Bible Strands
Leviticus 17:15
And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses the Israelites in Leviticus 17, establishing ritual boundaries immediately after prohibiting the consumption of blood in verse 14.
The words — נְבֵלָה (nevelah) denotes a carcass, and טְרֵפָה (terefah) specifies a torn animal, both defining the unclean food source.
The thread — This dietary boundary recurs in Exodus 22:31, Leviticus 22:8, and Deuteronomy 14:21, applying equally to native-born Israelites and resident foreigners.
Why it lands — The text requires immediate washing and bathing for anyone who eats carrion, stating that uncleanness persists until evening and cleansing occurs only after sunset.
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
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 22:31 You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
- Leviticus 22:8 He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, which would make him unclean. I am the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 14:21 You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
- Leviticus 11:25 and whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Leviticus 15:5 Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Ezekiel 4:14 “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”
- Ezekiel 44:31 The priests may not eat any bird or animal found dead or torn by wild beasts.
- Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Leviticus 15:10 Whoever touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and whoever carries such things must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.
- Leviticus 15:21 and anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening.