“‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
Parallel translations
- KJV And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
- BSB These creatures will make you unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,
- ESV “And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening,
- NKJV ‘By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until evening;
- NASB ‘By these, moreover, you will be made unclean; whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening,
- NLT “The following creatures will make you ceremonially unclean. If any of you touch their carcasses, you will be defiled until evening.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Touching the carcasses of unclean creatures makes a person unclean until evening. Contact with death brings ceremonial defilement.
Overview
The text turns from eating to contact, teaching that uncleanness spreads through touching dead bodies. The defilement is temporary, lasting 'until the evening,' signaling that purification and restoration are available. This concern with death and defilement points to humanity's deeper need, met in Christ, who conquers death and cleanses his people from all defilement (Hebrews 9:13-14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Lev 11:27–28Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
- Eph 2:1–3You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
- 1 Jn 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
- Col 2:20If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
- Lev 11:31These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 17:15–16“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then he shall be clean.
- Isa 22:14Yahweh of Armies revealed himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
- Heb 9:26or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- Lev 11:38–40But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.
- Col 2:16–17Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
- 1 Cor 15:33Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
- 2 Cor 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
- Lev 11:8Of their meat you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 11:24 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.