Focused Passage

Leviticus 11:29-38

Clean and Unclean Creatures: Holiness in Daily Life

The LORD instructs Moses and Aaron concerning clean and unclean land animals, water creatures, birds, flying insects, swarming creatures, carcass contamination, household impurity, and the theological purpose of these distinctions: Israel must be holy because the LORD is holy.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

29 The following creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard,

30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

31 These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.

32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article becomes unclean; any article of wood, clothing, leather, sackcloth, or any implement used for work must be rinsed with water and will remain unclean until evening; then it will be clean.

33 If any of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean; you must break the pot.

34 Any food coming into contact with water from that pot will be unclean, and any drink in such a container will be unclean.

35 Anything upon which one of their carcasses falls will be unclean. If it is an oven or cooking pot, it must be smashed; it is unclean and will remain unclean for you.

36 Nevertheless, a spring or cistern containing water will remain clean, but one who touches a carcass in it will be unclean.

37 If a carcass falls on any seed for sowing, the seed is clean;

38 but if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 29

Original words

The following וְזֶ֤ה H2088 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular creatures בַּשֶּׁ֖רֶץ H8318 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular that move הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ H8317 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular along עַל־ H5921 Preposition the ground הָאָ֑רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular are unclean הַטָּמֵ֔א H2931 Article | Adjective - masculine singular for you לָכֶם֙ Preposition | second person masculine plural the mole הַחֹ֥לֶד H2467 Article | Noun - masculine singular the mouse וְהָעַכְבָּ֖ר H5909 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular any kind לְמִינֵֽהוּ׃ H4327 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular of great lizard וְהַצָּ֥ב H6632 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

the gecko וְהָאֲנָקָ֥ה H604 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular the monitor lizard וְהַכֹּ֖חַ H3581 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular the common lizard וְהַלְּטָאָ֑ה H3911 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular the skink וְהַחֹ֖מֶט H2546 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular and the chameleon וְהַתִּנְשָֽׁמֶת׃ H8580 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

These [animals] אֵ֛לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural are unclean הַטְּמֵאִ֥ים H2931 Article | Adjective - masculine plural for you לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural among all בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the crawling creatures הַשָּׁ֑רֶץ H8318 Article | Noun - masculine singular Whoever כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct touches הַנֹּגֵ֧עַ H5060 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular them בָּהֶ֛ם Preposition | third person masculine plural when they are dead בְּמֹתָ֖ם H4194 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural shall be unclean יִטְמָ֥א H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition evening הָעָֽרֶב׃ H6153 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 32

Original words

When וְכֹ֣ל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular one of them אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative dies בְּמֹתָ֜ם H4194 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural and falls יִפֹּל־ H5307 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on עָלָיו֩ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular something מֵהֶ֨ם׀ Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural [that article] becomes unclean יִטְמָ֗א H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular any מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct article כְּלִי־ H3627 Noun - masculine singular construct of wood עֵץ֙ H6086 Noun - masculine singular . . . א֣וֹ H176 Conjunction clothing בֶ֤גֶד H899 Noun - masculine singular . . . אוֹ־ H176 Conjunction leather עוֹר֙ H5785 Noun - masculine singular . . . א֣וֹ H176 Conjunction sackcloth שָׂ֔ק H8242 Noun - masculine singular or any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct implement כְּלִ֕י H3627 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative used יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular for work מְלָאכָ֖ה H4399 Noun - feminine singular must be rinsed with water בַּמַּ֧יִם H4325 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . יוּבָ֛א H935 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and will remain unclean וְטָמֵ֥א H2930 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition evening הָעֶ֖רֶב H6153 Article | Noun - masculine singular then it will be clean וְטָהֵֽר׃ H2891 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 33

Original words

If any of them מֵהֶ֖ם Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural falls יִפֹּ֥ל H5307 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . תּוֹכ֑וֹ H8432 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular a וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct clay חֶ֔רֶשׂ H2789 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative pot כְּלִי־ H3627 Noun - masculine singular construct everything כֹּ֣ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֧ר H834 Pronoun - relative in בְּתוֹכ֛וֹ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular it will be unclean יִטְמָ֖א H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - וְאֹת֥וֹ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | third person masculine singular you must break [the pot] תִשְׁבֹּֽרוּ׃ H7665 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Verse 34

Original words

Any מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct vvv יֵאָכֵ֗ל H398 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular vvv אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative food הָאֹ֜כֶל H400 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative coming יָב֥וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular into contact עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular with water [from that pot] מַ֖יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural will be unclean יִטְמָ֑א H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular and any וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct drink יִשָּׁתֶ֔ה H8354 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . מַשְׁקֶה֙ H4945 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative in such a בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct container כְּלִ֖י H3627 Noun - masculine singular will be unclean יִטְמָֽא׃ H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 35

Original words

Anything וְ֠כֹל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular upon which אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative one of their carcasses מִנִּבְלָתָ֥ם׀ H5038 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural falls יִפֹּ֨ל H5307 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular - עָלָיו֮ H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular will be unclean יִטְמָא֒ H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular If it is an oven תַּנּ֧וּר H8574 Noun - common singular or cooking pot וְכִירַ֛יִם H3600 Conjunctive waw | Noun - md it must be smashed יֻתָּ֖ץ H5422 Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singular it הֵ֑ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural is unclean טְמֵאִ֣ים H2931 Adjective - masculine plural and will remain יִהְי֥וּ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural unclean וּטְמֵאִ֖ים H2931 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural for you לָכֶֽם׃ Preposition | second person masculine plural
Verse 36

Original words

Nevertheless אַ֣ךְ H389 Adverb a spring מַעְיָ֥ן H4599 Noun - masculine singular or cistern וּב֛וֹר H953 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular containing מִקְוֵה־ H4723 Noun - masculine singular construct water מַ֖יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural will remain יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular clean טָה֑וֹר H2889 Adjective - masculine singular but one who touches וְנֹגֵ֥עַ H5060 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular a carcass in it בְּנִבְלָתָ֖ם H5038 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural will be unclean יִטְמָֽא׃ H2930 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 37

Original words

If וְכִ֤י H3588 Conjunction a carcass מִנִּבְלָתָ֔ם H5038 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural falls יִפֹּל֙ H5307 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct seed זֶ֥רַע H2233 Noun - masculine singular for sowing זֵר֖וּעַ H2221 Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative - יִזָּרֵ֑עַ H2232 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular [the seed] הֽוּא׃ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is clean טָה֖וֹר H2889 Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 38

Original words

but if וְכִ֤י H3588 Conjunction water מַ֙יִם֙ H4325 Noun - masculine plural has been put יֻתַּן־ H5414 Verb - QalPass - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the seed זֶ֔רַע H2233 Noun - masculine singular and a carcass מִנִּבְלָתָ֖ם H5038 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural falls וְנָפַ֥ל H5307 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on it עָלָ֑יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular it ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is unclean טָמֵ֥א H2931 Adjective - masculine singular for you לָכֶֽם׃ס Preposition | second person masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.