Leviticus 11:5
New International Version
The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

New Living Translation
The hyrax chews the cud but does not have split hooves, so it is unclean.

English Standard Version
And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.

Berean Standard Bible
The rock badger, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

King James Bible
And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

New King James Version
the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you;

New American Standard Bible
Likewise, the rock hyrax, for though it chews cud, it does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean to you.

NASB 1995
‘Likewise, the shaphan, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you;

NASB 1977
‘Likewise, the rock badger, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you;

Legacy Standard Bible
Likewise, the shaphan, for though it chews cud, it does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you;

Amplified Bible
And the shaphan, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you.

Christian Standard Bible
hyraxes, though they chew the cud, do not have hooves—they are unclean for you;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have hooves—it is unclean for you;

American Standard Version
And the coney, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

English Revised Version
And the coney, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must never eat rock badgers. (Rock badgers are unclean because they chew their cud but do not have divided hoofs.)

International Standard Version
the rock badger (because it chews its cud but its hooves aren't divided, it is to be unclean for you),

Majority Standard Bible
The rock badger, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.

NET Bible
The rock badger is unclean to you because it chews the cud even though its hoof is not divided.

New Heart English Bible
The coney, because he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean to you.

World English Bible
The hyrax, because it chews the cud but doesn’t have a parted hoof, is unclean to you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the hyrax, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof is not divided—it [is] unclean to you;

Young's Literal Translation
and the rabbit, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof it divideth not -- unclean it is to you;

Smith's Literal Translation
The coney, for this bringing up rumination, and will not cleave the cloven hoof; it is unclean to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The cherogrillus which cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof, is unclean.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The rock rabbit which chews over again, and whose hoof is not divided, is unclean,

New American Bible
the rock hyrax, which indeed chews the cud, but does not have hoofs and is therefore unclean for you;

New Revised Standard Version
The rock badger, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the coney, because it chews the cud but does not divide the hoof; it is unclean to you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the rabbit that chews cud and its foot does not cleave is defiled to you.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the rock-badger, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the rabbit, because it chews the cud, but does not divide the hoof, this is unclean to you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
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. 5 The rock badger, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you. 6The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:7
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,

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 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 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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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

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 the coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean to you.

Psalm 104:18
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

Proverbs 30:26
The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

but divideth

Job 36:14
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Matthew 7:26
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Romans 2:18-24
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; …

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Badger Cheweth Chews Cloven Coney Cud Divide Divideth Hoof Hoofs Likewise Part Parted Parteth Rabbit Reason Rock Rock-Badger Shaphan Split Unclean
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Badger Cheweth Chews Cloven Coney Cud Divide Divideth Hoof Hoofs Likewise Part Parted Parteth Rabbit Reason Rock Rock-Badger Shaphan Split Unclean
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














The rock badger
The rock badger, also known as the hyrax, is a small, herbivorous mammal found in the rocky terrains of the Middle East, including Israel. Its mention in Leviticus highlights the detailed nature of the dietary laws given to the Israelites. The rock badger's habitat and behavior are well-suited to the rugged landscapes of the region, which provides insight into the daily life and environment of the ancient Israelites.

though it chews the cud
This phrase refers to the rock badger's eating habits, which appear similar to ruminants that chew the cud. However, the rock badger does not actually ruminate in the biological sense. This description reflects the observational understanding of the time and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between animals based on specific criteria set by God.

does not have a divided hoof
The divided hoof is a key criterion in the Levitical law for determining clean animals. Animals that chew the cud and have a divided hoof are considered clean. The rock badger's lack of a divided hoof disqualifies it from being clean, illustrating the precision of the dietary laws and the importance of obedience to God's commands.

it is unclean for you
Declaring the rock badger unclean underscores the broader theme of holiness and separation in Leviticus. The dietary laws served to set the Israelites apart from other nations, reinforcing their identity as God's chosen people. This distinction between clean and unclean animals is a recurring theme in the Old Testament and is echoed in the New Testament, where the focus shifts to spiritual purity and holiness (Acts 10:9-16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites on how to live a holy life.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the laws of clean and unclean animals were given as part of their covenant relationship with God.

3. Rock Badger
A small, herbivorous mammal mentioned in the dietary laws, considered unclean because it does not have a divided hoof.

4. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses received the laws from God, including the dietary laws found in Leviticus.

5. Promised Land
The destination of the Israelites, where they were to live as a holy nation, distinct from surrounding peoples.
Teaching Points
Understanding Holiness
The dietary laws, including the prohibition of the rock badger, were given to set Israel apart as a holy nation. Holiness involves obedience and distinction from worldly practices.

Symbolism of Clean and Unclean
The distinction between clean and unclean animals symbolizes the separation between holy and unholy living. Believers are called to discernment in their daily choices.

Cultural and Historical Context
Recognizing the cultural and historical context of these laws helps us understand their purpose and relevance for the Israelites, and how they point to deeper spiritual truths.

Freedom in Christ
While the dietary laws are not binding on Christians today, they remind us of the freedom we have in Christ and the responsibility to use that freedom wisely.

Spiritual Discernment
Just as the Israelites were to discern between clean and unclean, believers today are called to discern between what is spiritually beneficial and what is not.(5) And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not . . . --Better, though he cheweth the cud, yet he divideth not. (See Leviticus 11:4.) The coney, which is the old English name for rabbit, is the meaning of the Hebrew expression shaphan, according to the definition of those who had to explain and administer this law at the time of Christ. As these interpreters lived in Palestine, where they saw the animals in question, the objection that the rabbit is not indigenous in Palestine falls to the ground. These shrewd Administrators of the law must also have noticed that it was the habit of the feeble conies to seek refuge and build in the fissures of the rocks, which not unfrequently are on a level with the ground. The rabbit, moreover, well suits the hare, by which it is immediately followed. Modern expositors, however, identify it with the Syrian hyrax, or rock-badger, which is about the size of a well-grown rabbit. It resembles the guinea-pig or the Alpine marmot, has long hair of a brownish grey or brownish-yellow colour on the back, but white on the belly, a very short tail, and short round ears. The action of its jaws when it is at rest resembles that of the ruminants.

Verse 5. - The coney, Hebrew, shaphan; the Hyrax Syriacus, or wabr, still called in Southern Arabia tsofun, a little animal similar to but not identical with the rabbit. "They live in the natural caves and clefts of the rocks (Psalm 104:18), are very gregarious, being often seen seated in troops before the openings of their caves, and extremely timid, as they are quite defenseless (Proverbs 30:26). They are about the size of rabbits, of a brownish-gray or brownish-yellow color, but white under the belly; they have bright eyes, round ears, and no tail. The Arabs eat them, but do not place them before their guests" (Keil).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The rock badger,
הַשָּׁפָ֗ן (haš·šā·p̄ān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8227: A species of rockrabbit, the hyrax

though
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it
ה֔וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

chews
מַעֲלֵ֤ה (ma·‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

the cud,
גֵרָה֙ (ḡê·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1625: The cud

does not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

have a split
יַפְרִ֑יס (yap̄·rîs)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6536: To break in pieces, to split, distribute

hoof;
וּפַרְסָ֖ה (ū·p̄ar·sāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6541: A claw, split hoof

it
ה֖וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is unclean
טָמֵ֥א (ṭā·mê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

for you.
לָכֶֽם׃ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:5 The coney because he chews the cud (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 11:4
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