The Meaning of Leviticus 11:4 Explained

Leviticus 11:4

KJV: Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

YLT: Only, this ye do not eat -- of those bringing up the cud, and of those dividing the hoof -- the camel, though it is bringing up the cud, yet the hoof not dividing -- it is unclean to you;

Darby: Only these shall ye not eat of those that chew the cud, or of those with cloven hoofs: the camel, for it cheweth the cud, but hath not cloven hoofs it shall be unclean unto you;

ASV: Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nevertheless  these shall ye not eat  of them that chew  the cud,  or of them that divide  the hoof:  [as] the camel,  because he cheweth  the cud,  but divideth  not the hoof;  he [is] unclean  unto you. 

What does Leviticus 11:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 11:1-23 - 41-47, The Distinction Between Clean And Unclean
There were good and sufficient reasons for excluding certain animals from Israel's dietary. Devout medical men insist that this is the finest sanitary code in existence, and that many of the diseases of modern life would disappear if it were universally adopted. God made these distinctions matters of religion, that the well-being of His people might be doubly assured. These restrictions were also imposed to erect strong barriers between the chosen people and the heathen. So long as they obeyed, it was clearly impossible to participate in the heathen festivals, where many of these animals were partaken of.
We are not now bound by these enactments. Our Lord made all meats clean, Mark 7:19, r.v. Peter was bidden to kill and eat all manner of creeping things, and his protest was overborne by the assurance that God had cleansed all. See Acts 10:11-16. Religion consists not in outward rites, but in the inward temper. See Hebrews 9:10. Note that touching was forbidden, because the least contact with evil hurts the soul. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 11

1  What animals may be eaten
4  and what may not be eaten
9  What fishes
13  What fowls
29  The creeping things which are unclean

What do the individual words in Leviticus 11:4 mean?

Nevertheless - this not you shall eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves - the camel because chews the cud it but hooves not does have cloven unclean is to you
אַ֤ךְ אֶת־ זֶה֙ לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֔וּ מִֽמַּעֲלֵי֙ הַגֵּרָ֔ה וּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֖י הַפַּרְסָ֑ה אֶֽת־ הַ֠גָּמָל כִּֽי־ מַעֲלֵ֨ה גֵרָ֜ה ה֗וּא וּפַרְסָה֙ אֵינֶ֣נּוּ מַפְרִ֔יס טָמֵ֥א ה֖וּא לָכֶֽם

אַ֤ךְ  Nevertheless 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
זֶה֙  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
תֹֽאכְל֔וּ  you  shall  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
מִֽמַּעֲלֵי֙  among  those  that  chew 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַגֵּרָ֔ה  the  cud 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֵּרָה  
Sense: cud.
וּמִמַּפְרִיסֵ֖י  or  those  that  have  cloven 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּרַס  
Sense: to divide, break in two.
הַפַּרְסָ֑ה  hooves 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּרְסָה  
Sense: hoof.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַ֠גָּמָל  the  camel 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּמָל  
Sense: camel.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מַעֲלֵ֨ה  chews 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
גֵרָ֜ה  the  cud 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֵּרָה  
Sense: cud.
וּפַרְסָה֙  but  hooves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּרְסָה  
Sense: hoof.
מַפְרִ֔יס  does  have  cloven 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּרַס  
Sense: to divide, break in two.
טָמֵ֥א  unclean 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָמֵא  
Sense: unclean, impure.
לָכֶֽם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural

What are the major concepts related to Leviticus 11:4?

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