practice of meditating on God's laws day and night, as seen in Psalm 1:2.

These dietary laws, while specific to the Old Covenant, foreshadow the spiritual purity and discernment required of believers under the New Covenant. They point to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who declared all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19) and emphasized the importance of inner purity over external observance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The recipients of the Levitical laws, including dietary regulations, as part of their covenant relationship with God.

3. Mount Sinai
The location where Moses received the laws from God, including the dietary laws found in Leviticus.
Teaching Points
Understanding Holiness
The dietary laws were part of God's call for Israel to be holy and distinct from other nations. Holiness involves obedience and separation unto God.

Symbolism of Clean and Unclean
The distinction between clean and unclean animals symbolizes the separation between holy and unholy, teaching the Israelites about purity and God's standards.

Obedience to God's Commands
The dietary laws remind us of the importance of obedience to God's commands, even when we may not fully understand the reasons behind them.

New Covenant Freedom
In Christ, believers are no longer bound by the Old Testament dietary laws, as seen in Acts 10 and Mark 7. This freedom should be exercised with consideration for others' consciences.

Spiritual Discernment
Just as the Israelites were to discern between clean and unclean, Christians are called to discern between what is spiritually beneficial and what is not.(3) Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted.--Better, Whatsoever is clovenfooted, and entirely separateth the hoofs. The first rule laid down by which the clean quadruped is to be distinguished is that the hoofs must be completely cloven or divided above as well as below, or, as the parallel passage in Deuteronomy 14:6 has it, "and cleaveth the cleft into two claws." Such is the case in the foot of the ox, the sheep, and the goat, where the hoof is wholly divided below as much as above. The foot of the dog, the cat, and the lion, though exhibiting a division into several distinct toes or claws, is contrary to the regulation here laid down, inasmuch as the division is simply on the upper side, the lower side being united by a membrane, and hence the hoof is not "entirely separated."

And cheweth the cud.--In addition to the foot being perfectly cloven, the quadruped to be clean is to be ruminating. The canon which obtained during the second Temple is thus formulated: "Every quadruped which has no upper teeth is known to be ruminant, and when it is also clovenfooted is clean." According to the law of Manu the highest Hindoo castes were also forbidden to eat the flesh or drink the milk of quadrupeds with uncloven hoof. The same was the case with the Egyptian priests: they abstained from eating the flesh of any animal which had uncloven hoofs or many claws.

Verses 3, 4. - Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, should rather be translated, Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and completely divides it, The camel parts but does not wholly divide the hoof, as there is ball at the back of the foot, of the nature of a heel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
any
כֹּ֣ל ׀ (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

animal
בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה (bab·bə·hê·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

with split
וְשֹׁסַ֤עַת (wə·šō·sa·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 8156: To split, tear, to upbraid

hooves
פַּרְסָ֗ה (par·sāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6541: A claw, split hoof

and that chews
מַעֲלַ֥ת (ma·‘ă·laṯ)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the cud.
גֵּרָ֖ה (gê·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1625: The cud


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 11:2
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