Leviticus 11:43 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The serious creeping-creature prohibition now directly addresses Israel's own resulting covenant condition. The people must not make themselves abominable, unclean, or defiled through any of these creatures, because their daily food practice belongs to their holy calling before the LORD.
Israel must not make themselves abominable, unclean, or defiled through any of the creeping creatures prohibited under this covenant food law.
The Context of Leviticus 11:43
Verse 41 prohibits eating every creeping thing upon the earth, and verse 42 expands the category through several movement descriptions. Verse 43 turns from the creatures' classification to Israel's responsibility, using three strong terms for the condition the people must avoid. Verse 44 explains why: the LORD is their God, and they are to sanctify themselves and be holy because he is holy. Verse 45 recalls that he brought them out of Egypt to be their God and repeats the call to holiness. Verses 46 and 47 close by summarizing the animal categories and the purpose of distinguishing between clean and unclean and between creatures that may and may not be eaten.
What Does Leviticus 11:43 Mean?
Ye shall not make yourselves directly places responsibility on Israel's response to the food boundary. The verse describes becoming abominable with a creeping thing, becoming unclean with them, and being defiled thereby. These are serious covenant consequences, not casual preferences. The repeated wording intensifies the warning before the holiness declaration in verse 44. A careful reader should therefore keep the verse attached to the prohibited creeping-creature practice that precedes it and to the LORD's character and saving relationship that immediately follow.
The command concerns Israel making themselves unclean through the specified creatures. It does not authorize another person to declare an ethnicity, disability, body, occupation, or social class inherently abominable. Nor does temporary or action-related uncleanness erase human worth. Peter later states that God taught him not to call any person common or unclean. That explicit human boundary must govern Christian speech. Religious vocabulary becomes abusive when it is detached from the text's object and used to isolate, threaten, or control people whom God commands us to love.
The call continues into verse 44: Israel is to be holy because the LORD is holy. First Peter later repeats that holiness summons for believers, and Jesus identifies the heart's evil as moral defilement. Christian holiness therefore includes truthful food practice, repentance, dignifying speech, and mercy. It rejects both contempt for Israel's God-given command and contempt for neighbors with different diets. At shared meals, followers of Christ disclose ingredients, respect conscience, prevent coercion, and ensure that no person is treated as a contaminating presence.
Bible Verses Related to Leviticus 11:43
“And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 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.”
- Leviticus 11:41-47
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
- 1 Peter 1:15-16
“And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?”
- Acts 10:28-29
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
- Mark 7:20-23
Where Leviticus 11:43 Echoes in Scripture
The next two verses ground Israel's self-sanctification in the holiness of the LORD who brought them out of Egypt. First Peter 1:15-16 later repeats the call to be holy because the one who calls is holy, carrying the summons into Christian conduct.
How to Apply Leviticus 11:43 Today
Ask what action, creature category, audience, and covenant consequence the verse actually names. Refuse sermons, discipline practices, or family rules that label a person inherently dirty, abominable, or contagious because of race, disability, illness, poverty, occupation, abuse suffered, or food culture. If someone violates a community meal boundary, address the action truthfully without dehumanization and provide a clear path to repair. Build menus and kitchens that respect allergies and conscience. Let holiness appear in honest labels, safe preparation, voluntary choices, welcome across difference, and repentance from contempt.
Reflection & Prayer
Does our pursuit of holiness make our treatment of people more truthful and merciful? We might pray: 'Holy LORD, guard us from defilement and from abusive labels, cleanse our hearts through Jesus, and make our conduct reflect your truth and welcome.'