Vayyiqra 11 (Leviticus 11)

Vayyiqra 11 provides the criteria for determining what animals that are allowable to eat.  It also lists a number of other laws related to cleanliness.  Although the majority of Christians ignore these laws, Yeshua and His disciples observed them and told the early disciples to observe them.  These laws have never been disavowed by Yehovah, Yeshua or their Apostles.  Although some believe that these laws are passe’, within Vayyiqra 11, Yehovah provides the clearest answer for why we should observes these and other laws.  He is Holy; therefore, we need to sanctify ourselves with these laws and be holy as He is Holy.  We need no greater reason for observance.

Vayyiqra 11:1-2

1 And Yehovah spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying to them, 2 Speak to the children of Yisrael, saying, These the life which shall eat among all the beasts (behemah) that on the land.

What follows is a list of clean and unclean animals.  There are various requirements related to these.  Interestingly enough, the animals that are not to be eaten, many of them are the garbage eaters of world. 

Most of Christianity does not observe these laws.  This and the festivals are the major laws not observed by most Christians.  They will have a number of reasons for not observing them.  It has been taught by many that these laws are not required to be observed, because Christians have been delivered from the law.  Which is not actually true, Galatians 3:13.

13 Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed every one that hangs on a tree:

We were not delivered from the law, but from the curse of the law.  These are two totally different things.  Paul tells us in Romans 7:12.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

And in Romans 7:14.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

The law, Torah, is Holy, the Commandments are Holy and furthermore the law is spiritual.  The Law is something given for our benefit.  What we were delivered from was not the law, but the curse that results from a broken law.  Messiah made a way so one can follow the righteous requirement of the law, Romans 8:4.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

When Christians continue to not to observe the law, Yochanan tells them in 1 Yochanan 3:4.

4 Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Those who do not follow the law are committing sin and those teaching others are committing a greater sin, Matityahu 5:19

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

If one teaches against the law, they will be least in the Kingdom.  If being least is how an individual honors their Messiah and God, one has to wonder who are they serving?

It is time for believers to come to their senses and realize that they have been fed a lie.  The law is what converts the soul, Tehilla 19:7.

7 The Torah of Yehovah perfect, converting the soul (nephesh), the testimony of Yehovah sure, making wise the simple.

Why anyone would want to continue to be in rebellion is a mystery to me.  Yeshua and the Apostles kept Torah, it is time for believers to do the same.

Vayyiqra 11:3

3 Whatsoever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, chews the cud, among the beasts, that shall eat.

Kosher animals are required to be:

  • Cloven-footed, split hoof.
  • Chews the cud.

Interestingly enough, split hoof animals have a number of advantages over those who are solid hoof.  Split, cloven hoofs allow the animal to more easily:

  • Walk on rugged terrains.
  • Support their overall body weight.

This is something all believers ought to be able to do.  As we climb the spiritual mountain Tziyyon.  We will be faced with a number of uneven surfaces.  As a believer, we need to be able to ascend while maintaining balance if we are to reach the top of Mount Tziyyon.  If we cannot maintain balance in the midst of an evil world, then Ephesians 4:14 will tell us that we are children of the faith. 

14 That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

If one is a child, they are subject to the cunningness of the devil.  Maybe that explains why most Christians do not keep the law, Torah.  They are just children following the various doctrines of the world.  It is time to mature and come to the stability of the word of Messiah and His Apostles.

Like the animal that chews the cud.  We should learn to take our time to meditate on the word.  So that we can get everything out of it.  This will take several times coming back to the word.  We must figuratively chew on the word.  Similar to the animal that chews the cud getting all the nutrition that is possible out of the word, Tehilla1:2.

2 But his delight in the Torah of Yehovah and in his Torah does he meditate day and night.

Vayyiqra 11:4-8

4 Nevertheless these shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean to you. 5 And the coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean to you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall not eat, and their carcass shall not touch; they are unclean to you.

Yehovah provides a list of animals that are not to be eaten.  These are all unclean.  The following chew the cud, but do not have split hoofs:

  • Camel.
  • Coney.
  • Hare.

The following has split hoof, but does not chew the cud.

  • Swine.

We are not to even touch the carcass of these animals.  The question becomes, what is considered to be part of the carcass.  A carcass is typically an animal that dies on its own.  Some consider a carcass any clean animal that is not properly slaughtered.  Once the meat is removed, it is no longer considered part of the carcass.  It is, therefore, acceptable for consumption.  However, with these animals, their meat is never acceptable for human consumption.

The question will come up in the life of Yochanan the Baptist related to an unclean animal’s carcass.  Yochanan the Baptist was a descendent of Aharon, therefore he potentially could have been a priest like his father.  One must ask, are these laws a prohibition against even using the animals leather?  Matityahu 3:4

4 And the same Yochanan had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Yochanan the Baptist had a garment of camel hair.  The animal that the leather came from is unknown.  So was it allowable to have a garment of an unclean animal’s hair or leather?  If once removed, is it no longer unclean?  The other things is, just because Yochanan the Baptist did it, that does not make it allowable.  They may have been living under different understandings of the law.  Or possibly that was all that was available.  They may also have adapted an understanding, because of being in exile and not being purely under Judean rule. 

Unfortunately, finding an answer to these questions may prove to be difficult at best.  If we go back to what Yeshua and the Apostles stated, we are to keep the law.  This is not a question of salvation, this is a question of holiness, Vayyiqra 11:44-45.

44 For I Yehovah your Redeemer: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the land. 45 For I Yehovah that brings you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, to be your Redeemer: you shall therefore be holy, for I holy.

We are not to defile ourselves.  We are to be as Yehovah.  We are not to look for loop holes in the law and expose them for our own benefit.  The law is not a list of do’s and don’ts.  It is the boundaries we are to operate in.  Sometimes, it is best to take the more restrictive route until it can be determined.  On the other hand, neither are we to be like those in Matthew 23:24.

24  blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

We are not to stress and strain over these laws, so that we live a legalistic lifestyle.  We have the Holy Spirit today, 1 Yochanan 2:27.

27 But the anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.

This may become a personal decision in the end, but for now I chose not to wear clothing from unclean animals.  It does not make it a law, it is what I have decided for myself.  It is not a choice of life, it is a preference to avoid crossing a boundary.  We live in a world where it is possible to avoid certain issues.  I choose to avoid these issues, so I can focus on the weightier matters of life.

There is a story from the holocaust.  The Jews in the concentration camps were initially only given ham to eat.  No one would eat it.  A Rabbi took the ham dipped it in soup and ate it.  He told the others, if we all die, who will survive to keep Torah when this is over.  The answer for them was diet was not more important than worshipping Yehovah.  The ability to live to worship Yehovah takes precedence over certain laws.  However, we never deny Yehovah just to merely live another day.  These are issues one must decide for themselves.

This is not the first time that there was a separation of animals.  The first mention of clean and unclean animals was in Bereishis 7:1-2.

1 And Yehovah said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast (behemah) take to you by sevens, the male (ish) and his female (ishshah): and of beasts (behemah) that are not clean by two, the male (ish) and his female (ishshah).

Obviously Noah must have known what was clean and unclean.  This is probably something they knew, since the days of Adam.  Even Avraham knew the law, Bereishis 18:18-19.

18 Seeing that Avraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation (goy), and all the nations (goy) of the land shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children (ben) and his household after him, and they shall keep the way (derek) of Yehovah, to do justice and judgment; that Yehovah may bring upon Avraham that which He has spoken of Him.

Up to this point, there were very few requirements written in scriptures.  This is because the law, what would eventually be written in Torah, was handed down from generation to generation.  Do not be too quick to assume that there was no law prior to Moshe.  That is a bad assumption.

Vayyiqra 11:9-12

9 These shall eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living (nephesh) thing (chai) which is in the waters, they an abomination to you: 11 They shall be even an abomination to you; shall not eat of their flesh (basar), but shall have their carcasses in abomination. 12 Whatsoever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that an abomination to you.

As far as water animals, they must have both of the following:

  • Fins.
  • Scales.

If water animals do not have both, they are prohibited.  This would prohibit all shellfish.  Something most consider a delicacy and are willing to pay a high price for.  These are the garbage eaters of the waters.  This includes their carcasses.  Shellfish, unclean animals, are an abomination to us.  We ought not to even come in contact with these animals.

Vayyiqra 11:13-19

13 And these shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

The following fowls or birds are not to be eaten:

Eagle Ossifrage Osprey Vulture
Kite Raven Owl Night Hawk
Cuckow Hawk Little Owl Cormorant
Great Owl Swan Pelican Gier Eagle
Stork Heron Lapwing Bat

Logically, it follows that anything that is not listed is kosher.  However, this presents a complication.  The Hebrew for some of these birds is not clear or known.  Some of the bird’s names are assumed.  It is safe to say that chicken, turkey and duck are kosher.  There are probably more, but if one sticks to these they are safe. 

The question you have to ask yourself, why eat anything else?  Is it to preserve life or is it because you want to feed your flesh and your carnal desires?

Note that, there is nothing mentioned about the carcasses of the fowls.

Vayyiqra 11:20-23

20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination to you. 21 Yet these may eat of every flying creeping thing that goes upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the land; 22 Even these of them may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination to you.

This provides a list of potential insects that may be eaten.  But I have to admit, I have little experience with this.  Unless one flew in my mouth or I ate it in the middle of the night while sleeping.  Why God gave us these, I do not know.  Possibly, there was a time when that was all that was available, Mark 1:6.

6 And Yochanan was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

Yochanan the Baptist ate locust and honey.  The assumption is that he ate kosher locust, since it appears that all locust is clean. 

Vayyiqra 11:24-25

24 And for these shall be unclean: whosoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever bears ought of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Anyone that touches a carcass is unclean until evening.  They should wash their clothes when they come in contact with the carcass.  Again a carcass is an animal that dies on its own.

Our clothes spiritually represent our righteousness, Revelation 19:8.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

When one comes in contact with the unclean, it effects their righteousness.  This is not referring to just physical contact.  When we associate with people who do not walk with Yeshua in righteousness, it drains us spiritually.  Therefore, one must build themselves up in the faith, Yehuda 20-21.

20 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua Messiah to eternal life.

Vayyiqra 11:26-28

26 The carcasses of every beast (behemah) which divides the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, are unclean to you: every one that touches them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goes upon his paws, among all manner of life that goes on four, those are unclean to you: whoso touches their carcass shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean to you.

The following animal carcasses are unclean:

  • Animal that is not both split hoof, cloven footed and chews the cud.
  • Animals that have paws.

If one touches these animal’s carcasses, they are unclean until evening and must wash their clothes.

Vayyiqra 11:29-31

29 These also shall be unclean to you among the creeping things that creep upon the land; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever does touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

This is another list of animals that should not be eaten or touched when dead.  If one does, they are unclean until evening, but their clothes are not required to be washed.  All these are creeping animals.

Weasel Mouse Tortoise Ferret
Chameleon Lizard Snail Mole

Again, here is a prohibition from touching the carcasses.

Vayyiqra 11:32-33

32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, does 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. 33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falls, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and shall break it.

When an animal’s carcass comes in contact with the following the items, the item must be cleaned and will remain unclean until evening:

  • Wood
  • Raiment, cloth
  • Skin, leather
  • Sack

These can be cleaned by water, figuratively the water represents the word.  Therefore this is similar to Ephesians 5:26.

26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word (rhema),

However if the animal’s carcass comes in contact with an earthen vessel, different rules apply.  An earthen vessel cannot be cleaned, it must be broken.  The earthen vessel is similar to a human in 2 Corinthians 4:7.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We can only be cleaned by the word if we are first broken and reborn as a new vessel.  Then if we walk in the word as He does, we are cleansed by 1 Yochanan 1:7.

7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Yeshua Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Vayyiqra 11:34

34 Of all meat (okel) which may be eaten, on which water comes shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every vessel shall be unclean.

This is referring to the meat of a clean animal.  If it comes in contact with water, the water is unclean.  If this water comes in contact with a drinking vessel, that vessel is unclean.

Vayyiqra 11:35

35 And every whereupon of their carcass falls shall be unclean; oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: they unclean, and shall be unclean to you.

If the carcass that is from a clean animal falls on an oven, range or pot, it is unclean.  These must be broken down they are unclean. 

This does bring into question what is a carcass.  A carcass is associated with an animal that dies on its own.  Some associate a carcass with a clean animal that is not appropriately slaughtered.  This may present an impasse for some people.  There are several issues associated with this:

  • If an animal is not slaughtered in accordance by Rabbinic law, is it kosher?
  • If the meat does not carry the kosher symbol, is it approved for human consumption?

In today’s world, obtaining kosher meats is sometimes difficult or cost more.  One can easily get into legalism over these issues.  Paul somewhat addresses this issue with 1 Corinthians 8.  Paul is referring to meats offered to idols.  This was strictly prohibited by Acts 15:20.

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

What Paul is discussing in 1 Corinthians 8 is, if one goes to a meat market, potentially the meat could have been offered to idols.  Unless one knows for sure, they should not assume that all meat is offered to idols.  However, eating meat around weaker believers, less mature, could cause them to stumble.  Paul’s solution was to not eat meat if it would cause someone to stumble.  Paul is only referring to meats allowed by Vayyiqra 11 or Devarim 14.  Paul clarifies this in 1 Timothy 4:4-5.

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul states that meat is allowable, if the meat is received with thanksgiving and sanctified by the word (logos) and prayer.  Sanctified by the word refers to the word of the Bible.  To determine if a meat is sanctified, one should refer to either Vayyiqra 11 or Devarim 14. One can pray all day for a ham and it is never acceptable.  To eat non-kosher foods is to be in rebellion.

Some resolve this issue by kashering their meat.  It is a process in food preparation in which the blood is drawn out of the meat.  Once that is done, they consider it kosher for human consumption.  This becomes a personal choice.

Interestingly enough, most fowl are butchered in a way that results in a kosher butchering.  Additionally, fish for the most part are kosher for human consumption.  But then again, this all becomes a personal choice.

Either way, regardless of the condition of the skin, hide, fat, blood and organs, they are not allowable for human consumption.

Vayyiqra 11:36

36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.

If the carcass falls on a fountain with water, the fountain is still clean.  This is because there is plenty of flowing water to keep it clean.

This is similar to a believer that is continually flowing in the Spirit.  They will remain clean even though they come in contact with unclean people.  These seem to always be building themselves up in their most holy faith.

Vayyiqra 11:37-38

37 And if of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and of their carcass fall thereon, it unclean to you.

If the carcass falls on the seed, the seed is clean.  If water is put on seed, the carcass fell on, it is unclean. 

This is a picture of what comes from a sanctified and unsanctified people.  A carcass is an unsanctified person, their words will defile an individual.  Only words from a sanctified person will help an individual grow spiritually.

Vayyiqra 11:39-40

39 And if any beast, of which you may eat, die; he that touches the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40 And he that eats of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that bears the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

If one comes in contact with the carcass of a clean animal, they are unclean until evening.  Many of these rules related to cleanliness do not affect most people today.  Few come in contact with a carcass unless they are a butcher, work on a farm or go hunting.  Unfortunately, those that do a lot of food preparation may come in contact with a carcass depending on their view of what is a carcass.  Safe to say, if ever in contact with a carcass, one is unclean until evening.  Anything that comes in contact with the carcass is unclean.  If it is an earthen vessel, it must be broken.

The point of these laws is not to bind someone in legalism.  It is something that we design a lifestyle around so that we minimize our uncleanliness.  This would transfer over to how one lives their life in the Spirit.

Vayyiqra 11:41-43

41 And every creeping thing that creeps upon the land shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goes upon the belly, and whatsoever goes upon all four, or whatsoever has more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the land, them shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43  shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall make yourselves unclean with them, that should be defiled thereby.

This prohibition is against creeping animals.  One should never eat an animal that creeps, goes on its belly or animals with many legs.  It is thought that this is referring to insects and reptiles.

Stick with chicken and one is almost always safe.  However, fried chicken may not be safe, if the skin has not been removed.

Vayyiqra 11:44

44 For I am Yehovah your Redeemer: shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and shall be holy; for I holy: neither shall defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the land.

We are to be holy as Yehovah is holy.  We are not to be defiled with creeping things.  Generally these are animals that come out at night.  They hide in the dark far from the light.

We should always endeavor to sanctify our lives so that we minimize our own defilement spiritually and physically.

Vayyiqra 11:45

45 For I Yehovah that brings you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, to be your Redeemer: shall therefore be holy, for I holy.

God delivered our forefathers from Mitzrayim.  He delivered us from spiritual Mitzrayim.  We should therefore sanctify our walk to be holy as He is Holy.  It should be our desire to be holy so that we can commune with Him consistently.  That we prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God, Romans 12:1–2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Vayyiqra 11:46-47

46 This is the law of the beasts (behemah), and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the land: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the living that may be eaten and the living that may not be eaten.

These laws were not some suggestions to improve our health.  These are laws that are to be obeyed as written.  However, it will take come meditation on our part to understand the boundaries that are presented in Vayyiqra 11.  We should not look for a loophole so as to allow us to live as we choose.  We should look for understanding so that we are well pleasing in His sight.

When Yeshua came nothing changed.  When the Apostles wrote the New Testament nothing changed.  The change came when people fell aways from the faith and today many call evil good and good evil.  But God calls these holy.

The choice will always be up to the individual.  The question remains, will you follow Yehovah and Yeshua or the tradition of your fathers?  Remember God will not be mocked, Galatians 6:7.

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.

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