Leviticus 11:11 — Word Study
WLCוְשֶׁ֖קֶץ יִהְי֣וּ לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וְאֶת־ נִבְלָתָ֖ם תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃
BSAThey shall behâyâh▸ [detestable] ◂an abominationsheqets you must notlôʼ eatʼâkal▸ their meatbâsâr [flesh, body] and you must detestshâqats▸ [utterly detest, loathe] their carcassesnᵉbêlâh [dead body, carcass]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְשֶׁ֖קֶץ | and detestable thing[s] | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יִהְי֣וּ | they will be | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine plural |
| לָכֶ֑ם | to you | Preposition, suffix |
| מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ | any of meat their | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| תֹאכֵ֔לוּ | you must eat | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| וְאֶת־ | and the object marker | Conjunction, particle |
| נִבְלָתָ֖ם | carcass their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃ | you will consider detestable | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses. |
| KJV | They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. |
| ASV | and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination. |
| YLT | yea, an abomination they are to you; of their flesh ye do not eat, and their carcase ye abominate. |
| WEB | and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses. |
| BBE | They may not be used for food, and their dead bodies are disgusting to you. |
Where they part company is נִבְלָתָם — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of two main clauses, with additional phrases providing context and prohibitions.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָיָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Leviticus 11:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Dietary Laws in Leviticusgenerated
Leviticus 11:11 outlines specific dietary restrictions for the Israelites, emphasizing that certain animals are considered unclean and should not be eaten. This instruction is part of a broader set of laws aimed at maintaining holiness and purity among God's people, as seen throughout the chapter.
Cross References
The Key Word — שֶׁקֶץ, ve.She.ketzgenerated
The word שֶׁ֫קֶץ (sheqets) refers to a detestable thing or abomination, often associated with idolatrous objects and filth. It is built from a root meaning filth and carries a strong connotation of detestation. In this verse, it indicates that the creatures mentioned are not just unclean but are to be regarded with utter disdain.
This term appears in contexts related to uncleanliness and idolatry, reinforcing the seriousness of the dietary laws. The use of שֶׁ֫קֶץ here underscores the need for the Israelites to maintain their distinct identity and purity in accordance with God's commandments.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יִהְי֣וּ (yihyu), meaning 'they will be', governs the entire verse. The structure consists of a main clause followed by several phrases detailing what should not be done with the creatures.
The order of the Hebrew words emphasizes the prohibition: first stating the creatures are detestable, then instructing not to eat their flesh, and finally commanding to detest their carcasses.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שֶׁ֫קֶץ as βδελύγματα, which also means 'abominations.' This choice reflects a similar understanding of the creatures as utterly unacceptable.
The LXX's use of ἔσονται for יִהְי֣וּ aligns with the Hebrew meaning of 'they will be,' indicating a consistent interpretation of the text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 11:11 tells the Israelites that certain creatures are detestable and should not be eaten. They are to be considered an abomination, and their carcasses should be loathed. This verse is part of the dietary laws that God gave to help the Israelites maintain their purity.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
In this context, it refers to creatures that are considered unclean and should be avoided by the Israelites.
These laws help the Israelites maintain their identity and purity as God's chosen people.
They are instructed to detest them, indicating a strong aversion to these animals.
These laws were specific to the Israelites under the Old Covenant and are not typically observed in the same way by Christians today.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some modern practices that reflect a commitment to purity and holiness?
- How do dietary laws influence our understanding of cultural identity?
- In what ways can we apply the principles of this verse to our lives today?
- What does it mean to detest something in the context of our faith?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 11:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey shall be even an abomination to you,.... This is repeated again and again, to deter from the eating of such fishes, lest there should be any desire after them: ye shall not eat of their flesh,
Read John Gill on Leviticus 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd 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 thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAn abomination unto you, to wit, for food. This clause is added to show that they were neither abominable in their own nature, nor for the food of other nations; and consequently when the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles was taken away, these distinctions of meats were to cease. See Acts 10.
Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLeviticus 11:11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.Ver. 11. They shall be even an abomination.] To teach us, that nothing is lawful, no not for our common use, unless it be "sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
Read John Trapp on Leviticus 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesCh. Leviticus 11:1-23 [51]. The Distinction between Clean and Unclean Food [51] For the sources from which this ch. comes, and its relation from a critical point of view to Deuteronomy 14:3 ff. see App. I (c), pp. 162 f.One principle underlying this distinction appears to have been that animals which were recognised as in any way objects of worship by heathen neighbours, or even supposed by them to be connected with unseen supernatural beings, were to be considered unclean. See Bertholet in KHC., introd. note to this ch. But in other cases the prohibition probably rested on the animal’s repulsive appearance or uncleanly habits, or on sanitary or totemistic grounds. See Driver, Deut. p. 164…
Read Cambridge on Leviticus 11 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleFISHES, Leviticus 11:9-12.No species of fish are here mentioned; the possession of both fins and scales is the line of demarcation between the clean and the unclean.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Leviticus 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.
and you shall detest them. You shall not eat of their meat, and you shall detest their carcasses.
They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses.
Since they are detestable to you, you must not eat their meat and their carcass you must detest.
Tyndale line
They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.
and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcases ye shall have in abomination.
They shall be even an abomination to you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.
They, I say, shalbe an abomination to you: ye shall not eate of their flesh, but shall abhorre their carkeis.
Strictly literal
They shall be even an abomination unto you: of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase ye shall have in abomination.
yea, an abomination they are to you; of their flesh ye do not eat, and their carcase ye abominate.
indeed, they are an abomination to you; you do not eat of their flesh, and you detest their carcass.
And an abomination shall they remain unto you; of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.
Since they must be detested, you must not eat of their meat; also, their carcasses must be detested.
From the Latin
And detestable: their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall avoid.
Simplified
They are repulsive. You must not eat their meat, and you must treat their dead bodies as repulsive.
They may not be used for food, and their dead bodies are disgusting to you.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Septuagint matches 8 of the 9 words in the Hebrew, indicating a close relationship between the translations, while the Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restorations but align with the Masoretic Text.
וְשֶׁ֖קֶץ יִהְי֣וּ לָכֶ֑ם מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וְאֶת־ נִבְלָתָ֖ם תְּשַׁקֵּֽצוּ׃
8 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ושׁקץ יהיו לכם מבשׂרם לא תאכלו ואת נבלתם תשׁקצו
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
ושקץ יהיו ל׳כם מבשר׳ם [לא] [תאכלו] [ואת] [נבלת׳ם] [תשקצו]
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[ושקץ] [יהיו] ל׳כם מבשר׳ם [לא] [תאכלו]
6 words of the verse are on this fragment — 2 partly restored, 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Leviticus 11:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
שֶׁ֫קֶץ (sheqets) refers to a detestable thing or abomination, often associated with idolatrous objects and filth. It is built from the root meaning of filth and carries a strong connotation of detestation. The term appears in contexts related to uncleanliness and idolatry.
שֶׁ֫קֶץ n.m. detestation, detestable thing
base
H8263 שֶׁ֫קֶץ detestation, detestable thing
8263 sheqets sheh'-kets
from 8262; filth, i.e. (figuratively and specifically) an
idolatrous object:--abominable(-tion).
see HEBREW for 08262
שֶׁ֫קֶץ (she.qets) — detestation.
detestable thing or idol, an unclean thing, an abomination, detestation
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine pluralHVqi3mp
כֶם (khem) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2mp
בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and encompasses various meanings, including the physical body, kinship, and a euphemism for male genitalia. It can refer to humans, animals, and all living things, highlighting the frailty of man in relation to God. The entries consistently emphasize its bodily and relational aspects.
בָּשָׂר 266 n.m. flesh
of the body
flesh for the body itself
male organ of generation (euphemism)
flesh for kindred, blood-relations
man over against God as frail or erring
base
H1320 בָּשָׂר flesh . of the body
. flesh for the body itself
. male organ of generation (euphemism)
. flesh for kindred, blood-relations
. man over against God as frail or erring
1320 basar baw-sawr'
from 1319; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body,
person; also (by euphem.) the pudenda of a man:--body, (fat,
lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-)kind, + nakedness, self, skin.
see HEBREW for 01319
בָּשָׂר (ba.sar) — flesh.
1) flesh
1a) of the body
1a1) of humans
1a2) of animals
1b) the body itself
1c) male organ of generation (euphemism)
1d) kindred, blood-relations
1e) flesh as frail or erring (man against God)
1f) all living things
1g) animals
1h) mankind
Aramaic equivalent: be.shar (בְּשַׁר "flesh" H1321)
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3mp
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HC/To — Conjunction · particleHC/To
נְבֵלָה (nevelah) refers to a carcass or corpse, applicable to both humans and animals. It can also denote carrion and, in a figurative sense, an idol. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to be flabby' and encompasses the idea of a dead body, whether it died naturally or otherwise.
נְבֵלָה n.f. carcass, corpse
base
H5038 נְבֵלָה carcass, corpse
5038 nbelah neb-ay-law'
from 5034; a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human
or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol:--
(dead) body, (dead) carcase, dead of itself, which died,
(beast) that (which) dieth of itself.
see HEBREW for 05034
נְבֵלָה (ne.ve.lah) — carcass.
1) carcass, corpse
1a) of humans, idols, animals
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp
שִׁקֵּץ (shaqats) is a verb meaning to detest or make detestable. It is derived from a primitive root that conveys the idea of being filthy or loathsome. The word covers meanings related to abomination and pollution, emphasizing a strong aversion. It appears in contexts where something is considered utterly abhorrent.
[שִׁקֵּץ] vb. Pi. denom. detest, make detestable
base
H8262 שִׁקֵּץ vb. Pi. denom. detest, make detestable
8262 shaqats shaw-kats'
a primitive root; to be filthy, i.e. (intensively) to loathe,
pollute:--abhor, make abominable, have in abomination,
detest, X utterly.
שִׁקֵּץ (sha.qats) — to detest.
1) (Piel) to detest, make abominable, count filthy, make detestable
1a) to detest
1b) to make detestable
V-Piel-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVpi2mp
