Leviticus 11:43
You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse emphasizes that avoiding "detestable" or "abominable" creatures isn't just about physical purity, but about actively "sanctifying" yourselves, meaning setting yourselves apart for God. It's a call to make choices that reflect His holiness in all areas of life, not just diet.
This passage is the conclusion of a lengthy list of clean and unclean animals, including birds, sea creatures, and finally, crawling things. God has just finished detailing which of these creatures are forbidden to eat and to touch, and now He summarizes the overarching principle: avoiding these "abominable" creatures is essential for the Israelites to remain holy and distinct from the surrounding nations. This emphasis on holiness is directly tied to God's own nature and His act of rescuing them from Egypt.
We often hear 'abominable' and think of something that's just really gross. But in Leviticus, this word carries a much deeper meaning.
The Hebrew word translated as 'abominable' in this verse (and throughout Leviticus 11) doesn't just mean 'disgusting.' It points to something that is detestable, repulsive, or loathsome, particularly in the context of worship and relationship with God.
A Divine Distinction
God wasn't just setting dietary guidelines for health reasons. He was establishing a clear boundary between His chosen people and the surrounding nations. Many of the forbidden creatures were even worshipped or associated with pagan rituals by other cultures. By abstaining from these 'abominable' things, the Israelites were:
God's call to holiness wasn't just for priests in the temple. It extended to the dinner table and what touched their daily lives.
Leviticus 11:43 is a crucial part of God's instructions for the Israelites, detailing how they were to live as a holy nation. The concept of 'uncleanness' here isn't about germs; it's about ceremonial separation that impacts one's ability to approach God and participate in worship.
More Than Just Eating
The prohibitions extended beyond just consumption. Contact with the carcasses of these animals also rendered a person ceremonially unclean. This meant:
Understand the original words
tama' · Hebrew Verb
To pollute, stain, or make ceremonially impure. It involves an action that renders a person unfit to enter the presence of God or participate in communal worship.
tame' · Hebrew Adjective
Being in a state of ritual impurity. It describes a condition of separation from the holy sphere, preventing the person from approaching the sanctuary or holy things until proper purification occurs.
This passage directly echoes the call to holiness found in Leviticus, emphasizing that God's people should be set apart and holy, just as He is holy. It connects the Levitical laws about purity to a broader spiritual calling.
Romans 14:14Paul's declaration that 'nothing is unclean in itself' speaks to the New Testament understanding of these dietary laws, showing how Christ's work transcended the ceremonial distinctions and focused on the heart. It helps us understand the symbolic meaning behind the physical separation.
Colossians 2:16-17Here, Paul explains that many of the Old Testament regulations, including those concerning food, were 'a shadow of things to come' and not meant to be binding in the same way after Christ. This provides context for the ceremonial nature of these Levitical laws.
Matthew 15:11Jesus states that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of their mouth. This shifts the focus from external ritual purity to internal spiritual condition, which was the ultimate purpose of such laws.
2 Corinthians 6:17This verse calls believers to 'come out from them and be separate,' echoing the Old Testament principle of distinction from the surrounding nations. It highlights how the call to be 'clean' was about maintaining a distinct identity for God's people.
pooleLeviticus 11:43: "Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby."
No text from Poole on this verse.
calvinLeviticus 11:1-47: "And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,"
And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.
Et omne super quod tetigerit aliquid ex eis postquam mortua fuerint, immudum erit, tam vas lineum quam vestis, aut…
This verse emphasizes that avoiding "detestable" or "abominable" creatures isn't just about physical purity, but about actively "sanctifying" yourselves, meaning setting yourselves apart for God. It's a call to make choices that reflect His holiness in all areas of life, not just diet.
This passage is the conclusion of a lengthy list of clean and unclean animals, including birds, sea creatures, and finally, crawling things. God has just finished detailing which of these creatures are forbidden to eat and to touch, and now He summarizes the overarching principle: avoiding these "abominable" creatures is essential for the Israelites to remain holy and distinct from the surrounding nations. This emphasis on holiness is directly tied to God's own nature and His act of rescuing them from Egypt.
This passage is the conclusion of a lengthy list of clean and unclean animals, including birds, sea creatures, and finally, crawling things. God has just finished detailing which of these creatures are forbidden to eat and to touch, and now He summarizes the overarching principle: avoiding these "abominable" creatures is essential for the Israelites to remain holy and distinct from the surrounding nations. This emphasis on holiness is directly tied to God's own nature and His act of rescuing them from Egypt.
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"You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them." — This verse emphasizes that avoiding "detestable" or "abominable" creatures isn't just about physical purity, but about actively "sanctifying" yourselves, meaning setting yourselves apart for God. It'…
