The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
Parallel translations
- WEB The priests shall not eat of anything that dies of itself, or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.
- BSB The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.
- NKJV The priests shall not eat anything, bird or beast, that died naturally or was torn by wild beasts.
- NASB The priests shall not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or has been torn to pieces by animals.
- NLT The priests may not eat meat from any bird or animal that dies a natural death or that dies after being attacked by another animal.
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
Priests must not eat any animal that died naturally or was torn by beasts.
Overview
Such meat was unclean, and the priests, as those nearest God's holiness, were held to strict purity in their food. The regulation reinforced the priests' separation and consecration to the Lord. These dietary boundaries pointed to the call to holiness, ultimately fulfilled in the purity Christ imparts to His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Lev 22:8That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD.
- Exod 22:31And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
- Deut 14:21Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
- Ezek 4:14Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
- Rom 14:20For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
- Lev 17:15And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
- 1 Cor 8:13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 44:31 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
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