Leviticus 7:21
New International Version
Anyone who touches something unclean—whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature that moves along the ground —and then eats any of the meat of the fellowship offering belonging to the LORD must be cut off from their people.’”

New Living Translation
If you touch anything that is unclean (whether it is human defilement or an unclean animal or any other unclean, detestable thing) and then eat meat from a peace offering presented to the LORD, you will be cut off from the community.”

English Standard Version
And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the LORD’s peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.”

Berean Standard Bible
If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”

King James Bible
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

New King James Version
Moreover the person who touches any unclean thing, such as human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any abominable unclean thing, and who eats the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person shall be cut off from his people.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the LORD, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

NASB 1995
‘When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the LORD, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

NASB 1977
‘And when anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the LORD, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, that person shall be cut off from his people.’”

Amplified Bible
When anyone touches any unclean thing—human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing—and then eats the meat of the sacrifice of the LORD’S peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people [excluding him from the atonement made for them].’”

Christian Standard Bible
If someone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, abhorrent creature, and eats meat from the LORD’s fellowship sacrifice, that person is to be cut off from his people.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If someone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable creature, and eats meat from the LORD’s fellowship sacrifice, that person must be cut off from his people.”

American Standard Version
And when any one shall touch any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean abomination, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which pertain unto Jehovah, that soul shall be cut off from his people.

English Revised Version
And when any one shall touch any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean abomination, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Those who touch anything unclean, human or animal, or any other disgusting uncleanness and still eat the LORD's fellowship offering must be excluded from the people."

Good News Translation
Also, if you eat the meat of this offering after you have touched anything ritually unclean, whether from a person or an animal, you shall no longer be considered one of God's people.

International Standard Version
Any person who touches a ceremonially unclean thing—whether the uncleanness pertains to human beings, animals, or to creeping things—and then eats from the meat of peace offerings that belongs to the LORD is to be eliminated from contact with his people."

Majority Standard Bible
If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.?

NET Bible
When a person touches anything unclean (whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or an unclean detestable creature) and eats some of the meat of the peace offering sacrifice which belongs to the LORD, that person will be cut off from his people.'"

New Heart English Bible
When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belong to the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover, the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings which pertain to the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

World English Bible
When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Yahweh, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And when a person comes against anything unclean, of the uncleanness of man, or of the uncleanness of beasts, or of any unclean teeming creature, and has eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings which [are] YHWH’s, indeed, that person has been cut off from his people.”

Young's Literal Translation
And when a person cometh against any thing unclean, of the uncleanness of man, or of the uncleanness of beasts, or of any unclean teeming creature, and hath eaten of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings which are Jehovah's, even that person hath been cut off from his people.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And when a soul shall touch upon anything unclean, upon the uncleanness of man, or upon unclean cattle, or upon any abominable unclean thing, and eat from the flesh of the sacrifice of peace, which is to Jehovah, that soul was cut off from its people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that hath touched the uncleanness of man, or of beast, or of any thing that can defile, and shall eat of such kind of flesh, shall be cut off from his people.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And whoever will have touched the uncleanness of man, or of beast, or of anything which is able to defile, and who will have eaten from this kind of flesh, shall be cut off from his people.

New American Bible
Likewise, if someone touches anything unclean, whether it be human uncleanness or an unclean animal or an unclean loathsome creature, and then eats the meat of the communion sacrifice belonging to the LORD, that person, too, shall be cut off from the people.

New Revised Standard Version
When any one of you touches any unclean thing—human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature—and then eats flesh from the LORD’s sacrifice of well-being, you shall be cut off from your kin.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Moreover the person that shall touch any unclean thing, such as the uncleanness of man or any unclean beast or any unclean creeping thing, and eat of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which pertain to the LORD, that person shall be cut off from his people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the soul when it will touch any uncleanness of man or unclean animal or any unclean creeping thing and will eat from the meat of a sacrifice of a burnt offering of LORD JEHOVAH, that soul will be cut off from its people.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when any one shall touch any unclean thing, whether it be the uncleanness of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean detestable thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And whatsoever soul shall touch any unclean thing, either of the uncleanness of a man, or of unclean quadrupeds, or any unclean abominable thing, and shall eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of the peace-offering, which is the Lord's, that soul shall perish from his people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Peace Offering
20But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. 21If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.”

Cross References
Leviticus 11:8
You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Leviticus 11:24-28
These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, / and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. / Every 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. ...

Leviticus 11:43-44
Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them. / For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground.

Leviticus 17:15
And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean.

Leviticus 22:3-8
Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD. / If a descendant of Aaron has a skin disease or a discharge, he may not eat the sacred offerings until he is clean. Whoever touches anything defiled by a corpse or by a man who has an emission of semen, / or whoever touches a crawling creature or a person that makes him unclean, whatever the uncleanness may be— ...

Numbers 19:13
Anyone who touches a human corpse and fails to purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person must be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean, because the water of purification has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him.

Deuteronomy 14:3-21
You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ...

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

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.”

Ezekiel 44:23
They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.

Acts 10:14-15
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

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 Corinthians 6:9-11
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. / And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 10:21
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.


Treasury of Scripture

Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain to the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.

the uncleanness

Leviticus 5:2,3
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty…

Leviticus 5:12,1-13:59
Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering…

Leviticus 15:1-33
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, …

any unclean

Leviticus 11:24-42
And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even…

Deuteronomy 14:7,8,10,12-20
Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you…

abominable

Leviticus 11:10-13,20,41,42
And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: …

Deuteronomy 14:3
Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

Ezekiel 4:14
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

cut off

Leviticus 7:20,25,27
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people…

Leviticus 17:10,14
And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people…

Leviticus 18:29
For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.

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Abominable Abomination Animal Beast Belong Cut Detestable Eat Eats Flesh Moreover Offerings Peace Peace-Offerings Pertain Sacrifice Soul Touch Touches Unclean Uncleanness Whether
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Abominable Abomination Animal Beast Belong Cut Detestable Eat Eats Flesh Moreover Offerings Peace Peace-Offerings Pertain Sacrifice Soul Touch Touches Unclean Uncleanness Whether
Leviticus 7
1. The law of the trespass offering
11. and of the peace offering
12. whether it be for a thanksgiving
16. or a vow, or a free will offering
22. the fat and the blood are forbidden
28. The priests' portion in the peace offerings
35. The whole summed up














If one touches anything unclean
In the context of Leviticus, "unclean" refers to a state of ritual impurity that could be contracted through various means. This includes contact with certain animals, bodily discharges, or corpses. The concept of cleanliness was central to the Israelites' covenant relationship with God, symbolizing holiness and separation from sin. The idea of ritual purity is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to live holy lives (1 Peter 1:16).

whether human uncleanness
Human uncleanness could arise from various conditions, such as skin diseases (Leviticus 13-14) or bodily discharges (Leviticus 15). These laws emphasized the need for spiritual and physical purity among the Israelites. The New Testament reflects this concern for purity, urging believers to cleanse themselves from all defilement of body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1).

an unclean animal
Certain animals were deemed unclean and not fit for consumption or contact (Leviticus 11). This distinction between clean and unclean animals served to set Israel apart from other nations and to teach them about holiness. In Acts 10, Peter's vision of clean and unclean animals is used to illustrate the inclusion of Gentiles in the New Covenant, showing the fulfillment of these laws in Christ.

or any unclean, detestable thing
The term "detestable" often refers to idolatrous practices or objects associated with pagan worship. The Israelites were to avoid such things to maintain their covenant purity. This reflects the broader biblical theme of avoiding idolatry and remaining faithful to God, as seen in the warnings against idolatry throughout the Old and New Testaments (e.g., 1 Corinthians 10:14).

and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD
The peace offering was a communal meal shared between the offerer, the priests, and God, symbolizing fellowship and thanksgiving. Eating the offering while in a state of uncleanness desecrated this sacred act. This highlights the importance of approaching God with reverence and purity, a principle reiterated in the New Testament regarding the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

that person must be cut off from his people
Being "cut off" could mean excommunication or even death, depending on the severity of the offense. This severe consequence underscores the seriousness of maintaining holiness and obedience to God's commands. It foreshadows the ultimate separation from God that sin causes, which is reconciled through Christ's atoning sacrifice, offering believers eternal fellowship with God (Romans 6:23).

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Israelites
The original audience of the Levitical laws, called to be a holy nation set apart for God.

2. The Priests
Mediators between God and the people, responsible for teaching and enforcing the laws of cleanliness and offerings.

3. The Peace Offering
A type of sacrifice in the Levitical system symbolizing fellowship and thanksgiving to God.

4. Unclean Creatures
Animals or swarming creatures considered impure according to Levitical law, which could defile a person.

5. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, who established these laws to maintain holiness among His people.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Separation
God calls His people to be distinct and separate from impurity. This separation is not just physical but spiritual, reflecting a heart dedicated to God.

The Seriousness of Sin
The consequence of being "cut off" underscores the gravity of sin and impurity. It serves as a reminder of the need for repentance and the seriousness of approaching God with reverence.

The Role of the Law
The law served as a tutor to lead us to Christ, highlighting our need for a Savior who can cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Community Responsibility
The communal aspect of being "cut off" shows that individual actions affect the whole community. Believers are called to uphold purity within the body of Christ.

Christ's Fulfillment of the Law
Jesus, our ultimate peace offering, fulfills the law's requirements, allowing us to approach God with confidence through His righteousness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

one
וְנֶ֜פֶשׁ (wə·ne·p̄eš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

touches
תִגַּ֣ע (ṯig·ga‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

anything
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

whether
א֣וֹ ׀ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

human
אָדָם֙ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

uncleanness,
בְּטֻמְאַ֤ת (bə·ṭum·’aṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2932: Religious impurity

an unclean
טְמֵאָ֗ה (ṭə·mê·’āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

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

or
א֚וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

any
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

detestable thing,
שֶׁ֣קֶץ (še·qeṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8263: Detestation, detestable thing

and then eats
וְאָכַ֛ל (wə·’ā·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

any of the meat
מִבְּשַׂר־ (mib·bə·śar-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

of the peace offering
הַשְּׁלָמִ֖ים (haš·šə·lā·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8002: A sacrifice for alliance or friendship, peace offering

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

belongs to the LORD,
לַיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that
הַהִ֖וא (ha·hi·w)
Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

person
הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ (han·ne·p̄eš)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

must be cut off
וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה (wə·niḵ·rə·ṯāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

from his people.?
מֵעַמֶּֽיהָ׃ (mê·‘am·me·hā)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Law: Leviticus 7:21 When anyone touches any unclean thing (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 7:20
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