Leviticus 11:31
Leviticus 11:31 in Multiple Translations
These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.
These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.
These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.
All these are unclean to you: anyone touching them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.
These animals that run along the ground are unclean for you. If you touch a dead one of them you will be unclean until the evening.
These shall be vncleane to you among all that creepe: whosoeuer doeth touch them when they be dead, shalbe vncleane vntil the euen.
these [are] the unclean to you among all which are teeming; any one who is coming against them in their death is unclean till the evening.
These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.
These are unclean to you among all that creep: whoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.
All these are unclean. He that toucheth their carcasses shall be unclean until the evening.
Those creatures that scurry across the ground ◄defile you/cause you to become unacceptable to me►; anyone who touches one of their carcasses must not touch other people until the evening.
Berean Amplified Bible — Leviticus 11:31
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Leviticus 11:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֵ֛לֶּה
הַ/טְּמֵאִ֥ים
לָ/כֶ֖ם
בְּ/כָל
הַ/שָּׁ֑רֶץ
כָּל
הַ/נֹּגֵ֧עַ
בָּ/הֶ֛ם
בְּ/מֹתָ֖/ם
יִטְמָ֥א
עַד
הָ/עָֽרֶב
אֵ֛לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
these
Pron
הַ/טְּמֵאִ֥ים
ṭâmêʼ
H2931
unclean
Art | Adj
לָ/כֶ֖ם
Prep | Suff
בְּ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Prep | N-ms
הַ/שָּׁ֑רֶץ
sherets
H8318
swarm
Art | N-ms
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הַ/נֹּגֵ֧עַ
nâgaʻ
H5060
to touch
Art | V-Qal
בָּ/הֶ֛ם
Prep | Suff
בְּ/מֹתָ֖/ם
mâveth
H4194
death
Prep | N-ms | Suff
יִטְמָ֥א
ṭâmêʼ
H2930
to defile
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
עַד
ʻad
H5704
till
Prep
הָ/עָֽרֶב
ʻereb
H6153
evening
Art | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Leviticus 11:31
אֵ֛לֶּה
ʼêl-leh
H428
"these"
Pron
This Hebrew word is used to point out specific people or things, like saying 'these' or 'those'. It appears in the book of Genesis, where God says 'let there be light' and separates the light from the darkness.
Definition: 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Usage: Occurs in 697 OT verses. KJV: an-(the) other; one sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those, thus, which, who(-m). See also: Genesis 2:4; Exodus 35:1; Deuteronomy 1:35.
הַ/טְּמֵאִ֥ים
ṭâmêʼ
H2931
"unclean"
Art | Adj
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be unclean in a spiritual sense, often due to sin or impurity, as seen in Leviticus. It can refer to people, places, or things. The concept is key to understanding biblical purity laws.
Definition: 1) unclean, impure 1a) ethically and religiously 1b) ritually 1c) of places
Usage: Occurs in 78 OT verses. KJV: defiled, [phrase] infamous, polluted(-tion), unclean. See also: Leviticus 5:2; Numbers 9:6; Isaiah 6:5.
לָ/כֶ֖ם
""
Prep | Suff
בְּ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ/שָּׁ֑רֶץ
sherets
H8318
"swarm"
Art | N-ms
This Hebrew word means a swarm of small animals like insects or reptiles, often found in the book of Genesis. It describes a large group of tiny creatures moving together. In the Bible, it is used to describe the abundance of God's creation.
Definition: 1) teeming or swarming things, creepers, swarmers 1a) of insects, animals, small reptiles, quadrupeds
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature). See also: Genesis 1:20; Leviticus 11:29; Deuteronomy 14:19.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ/נֹּגֵ֧עַ
nâgaʻ
H5060
"to touch"
Art | V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to touch or reach something, and can also mean to strike or defeat someone. It is used in Exodus to describe God's power and in Psalms to describe human emotions. The word has various translations, including beat, bring, and plague.
Definition: 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)
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch. See also: Genesis 3:3; 2 Chronicles 3:12; Psalms 32:6.
בָּ/הֶ֛ם
""
Prep | Suff
בְּ/מֹתָ֖/ם
mâveth
H4194
"death"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to death, whether natural or violent, and is used in books like Genesis and Isaiah. It can also mean the place of the dead, or a state of ruin. This concept is seen in the story of Moses, where death is a punishment for disobedience.
Definition: 1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead 1a) death 1b) death by violence (as a penalty) 1c) state of death, place of death Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). See also: Genesis 21:16; Job 38:17; Psalms 6:6.
יִטְמָ֥א
ṭâmêʼ
H2930
"to defile"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Definition: 1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure 1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean 1a1) sexually 1a2) religiously 1a3) ceremonially 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled 1b1a) sexually 1b1b) by idolatry 1b1c) ceremonially 1b2) to be regarded as unclean 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to defile 1c1a) sexually 1c1b) religiously 1c1c) ceremonially 1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially) 1c3) to profane (God's name) 1d) (Pual) to be defiled 1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean 1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 34:5; Leviticus 22:5; Psalms 79:1.
עַד
ʻad
H5704
"till"
Prep
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Definition: prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Usage: Occurs in 1128 OT verses. KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet. See also: Genesis 3:19; Exodus 32:20; Numbers 23:24.
הָ/עָֽרֶב
ʻereb
H6153
"evening"
Art | N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means evening or sunset, like when God created daylight and darkness in Genesis. It refers to the time of day, often marking the end of a workday. This word is used in many verses, including Exodus and Psalms.
Definition: 1) evening, night, sunset 1a) evening, sunset 1b) night
Usage: Occurs in 125 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night. See also: Genesis 1:5; Numbers 19:19; Psalms 30:6.
Study Notes — Leviticus 11:31
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Clean and Unclean Animals
29The following creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard,
30the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.
31These animals are unclean for you among all the crawling creatures. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until evening.
32When 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. 33If any of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean; you must break the pot.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 11:24–25 | These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening, and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening. |
| 2 | Leviticus 11:8 | You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. |
Leviticus 11:31 Summary
[This verse, Leviticus 11:31, teaches us that some animals are considered unclean, and if we touch them when they are dead, we become unclean too. This is a picture of how sin can affect us, and the need for cleansing and purification, as seen in Psalm 51:2 and Ezekiel 36:25. Just like the Israelites had to wait until evening to be clean again, we can find cleansing and forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ, as seen in Acts 3:19 and 1 John 1:9. By understanding this concept, we can better appreciate the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God, as seen in Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 7:1.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God declare these animals unclean in Leviticus 11:31?
God declared these animals unclean to teach the Israelites about the importance of separation from sin and to provide a picture of spiritual cleanliness, as seen in Leviticus 11:44-45 and Psalm 51:7.
What happens if someone touches one of these unclean animals when it is dead?
According to Leviticus 11:31, if someone touches one of these unclean animals when it is dead, they will be unclean until evening, highlighting the need for purification and cleansing, as also seen in Numbers 19:11-12.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of cleanliness in the Bible?
This verse is part of a larger theme of cleanliness in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of separating oneself from sin and uncleanness, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 and Revelation 21:27.
What is the significance of being unclean until evening?
Being unclean until evening, as stated in Leviticus 11:31, signifies a temporary state of ritual impurity, which could be cleansed through purification rituals and waiting for the evening, as also seen in Leviticus 15:5-11 and Deuteronomy 23:11.
Reflection Questions
- What does it mean for me to be 'clean' or 'unclean' in God's eyes, and how can I apply this concept to my daily life?
- How can I balance the need for separation from sin with the command to love and serve others, as seen in Matthew 22:37-40 and Galatians 5:14?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be 'touching' things that are 'unclean' or sinful, and how can I seek purification and cleansing?
- How does the concept of cleanliness in Leviticus 11:31 relate to the spiritual cleanliness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:11 and Hebrews 10:22?
Gill's Exposition on Leviticus 11:31
These are unclean to you of all that creep,.... Unfit for food, and not to be touched, at least when dead, as in the next clause, that is, these eight sorts of creeping things before mentioned, as
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 11:31
These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. These are unclean to you among all that creep.
Trapp's Commentary on Leviticus 11:31
Leviticus 11:31 These [are] unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.Ver. 31. Touch them, when they be dead.] There is no kind of living creature that is defiled while it is alive, or that defileth while it is alive, save man only, saith Maimony. Others note that there were more remarkable expressions of God’ s anger upon man’ s sin in the dead body of a man than of a beast. The one made unclean but till evening: the other seven days.
Ellicott's Commentary on Leviticus 11:31
(31) These are unclean.—Better, these are the most unclean, as Leviticus 11:29. That is, the eight animals thus enumerated are pre-eminently unclean of all the creeping things. When they be dead.—The phrase, “whosoever doth touch them when they be dead,” is simply another expression for “whosoever toucheth the carcase of them,” which is used in Leviticus 11:24. Defilement is only contracted when their dead bodies are touched, but not if touched when alive. According to the canon which obtained during the second Temple, “there is no kind of living creature that becomes defiled while it is alive, or defiles when it is alive, save man only.”
Cambridge Bible on Leviticus 11:31
31. creep] swarm.