And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 11:5
What does Leviticus 11:5 mean?
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Leviticus 11:5
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The verse highlights that even an animal's appearance of being diligent (chewing its cud) doesn't make it clean if it lacks another key characteristic (a split hoof). This points to a deeper principle: outward signs of piety or observance aren't enough if they're not paired with the right inner order and wholeness God desires.
And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a detailed list of dietary laws given by God to Moses and Aaron, outlining which animals are clean and permissible to eat and which are unclean and forbidden. The purpose of these laws is to set the Israelites apart as a holy people, distinct from the surrounding nations, by teaching them purity through their everyday practices, including their food choices. The classification of animals is based on specific physical characteristics, such as whether they part the hoof and chew the cud, as exemplified by the inclusion of the rock badger.
Ever wonder why certain animals are labeled 'unclean'? Leviticus 11 dives into specific creatures, and the rock badger (or coney) is a fascinating case.
This verse describes the rock badger (Hebrew: shaphan) for its unique combination of traits: it appears to chew its cud but lacks divided hooves.
What We Know
This highlights how the distinction wasn't just about whether an animal looked clean, but about specific, observable criteria laid out by God.
These dietary laws might seem strange today, but they served a profound purpose for ancient Israel.
The laws in Leviticus 11 about clean and unclean animals weren't just arbitrary rules. They were a core part of God's plan to set Israel apart.
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Key Purposes:
This wasn't just about avoiding certain foods; it was about cultivating a lifestyle of reverence and separation that reflected God's own character.
This passage reiterates the same dietary laws, again listing the rock badger (or coney) as unclean for chewing the cud but not having a divided hoof. It emphasizes that these distinctions were fundamental to Israel's identity as a holy people.
Psalm 104:18This psalm mentions the 'high mountains are a refuge for the wild goats, and the rocks a home for the badgers' (or conies, depending on translation). This connects the animal to its rocky habitat, indirectly linking to its classification as unclean in Leviticus.
Proverbs 30:26Agur describes the rock badger (or coney) as 'creatures of no strength, yet they make their homes in the crags.' This poetic description highlights the animal's seemingly weak nature and its preference for rocky refuges, aligning with the ancient understanding of the creature identified in Leviticus.
1 Corinthians 10:23Paul states, '“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.' While discussing food, this verse echoes the Old Testament concept of permissibility and benefit, suggesting a deeper principle beyond mere dietary rules.
Romans 14:14Paul writes, 'I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.' This New Testament perspective shifts the focus from external ritual laws to the believer's inner conviction and relationship with Christ, reinterpreting the concept of 'unclean' in a spiritual sense.
bensonLeviticus 11:5: "And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you."
Leviticus 11:5 . The coney — Hebrews שׁפן , shapan. It is doubted whether we translate the word right; Bochart takes it to be a large species of rat, somewhat between a coney and a rat, which was common both in Egypt and Palestine. This animal, it appears, chews the cud, but divides not the hoof, and therefore answers to the description here given. It is also frequent in those countri…
clarkeLeviticus 11:5: "And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you."
The coney - שפן shaphan, not the rabbit, but rather a creature nearly resembling it, which abounds in Judea, Palestine, and Arabia, and is called by Dr. Shaw daman Israel, and by Mr. Bruce ashkoko. As this creature nearly resembles the rabbit, with which Spain anciently abounded, Bochart supposes that the Phoenicians might have given it the name of שפניה spaniah, from the multitude…
The verse highlights that even an animal's appearance of being diligent (chewing its cud) doesn't make it clean if it lacks another key characteristic (a split hoof). This points to a deeper principle: outward signs of piety or observance aren't enough if they're not paired with the right inner order and wholeness God desires.
This passage is part of a detailed list of dietary laws given by God to Moses and Aaron, outlining which animals are clean and permissible to eat and which are unclean and forbidden. The purpose of these laws is to set the Israelites apart as a holy people, distinct from the surrounding nations, by teaching them purity through their everyday practices, including their food choices. The classification of animals is based on specific physical characteristics, such as whether they part the hoof and chew the cud, as exemplified by the inclusion of the rock badger.
This passage is part of a detailed list of dietary laws given by God to Moses and Aaron, outlining which animals are clean and permissible to eat and which are unclean and forbidden. The purpose of these laws is to set the Israelites apart as a holy people, distinct from the surrounding nations, by teaching them purity through their everyday practices, including their food choices. The classification of animals is based on specific physical characteristics, such as whether they part the hoof and chew the cud, as exemplified by the inclusion of the rock badger.
"And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you." — The verse highlights that even an animal's appearance of being diligent (chewing its cud) doesn't make it clean if it lacks another key characteristic (a split hoof). This points to a deeper principl…
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Last reviewed October 2026