Beasts: Unclean: Caused Uncleanness when Dead
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In the biblical context, certain animals are designated as "unclean" and are associated with ritual impurity, particularly when they are dead. The concept of uncleanness is primarily found in the Old Testament, where it is detailed in the Mosaic Law. The laws concerning clean and unclean animals are outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, serving as a guide for the Israelites in maintaining ritual purity.

Biblical References:

1. 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 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 them will be unclean. All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, and anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening. They are unclean for you."

This passage specifies that touching the carcasses of unclean animals results in uncleanness until evening. The requirement to wash clothes further emphasizes the need for purification after contact with these animals.

2. Leviticus 11:29-31 : "Of the creatures that move along the ground, these are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, and any kind of great lizard; the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. These are unclean for you among all the swarming creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until evening."

This section extends the list of unclean animals to include certain small creatures and reptiles, reinforcing the principle that contact with their dead bodies results in temporary impurity.

3. Leviticus 11:32-35 : "When one of them dies and falls on something, that article—whatever its use—will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, leather, or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean until evening, and then it will be clean. If any of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot. Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any drink that could be drunk from it is unclean."

The impurity extends beyond direct contact, affecting objects and food that come into contact with the carcasses of unclean animals. This highlights the pervasive nature of ritual impurity and the need for careful observance of cleanliness laws.

Theological Implications:

The laws regarding unclean animals and the impurity associated with their dead bodies serve several purposes within the biblical narrative. They are a part of the broader holiness code that distinguishes the Israelites from other nations, emphasizing their unique covenant relationship with God. The distinction between clean and unclean animals also serves as a constant reminder of the need for spiritual purity and obedience to God's commandments.

The concept of uncleanness is not merely about physical hygiene but is deeply tied to the spiritual and communal life of the Israelites. It underscores the importance of holiness and the separation from anything that defiles, reflecting the holiness of God Himself. The laws also foreshadow the ultimate purification and redemption found in Christ, who fulfills the law and offers cleansing from all impurity.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Leviticus 5:2
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Titus i. 14-Dec
... said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. ... because Saul believed
in her, he caused him to ... into these things, what is more unclean than wine ...
/.../homily iii titus i 14-dec.htm

Sanctification
... No unclean beasts come into the heavenly ark; for though God ... Has God brought a clean
thing out of an unclean? ... made you the sons of princes, and caused you to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/5 sanctification.htm

Whether There Can be any Suitable Cause for the Sacraments of the ...
... water: either because the Jews became unclean through putting ... ad 5), an uncleanness
which was caused by corruption ... would be devoured by wild beasts, because it ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 2.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... the fruits of the first three years as unclean: for in ... for since the passion of pity
is caused by the ... 10): "The just regardeth the lives of his beasts: but the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

The Seventh Commandment
... a person; it makes him resemble the beasts; therefore the ... heart burns like mount
Etna, in unclean desires; and ... The Romans caused their heads to be stricken off ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

Jew and Gentile
... filled with all manner of four-footed beasts and had ... never eaten that which was common
or unclean, the answer ... who had, in a large measure, caused this change. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 19 jew and gentile.htm

Homilies on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
... tyrants, [3624]473; evil, worse than wild beasts, [3625]512 ... from, [3821]428; weariness
in hearers caused by unwillingness ... Swine, flesh of, not unclean, [3874]445 ...
/.../homilies on the epistles to.htm

On the Article, and in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which Spake ...
... when it is said, The spirit of whoredom caused them to ... there is a great difference;
for the unclean devil, when ... and fire, and sword, and savage beasts, and the ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvi on the article.htm

Letter cxlvii. To Sabinianus.
... other men who are not like you mere brute beasts. ... shewed"in the belief that they
were caused by frequent ... Realize that you are naked, torn, unclean, a beggar. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxlvii to sabinianus.htm

Book Three the Story of his Student Days in Carthage, his ...
... is thyself, my God"although that dearth caused me no ... Yet, foul and unclean as I was,
I still craved ... These true bodies even the beasts and birds perceive as ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book three the story of.htm

Resources
What are the four beasts in Daniel chapter 7? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of lions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian respond to bullying? | GotQuestions.org

Beasts: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Beasts

Beasts by Nature Wild

Beasts: Antichrist

Beasts: Being Four-Footed

Beasts: Capable of Being Tamed

Beasts: Clean used for Food

Beasts: Clean used for Sacrifice

Beasts: Clean: Chamois

Beasts: Clean: Fallow Deer

Beasts: Clean: First Born of, not Redeemed

Beasts: Clean: Goat

Beasts: Clean: Hart

Beasts: Clean: How Distinguished

Beasts: Clean: Ox

Beasts: Clean: Pygarg

Beasts: Clean: Roebuck

Beasts: Clean: Sheep

Beasts: Clean: Wild Goat

Beasts: Clean: Wild Ox

Beasts: Created by God

Beasts: Creation of, Exhibits God's Power

Beasts: Devoid of Immortality

Beasts: Devoid of Speech

Beasts: Devoid of Understanding

Beasts: Differ in Flesh from Birds and Fishes

Beasts: Domestic: Not to be Cruelly Used

Beasts: Domestic: To be Taken Care of

Beasts: Domestic: To Enjoy the Sabbath

Beasts: Early Distinguished Into Clean and Unclean

Beasts: Found in Deserts

Beasts: Found in Fields

Beasts: Found in Forests

Beasts: Found in Mountains

Beasts: Frequently Suffered on Account of the Sins of Men

Beasts: Given to Man for Food After the Flood

Beasts: Habitations of Dens and Caves

Beasts: Habitations of Deserted Cities

Beasts: Habitations of Under Spreading Trees

Beasts: Herb of the Field Given To, for Food

Beasts: History of, Written by Solomon

Beasts: Instinctively Fear Man

Beasts: Kingdoms

Beasts: Lessons of Wisdom to be Learned From

Beasts: Liable to Diseases

Beasts: Made for the Praise and Glory of God

Beasts: Man by Nature No Better Than

Beasts: Many Kinds of, Domestic

Beasts: Many Kinds of, Noisome and Destructive

Beasts: No Likeness of, to be Worshipped

Beasts: Not to be Eaten Alive or With Blood

Beasts: Often Cut off for the Sins of Men

Beasts: Often Used As Instruments of Punishment

Beasts: People of Different Nations

Beasts: Persecutors

Beasts: Possessed of Instinct

Beasts: Power Over, Given to Man

Beasts: Received Their Names from Adam

Beasts: Representations of, Worshipped by the Heathen

Beasts: Subjects of God's Care

Beasts: Supply Clothing to Man

Beasts: That Died Naturally or Were Torn, not to be Eaten

Beasts: The Property of God

Beasts: The Wicked

Beasts: Unclean: Ape

Beasts: Unclean: Ass

Beasts: Unclean: Badger

Beasts: Unclean: Bear

Beasts: Unclean: Behemoth

Beasts: Unclean: Camel

Beasts: Unclean: Caused Uncleanness when Dead

Beasts: Unclean: Coney

Beasts: Unclean: Dog

Beasts: Unclean: Dromedary

Beasts: Unclean: Ferret

Beasts: Unclean: First Born of, Redeemed

Beasts: Unclean: Fox

Beasts: Unclean: Hare

Beasts: Unclean: Horse

Beasts: Unclean: How Distinguished

Beasts: Unclean: Leopard

Beasts: Unclean: Lion

Beasts: Unclean: Mole

Beasts: Unclean: Mouse

Beasts: Unclean: Mule

Beasts: Unclean: Not Eaten

Beasts: Unclean: Not offered in Sacrifice

Beasts: Unclean: Swine

Beasts: Unclean: Weasel

Beasts: Unclean: Wild Ass

Beasts: Unclean: Wild Ox

Beasts: Unclean: Wolf

Beasts: Ungodly Professors

Related Terms

Beat (85 Occurrences)

Beasts (241 Occurrences)

Beasts: Unclean: Camel
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