Leviticus 20:25 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Israel must distinguish between clean and unclean animals and avoid rendering themselves abominable by consuming unclean creatures.
The Context of Leviticus 20:25
Dietary laws about clean and unclean animals maintain Israel's separation and sanctification.
What Does Leviticus 20:25 Mean?
The distinction between clean and unclean animals, detailed earlier in Leviticus 11, extends Israel's separation principle into daily life. Dietary laws embody the call to sanctification: choosing to eat only what God has permitted marks participation in covenant identity.
Consuming unclean animals would make the soul abominable, showing that dietary practice directly affects spiritual state. The laws reflect God's prior act of separating clean from unclean creatures, inviting Israel to align daily practice with God's created order.
Leviticus 20:25 in the Original Language
separate (בָּדַל) — badal, 'to divide, separate'; God's act of separation in creation is the model for Israel's separation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 20:25
What does Leviticus 20:25 mean?
Israel must distinguish between clean and unclean animals and avoid rendering themselves abominable by consuming unclean creatures.
What is the context of Leviticus 20:25?
Dietary laws about clean and unclean animals maintain Israel's separation and sanctification.