Leviticus 11:8 — Word Study
WLCמִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם לֹ֣א תִגָּ֑עוּ טְמֵאִ֥ים הֵ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃
BSAYou must not eatʼâkal▸ [under any circumstances] their meatbâsâr [flesh] or touchnâgaʻ▸ [make contact with] their carcassesnᵉbêlâh [dead bodies] theyhêm are uncleanṭâmêʼ [considered, regarded as, impure, ceremonially defiled]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם | and carcass their | Conjunction, preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| לֹ֣א | not | Particle |
| תִגָּ֑עוּ | you will touch | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| טְמֵאִ֥ים | [are] unclean | Adj |
| הֵ֖ם | they | Pronoun |
| לָכֶֽם׃ | to you | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. |
| KJV | Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. |
| ASV | Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you. |
| YLT | 'Of their flesh ye do not eat, and against their carcase ye do not come — unclean they [are] to you. |
| WEB | You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you. |
| BBE | Their flesh may not be used for food, and their dead bodies may not even be touched; they are unclean to you. |
Where they part company is in the phrasing of the prohibitions — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is followed by a conjunction that introduces an additional prohibition, culminating in a predicate clause that defines the status of the animals.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectהֵם
verbאָכַל
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 11:8
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 11:8 provides specific instructions from God regarding the dietary practices of the Israelites. This verse emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between clean and unclean animals, which is a recurring theme throughout the book of Leviticus. The laws serve to maintain the Israelites' ritual purity and set them apart as God's chosen people, as seen in the surrounding verses that outline various clean and unclean creatures.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 5:2 | Or if a person touches anything unclean—whether the carcass of any unclean wild animal or livestock or crawling creature—even if he is unaware of it, he is unclean and guilty. |
| 2 | Isaiah 52:11 | Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. |
| 3 | Hosea 9:3 | They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. |
| 4 | Matthew 15:11–20 | A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.” |
| 5 | Mark 7:2–15 | and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מִבְּשָׂרָם, mi.be.sa.Ramgenerated
The word בָּשָׂר (basar) means 'flesh' and can refer to the physical body of humans or animals. It emphasizes the tangible aspect of what is being prohibited in this verse. The parsing indicates it is a noun in a construct state, meaning it is connected to the possessive suffix, indicating 'their flesh.'
In this context, the emphasis is on the prohibition of consuming the flesh of certain animals, highlighting the laws of purity that the Israelites are to follow. The use of the construct form suggests a close relationship between the animals and their flesh, reinforcing the seriousness of the command.
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 תֹאכֵ֔לוּ (to eat) governs the main clause, which is followed by another verb תִגָּ֑עוּ (you will touch). The structure indicates two prohibitions, making it clear that both actions are forbidden.
The sentence is constructed with a series of clauses that emphasize the prohibitions regarding the flesh and carcasses of these animals. The use of the conjunction וּ (and) connects the two prohibitions, indicating they are both part of the same command.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew מִבְּשָׂרָם is rendered as ἀπὸ (from), which indicates a separation from the flesh of these animals. This choice narrows the focus to the act of abstaining from their meat.
The Septuagint's rendering of טְמֵאִ֥ים as ἀκάθαρτα (unclean) aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, reinforcing the concept of ritual impurity.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Leviticus 11:8 tells the Israelites that they must not eat the meat of certain animals or touch their dead bodies, as these animals are considered unclean. This command is part of the laws given to maintain their purity and distinction as God's people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Certain animals are considered unclean due to the dietary laws given by God, which serve to set the Israelites apart and maintain their ritual purity.
To be unclean means to be in a state of ritual impurity, which can affect one's ability to participate in religious practices and community life.
The applicability of these dietary laws varies among different religious traditions; some continue to observe them, while others do not.
These laws reflect God's holiness by emphasizing the importance of purity and separation from things that are considered impure or defiled.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What significance do these dietary laws hold for the Israelites in their relationship with God?
- How can understanding these laws help us appreciate the concept of purity in a spiritual sense?
- In what ways can we apply the principle of separation from what is unclean in our own lives?
- What does this verse teach us about obedience to God's commands?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Leviticus 11:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf their flesh shall ye not eat,.... Meaning, not of swine only, but of the camel, coney, and hare: and their carcass shall ye not touch; which must not be understood of touching them in any sense;
Read John Gill on Leviticus 11 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Leviticus 11 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleYe shall not touch, to wit, in order to eating, as may be gathered by comparing this with . For since the fat and the skins of some of the forbidden creatures were useful for medicinal and other good uses, and were used by good men; see ; it is not probable that God would have them cast away. Thus God forbad the making of images, Exodus 20, not absolutely and universally, but in order to the worshipping of them, as Christian interpreters agree. Or, they were here forbidden to touch them, to wit, unnecessarily; and if he that touched them for some necessary use were polluted by it, it was but a slight and transient pollution, ending at evening, as appears from ,25, &c.
Read Matthew Poole on Leviticus 11 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsLeviticus 11:8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they [are] unclean to you.Ver. 8. Of their flesh shall ye not eat.] Not above the quantity of an olive, say the Jew doctors, who will needs be mending magnificat, adding to the law.
Read John Trapp on Leviticus 11 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) Of their flesh ye shall not eat.—During the second Temple the prohibition was defined to extend to the smallest quantity. If any one ate a piece of flesh less even than the size of an olive he was chastised with stripes. And their carcase shall ye not touch.—As contact with a human dead body, which was regarded as the most defiling of all, was only forbidden to the priests (see Leviticus 21:1-3), hence the prohibition here addressed to the whole nation was interpreted during the second Temple to apply simply to the occasions when the Israelites came to Jerusalem on the pilgrimage festivals. Contact with a carcase of an unclean animal on these visits precluded the worshipper from…
Read Charles John Ellicott on Leviticus 11 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. their carcases ye shall not touch] The word carcase is the same as that translated ‘that which dieth of itself’ (Leviticus 17:15; Deuteronomy 14:21). Here and in Deuteronomy 14:8 contact with the dead bodies of these unclean animals is prohibited.
Read Cambridge 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
You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.
You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.
You must not eat from their meat and you must not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.
Tyndale line
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.
Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcases ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall yee not eate, and their carkeise shall yee not touch: for they shall bee vncleane to you.
Strictly literal
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch: they shall be unclean unto you.
'Of their flesh ye do not eat, and against their carcase ye do not come — unclean they [are] to you.
You do not eat of their flesh, and you do not come against their carcass—they [are] unclean to you.
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean unto you.
You must not eat any of their meat, nor touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.
From the Latin
The flesh of these you shall not eat, nor shall you touch their carcasses, because they are unclean to you.
Simplified
You are not to eat their meat or touch their dead bodies. They are unclean for you.
Their flesh may not be used for food, and their dead bodies may not even be touched; they are unclean 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 states, "מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם לֹ֣א תִגָּ֑עוּ טְמֵאִ֥ים הֵ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃" The Septuagint aligns closely with the Masoretic Text, matching 9 of the 9 words, though its word order and articles differ due to its translation style. The Samaritan Pentateuch agrees with the Masoretic Text word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain a fragment with 3 words visible, with 1 word partly restored and 5 supplied by an editor, but they also convey the same essential message as the Masoretic Text.
מִבְּשָׂרָם֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ וּבְנִבְלָתָ֖ם לֹ֣א תִגָּ֑עוּ טְמֵאִ֥ים הֵ֖ם לָכֶֽם׃
9 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.
מבשׂרם לא תאכלו ובנבלתם לא תגעו טמאים הם לכם
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[מבשר׳ם] [לא] [תאכלו] [ובנבלת׳ם] [לא] תגעו טמאים הם ל׳כם
3 words on the leather — 1 partly restored, 5 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 11:8
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.
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)
HTn — 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
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
Conj | Prep | N-fs | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHC/R/Ncfsc/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)
HTn — ParticleHTn
נָגַע (naga`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to touch, reach, or strike. It encompasses a range of actions from physical contact to figurative implications like arriving or acquiring. The word can also denote being stricken or defeated, particularly in battle or by disease. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Qal, Niph, Piel, Pual, and Hiphil, each with specific nuances.
נָגַע 150 vb. touch, reach, strike
Qal
touch
of י׳ touching earth, mountains, etc.
nearly = strike, pass. stricken
touch = harm
reach, extend to
Niph. be stricken, defeated (in battle), i.e. feign to be so
Pi. strike (with leprosy, 2 acc.)
Pu. be stricken by diseases
Hiph. cause to touch; reach, approach, arrive
base
H5060 נָגַע touch, reach, strike .. . touch
. of י׳ touching earth, mountains, etc.
. nearly = strike, pass. stricken
. touch = harm
. reach, extend to
. be stricken, defeated (in battle), i.e. feign to be so
. strike (with leprosy, 2 acc.)
. be stricken by diseases
. cause to touch; reach, approach, arrive
5060 naga` naw-gah'
a primitive root; properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon
(for any purpose; euphem., to lie with a woman); by
implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive, acquire);
violently, to strike (punish, defeat, destroy, etc.):--beat,
(X be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near
(nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite,
strike, touch.
נָגַע (na.ga) — to touch.
1) to touch, reach, strike
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to touch
1a2) to strike
1a3) to reach, extend to
1a4) to be stricken
1a4a) stricken (participle)
1b) (Niphal) to be stricken, be defeated
1c) (Piel) to strike
1d) (Pual) to be stricken (by disease)
1e) (Hiphil) to cause to touch, reach, approach, arrive
1e1) to cause to touch, apply
1e2) to reach, extend, attain, arrive, come
1e3) to approach (of time)
1e4) to befall (of fate)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
טָמֵא (tame') means 'unclean' and is derived from a root that conveys a sense of defilement or pollution, particularly in a religious context. It covers ethical, religious, and ritual impurity, and can refer to both people and places.
טָמֵא adj. unclean
base
H2931 טָמֵא unclean
2931 tame' taw-may'
from 2930; foul in a relig. sense:--defiled, + infamous,
polluted(-tion), unclean.
see HEBREW for 02930
טָמֵא (ta.me) — unclean.
1) unclean, impure
1a) ethically and religiously
1b) ritually
1c) of places
Adj — AdjHAampa
See CLEAN.
→ (Ceremonially speaking)
Creatures designated as such Le 11; De 14
→ See UNCLEANNESS
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
Pron — PronounHPp3mp
כֶם (khem) — you.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 2nd person masculine plural
HRd/Sp2mp — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp2mp
