What animals are considered clean according to Leviticus 11:3's dietary laws? Setting the Context Leviticus 11 lays out God’s dietary instructions for Israel. Verse 3 pinpoints which land animals qualify as “clean” and therefore permissible for food. Key Verse “‘You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.’” (Leviticus 11:3) Defining “Clean” Land Animals Clean animals meet both of the following traits at the same time: 1. Split (cloven) hoof, completely divided. 2. Chews the cud (ruminates). If either trait is missing, the animal is unclean (Leviticus 11:4–7). Examples of Clean Animals Below are representative creatures that fulfill both traits. Modern scientific names are given for clarity, but Scripture groups them by observable features: • Cattle family – cows, bulls, oxen, domestic and wild (e.g., bison, buffalo) • Sheep • Goats • Deer family – deer, elk, moose, reindeer, caribou • Antelope and gazelle varieties • Ibex and mountain goat types • Giraffe and okapi (both chew cud and have fully cloven hooves) Deuteronomy 14:4–6 specifically lists several of these: “the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep”. Two Non-Negotiable Criteria 1. Split Hoof • Visible outward sign: the hoof is clearly divided. • Signified a natural separation from “mixed” animals (e.g., pigs—split hoof but no cud). 2. Cud Chewing • Internal behavior: a multi-stage digestive process. • Pointed to internal “purity,” reminding Israel that true holiness deals with the heart, not just externals (cf. Proverbs 4:23). Why These Distinctions Mattered • Set-apart identity: Israel’s diet distinguished them from surrounding nations (Leviticus 20:24–26). • Daily reminder of covenant holiness: choosing food was an act of obedience and worship. • Prophetic symbolism: physical separation prefigured the moral and spiritual separation fulfilled in Christ (1 Peter 1:15–16). New Testament Perspective While the Mosaic food laws no longer bind believers under the New Covenant (Mark 7:18–19; Acts 10:13–15), they still teach timeless lessons about holiness, discernment, and gratitude for God’s provision. |
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