“You may eat any animal that has completely split hooves and chews the cud,
Parallel translations
- WEB Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof cloven in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat.
- KJV And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
- BSB You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.
- NKJV And you may eat every animal with cloven hooves, having the hoof split into two parts, and that chews the cud, among the animals.
- NASB And any animal that has a divided hoof and has its hoofs split in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, that animal you may eat.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Animals that both have a fully split hoof and chew the cud may be eaten. Two marks together define a clean land animal.
Overview
Moses gives the general rule for clean land animals: they must both part the hoof and chew the cud. This twofold test provided a clear, memorable standard for Israel's daily diet. The careful distinctions instilled habits of discernment between holy and common that pointed beyond themselves to the call to be set apart for God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Cor 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
- Ps 1:1–2Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
- Prov 18:1An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 14:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.