Leviticus 11:47

You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.’”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God issues this directive as the concluding summary of the dietary regulations covering animals, birds, aquatic life, and ground-dwelling creatures (Leviticus 11:46).

The words — לְהַבְדִּיל (lehavdil) means to separate and בֵּין (bein) means between, structuring the command to distinguish between the unclean (טָמֵא) and the clean (טָהֹר). The Hebrew also pairs חַיָּה (living creature) with נֶאֱכֶלֶת (which is eaten) to specify the dietary boundary.

The thread — The text establishes this separation pattern in Leviticus 10:10 for distinguishing holy from common, Ezekiel 44:23 for priestly instruction on clean versus unclean, and Romans 14:13 which shifts the application to interpersonal conduct.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to identify permissible and prohibited animals before drawing any spiritual application. Interpreters then extend the structural principle of separation to moral and communal boundaries, but the verse itself only prescribes dietary discernment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לְהַבְדִּ֕ילle./hav.Dilto/ separate בֵּ֥יןbeinbetween הַטָּמֵ֖אha./ta.Me'the/ unclean [thing]וּבֵ֣יןu./Veinand/ between הַטָּהֹ֑רha./ta.Horthe/ pure [thing]וּבֵ֤יןu./Veinand/ between הַֽחַיָּה֙ha./chai.Yahthe/ living creature הַֽנֶּאֱכֶ֔לֶתha./ne.'e.Khe.letwhich/ is eaten וּבֵין֙u./Veinand/ between הַֽחַיָּ֔הha./chai.Yahthe/ living creature אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sherwhich לֹ֥אlo'not תֵאָכֵֽל׃ פte.'a.Khelit will be eaten

King James Version

To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Cross-references

Leviticus 10:10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean,
Ezekiel 44:23 They are to teach My people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to discern between the clean and the unclean.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
Malachi 3:18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Romans 14:2 For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.