These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 14:4
What does Deuteronomy 14:4 mean?
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Deuteronomy 14:4
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While it lists "ox, sheep, and goat," the Hebrew phrasing actually uses terms that mean "a young one of the sheep or of the goats." This subtly emphasizes that the most common and accessible animals, like lambs and kids, were the everyday staples of the Israelite diet, reflecting God's practical provision.
These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the command to avoid pagan mourning practices, God provides specific guidelines for Israel's diet, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. This section details the permitted livestock like oxen, sheep, and goats, then proceeds to list forbidden creatures based on specific criteria, contrasting with the more general prohibitions in Leviticus.
Ever wondered why certain foods became staples for ancient Israel? The answer might surprise you, linking daily meals to their deepest spiritual identity.
In Deuteronomy 14:4, we get the foundational list of permitted meats: the ox, the sheep, and the goat. These weren't just random choices; they were the backbone of the Israelite diet, especially for significant occasions.
More Than Just Meals
Why would God care about what animals His people ate? It turns out these dietary rules were a powerful tool for shaping who they were.
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The food laws in Deuteronomy, building on Leviticus, served a crucial purpose beyond just nutrition. They were about helping the Israelites live as a distinct people, set apart for God.
A People Apart
This passage lays the foundation for dietary laws by listing the specific characteristics of clean and unclean animals, directly preceding and informing the list of permissible animals in Deuteronomy.
Exodus 12:5This verse highlights that the Passover lamb or kid could be chosen from either sheep or goats, aligning with the inclusion of these specific animals for consumption in Deuteronomy.
1 Corinthians 10:25-26This New Testament passage reassures believers that they can eat whatever is sold in the market without questioning conscience, indicating a shift from the Old Testament dietary laws for Christians.
Acts 10:10-16Peter's vision of the sheet filled with all kinds of animals, clean and unclean, signifies a radical redefinition of what is considered clean, showing God's intention to include all people, not just Jews.
calvinDeuteronomy 14:3-20: "Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing."
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.
Veruntamen hoe non comedetis ex ruminantibus et ex findentibus ungulam divisam, camelum, et leporem, et cuniculum: quia ruminant, et ungulam non dividunt, immunda sunt vobis.
And the swine, bec…
clarkeDeuteronomy 14:4: "These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,"
These are the beasts which ye shall eat - On Leviticus 11 . I have entered into considerable detail relative to the clean and unclean animals there mentioned. For the general subject, the reader is referred to the notes on that chapter; but as there are particulars mentioned here which Moses does not introduce in Leviticus, it will be necessary to consider them in this place. The ox - שור shor: Bos, f…
While it lists "ox, sheep, and goat," the Hebrew phrasing actually uses terms that mean "a young one of the sheep or of the goats." This subtly emphasizes that the most common and accessible animals, like lambs and kids, were the everyday staples of the Israelite diet, reflecting God's practical provision.
Following the command to avoid pagan mourning practices, God provides specific guidelines for Israel's diet, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. This section details the permitted livestock like oxen, sheep, and goats, then proceeds to list forbidden creatures based on specific criteria, contrasting with the more general prohibitions in Leviticus.
Following the command to avoid pagan mourning practices, God provides specific guidelines for Israel's diet, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. This section details the permitted livestock like oxen, sheep, and goats, then proceeds to list forbidden creatures based on specific criteria, contrasting with the more general prohibitions in Leviticus.
"These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat," — While it lists "ox, sheep, and goat," the Hebrew phrasing actually uses terms that mean "a young one of the sheep or of the goats." This subtly emphasizes that the most common and accessible animals,…
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Last reviewed October 2026