Leviticus 11-13

New International Reader's Version

“Clean” and “Unclean” Food

11 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said to them, ² “Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, ‘Many animals live on land. Here are the only ones you can eat. ³ You can eat any animal that has hooves that are separated completely in two. But it must also chew the cud.

⁴ “ ‘Some animals only chew the cud. Some only have hooves that are separated in two. You must not eat those animals. Camels chew the cud. But their hooves are not separated in two. So they are “unclean” for you. ⁵ Rock badgers chew the cud. But their hooves are not separated in two. So they are “unclean” for you. ⁶ Rabbits chew the cud. But their hooves are not separated in two. So they are “unclean” for you. ⁷ Pigs have hooves that are separated completely in two. But they do not chew the cud. So they are “unclean” for you. ⁸ You must not eat the meat of those animals. You must not even touch their dead bodies. They are “unclean” for you.

⁹ “ ‘Many creatures live in the water of the oceans and streams. You can eat all those that have fins and scales. ¹⁰ Treat as “unclean” all the creatures in the oceans or streams that do not have fins and scales. That includes all those that move together in groups and all those that do not. ¹¹ Treat them as “unclean.” Do not eat their meat. Treat their dead bodies as “unclean.” ¹² Regard as “unclean” everything that lives in the water that does not have fins and scales.

¹³ “ ‘Here are the birds you must treat as “unclean.” Do not eat them because they are “unclean.” The birds include eagles, vultures and black vultures. ¹⁴ They include red kites and all kinds of black kites. ¹⁵ They include all kinds of ravens. ¹⁶ They include horned owls, screech owls, gulls and all kinds of hawks. ¹⁷ They include little owls, cormorants and great owls. ¹⁸ They include white owls, desert owls and ospreys. ¹⁹ They also include storks, hoopoes, bats and all kinds of herons.

²⁰ “ ‘Treat as “unclean” every flying insect that walks on all fours. ²¹ But you can eat some flying insects that walk on all fours. Their legs have joints so they can hop on the ground. ²² Here are the insects you can eat. You can eat all kinds of locusts, katydids, crickets and grasshoppers. ²³ Treat as “unclean” every other creature with wings and four legs.

²⁴ “ ‘You will make yourselves “unclean” if you eat these things. If you touch their dead bodies, you will be “unclean” until evening. ²⁵ If a person picks up one of their dead bodies, that person must wash their clothes. They will be “unclean” until evening.

²⁶ “ ‘Suppose an animal has hooves that are not separated completely in two. Or suppose an animal does not chew the cud. Then these animals are “unclean” for you. If you touch the dead body of any of them, you will be “unclean.” ²⁷ Many animals walk on all fours. But those that walk on their paws are “unclean” for you. Anyone who touches their dead bodies will be “unclean” until evening. ²⁸ If a person picks up their dead bodies, that person must wash their clothes. They will be “unclean” until evening. These animals are “unclean” for you.

²⁹ “ ‘Many animals move along the ground. Here are the ones that are “unclean” for you. They include weasels, rats and all kinds of large lizards. ³⁰ They also include geckos, monitor lizards, wall lizards, skinks and chameleons. ³¹ These are the animals that move around on the ground that are “unclean” for you. If you touch their dead bodies, you will be “unclean” until evening. ³² Suppose one of them dies and falls on something. Then that thing will be “unclean.” It does not matter what it is used for. It does not matter whether it is made out of wood, cloth, hide or rough cloth. Put it in water. It will be “unclean” until evening. After that, it will be “clean.” ³³ Suppose one of these animals falls into a clay pot. Then everything in the pot will be “unclean.” You must break the pot. ³⁴ Any food that could be eaten but has water on it that came from that pot is “unclean.” And any liquid that could be drunk from it is “unclean.” ³⁵ Anything that the dead body of one of these animals falls on becomes “unclean.” If it is an oven or cooking pot, break it. It is “unclean.” And you must consider it “unclean.” ³⁶ But a spring or a well for collecting water remains “clean.” That is true even if the dead body of one of these animals falls into it. But anyone who touches the dead body is not “clean.” ³⁷ If the dead body falls on any seeds that have not been planted yet, the seeds remain “clean.” ³⁸ But suppose water has already been put on the seeds. And suppose the dead body falls on them. Then they are “unclean” for you.

³⁹ “ ‘Suppose an animal you are allowed to eat dies. If anyone touches its dead body, they will be “unclean” until evening. ⁴⁰ If they eat part of the dead body, they must wash their clothes. They will be “unclean” until evening. If they pick up the dead body, they must wash their clothes. They will be “unclean” until evening.

⁴¹ “ ‘Treat as “unclean” every creature that moves along the ground. Do not eat it. ⁴² Do not eat any of these creatures. It does not matter whether they move on their bellies. It does not matter whether they walk on all fours or on many feet. It is “unclean.” ⁴³ Do not make yourselves “unclean” by eating any of these animals. Do not make yourselves “unclean” because of them. Do not let them make you “unclean.” ⁴⁴ I am the Lord your God. Set yourselves apart. Be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves “unclean” by eating any creatures that move around on the ground. ⁴⁵ I am the Lord. I brought you up out of Egypt to be your God. So be holy, because I am holy.

⁴⁶ “ ‘These are the rules about animals and birds. These are the rules about every living thing that moves around in the water. And these are the rules about every creature that moves along the ground. ⁴⁷ You must be able to tell the difference between what is “clean” and what is not. You must also be able to tell the difference between living creatures that can be eaten and those that can’t.’ ”

Becoming “Clean” After Having a Baby

12 The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ² “Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, ‘Suppose a woman becomes pregnant and has a baby boy. Then she will be “unclean” for seven days. It is the same as when she is “unclean” during her monthly period. ³ On the eighth day the boy must be circumcised. ⁴ After that, the woman must wait for 33 days to be made pure from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred until the 33 days are over. During that time she must not go to the sacred tent. ⁵ But suppose she has a baby girl. Then she will be “unclean” for two weeks. It is the same as during her period. After the two weeks, she must wait for 66 days to be made pure from her bleeding.

⁶ “ ‘After she has waited the required number of days to be made pure, she must bring two offerings. She must take them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. She must bring a lamb a year old for a burnt offering. She must also bring a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. ⁷ The priest must offer them to the Lord. They will pay for her sin. Then she will be “clean” from her bleeding.

“ ‘These are the rules for a woman who has a baby boy or girl. ⁸ But suppose she can’t afford a lamb. Then she must bring two doves or two young pigeons. One is for a burnt offering. The other is for a sin offering. The priest will sacrifice those offerings. That will pay for her sin. And she will be “clean.” ’ ”

Rules About Skin Diseases

13 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He told them to say to the people, ² “Suppose someone’s skin has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot. And suppose it could become a skin disease. Then they must be brought to the priest Aaron. Or they must be brought to a priest in Aaron’s family line. ³ The priest must look carefully at the sore on the person’s skin. He must see whether the hair in the sore has turned white. He must also see whether the sore seems to be under the skin. If the sore is white and is under the skin, it is a skin disease. When the priest looks that person over carefully, he must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ ⁴ Suppose the shiny spot on the skin is white but does not seem to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in the spot has not turned white. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days. ⁵ On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. Suppose it has not changed and has not spread in the skin. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for another seven days. ⁶ On the seventh day the priest must look carefully at the sore again. If it has faded and has not spread, he must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ It is only a rash. That person must wash their clothes. They will be ‘clean.’ ⁷ But suppose the rash spreads in the skin after they have shown themselves to the priest a second time. Then they must appear in front of the priest again. ⁸ The priest must look carefully at the sore. If the rash has spread, he must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ They have a skin disease.

⁹ “When anyone has a skin disease, they must be brought to the priest. ¹⁰ The priest must look them over carefully. Suppose there is a white swelling in the skin. Suppose it has turned the hair white. And suppose there are open sores in the swelling. ¹¹ Then the person has a skin disease that will never go away. The priest must announce that they are ‘unclean.’ The priest must not make them stay away from everyone else. They are already ‘unclean.’

¹² “Suppose the disease breaks out all over their skin. And suppose it covers them from head to foot, as far as the priest can tell. ¹³ Then the priest must look them over carefully. If the disease has covered their whole body, the priest must announce that they are ‘clean.’ All their skin has turned white. So they are ‘clean.’ ¹⁴ But when open sores appear on their skin, they will not be ‘clean.’ ¹⁵ When the priest sees the open sores, he must announce that they are ‘unclean.’ The open sores are not ‘clean.’ They have a skin disease. ¹⁶ But if the open sores change and turn white, they must go to the priest. ¹⁷ The priest must look them over carefully. If the sores have turned white, the priest must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ Then they will be ‘clean.’

¹⁸ “Suppose someone has a boil on their skin and it heals. ¹⁹ And suppose a white swelling or shiny pink spot appears where the boil was. Then they must show themselves to the priest. ²⁰ The priest must look at the boil carefully. Suppose it seems to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in it has turned white. Then the priest must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ A skin disease has broken out where the boil was. ²¹ But suppose that when the priest looks at the boil carefully, there is no white hair in it. The boil is not under the skin. And it has faded. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days. ²² If the boil is spreading in the skin, the priest must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ They have a skin disease. ²³ But suppose the spot has not changed. And suppose it has not spread. Then it is only a scar from the boil. And the priest must announce that the person is ‘clean.’

²⁴ “Suppose someone has a burn on their skin. And suppose a white or shiny pink spot shows up in the open sores of the burn. ²⁵ Then the priest must look at the spot carefully. Suppose the hair in it has turned white. And suppose the spot seems to be under the skin. Then the person has a skin disease. It has broken out where they were burned. The priest must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ They have a skin disease. ²⁶ But suppose the priest looks at the spot carefully. Suppose there is no white hair in it. Suppose the spot is not under the skin. And suppose it has faded. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days. ²⁷ On the seventh day the priest must look them over carefully. If the spot is spreading in the skin, the priest must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ They have a skin disease. ²⁸ But suppose the spot has not changed. It has not spread in the skin. And it has faded. Then the burn has caused it to swell. The priest must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ It is only a scar from the burn.

²⁹ “Suppose a man or woman has a sore on their head or chin. ³⁰ Then the priest must look at the sore carefully. Suppose it seems to be under the skin. And suppose the hair in the sore is yellow and thin. Then the priest must announce that the person is ‘unclean.’ The sore is a skin disease on the head or chin. ³¹ But suppose the priest looks carefully at the sore. It does not seem to be under the skin. And there is no black hair in it. Then the priest must make the person stay away from everyone else for seven days. ³² On the seventh day the priest must look at the sore carefully. Suppose it has not spread in the skin. It does not have any yellow hair in it. And it does not seem to be under the skin. ³³ Then the man or woman must shave their head. But they must not shave the area where the disease is. And the priest must make them stay away from everyone else for another seven days. ³⁴ On the seventh day the priest must look at the sore carefully. Suppose it has not spread in the skin. And suppose it does not seem to be under the skin. Then the priest must announce that the person is ‘clean.’ They must wash their clothes. They will be ‘clean.’ ³⁵ But suppose the sore spreads in the skin after the priest announces that the person is ‘clean.’ ³⁶ Then the priest must look them over carefully. Suppose the sore has spread. Then the priest does not have to look for yellow hair. The person is ‘unclean.’ ³⁷ But suppose the sore has stopped and black hair has grown there, as far as the priest can tell. Then the person is healed and is ‘clean.’ The priest must announce that they are ‘clean.’

³⁸ “Suppose a man or woman has white spots on the skin. ³⁹ Then the priest must look at them carefully. Suppose he sees that the spots are dull white. Then a harmless rash has broken out on the skin. That person is ‘clean.’

⁴⁰ “Suppose a man loses all the hair on his head. Then he is ‘clean.’ ⁴¹ Suppose he loses only the hair on the front of his head. Then he is ‘clean.’ ⁴² But suppose he has a shiny pink sore on his head where his hair was. Then he has a skin disease. It is breaking out on his whole head or on the front of his head. ⁴³ The priest must look him over carefully. Suppose the swollen sore on his head or on the front of it is pink and shiny. And suppose it looks like a skin disease. ⁴⁴ Then he has a skin disease. He is ‘unclean.’ The priest must announce that the man is ‘unclean.’ That’s because he has a sore on his head.

⁴⁵ “Suppose someone has a skin disease that makes them ‘unclean.’ Then they must wear torn clothes. They must let their hair hang loose. They must cover the lower part of their face. They must cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ ⁴⁶ As long as they have the disease, they remain ‘unclean.’ They must live alone. They must live outside the camp.

Rules About Mold

⁴⁷ “Suppose some clothes have mold on them. The clothes could be made out of wool or linen. ⁴⁸ Or there could be cloth woven or knitted out of linen or wool. There could be pieces of leather. Or there could be things that are made out of leather. ⁴⁹ And suppose the mold on the clothes or on the woven or knitted cloth looks green or red. Or suppose the green or red mold is on the pieces of leather or the leather goods. Then it is mold that spreads. It must be shown to the priest. ⁵⁰ The priest must look at it carefully. He must keep the thing with the mold on it away from everything else for seven days. ⁵¹ On the seventh day he must look at it carefully. Suppose the mold has spread in the clothes or in the woven or knitted cloth. Or suppose it has spread on the pieces of leather or on the leather goods. Then it is mold that destroys. The thing is ‘unclean.’ ⁵² The priest must burn everything with the mold in it. He must burn the clothes or the woven or knitted cloth made out of wool or linen. He must burn the leather goods. The mold destroys. So everything must be burned.

⁵³ “But suppose the priest looks at the thing carefully. The mold has not spread in the clothes. And it has not spread in the woven or knitted cloth or in the leather goods. ⁵⁴ Then he will order someone to wash the thing with the mold on it. After that, the priest must keep that thing away from everything else for another seven days. ⁵⁵ After the thing with the mold on it has been washed, the priest must look at it again carefully. Suppose the way the mold looks has not changed. Then even though the mold has not spread, it is ‘unclean.’ Burn it. It does not matter which side of the thing the mold is on. ⁵⁶ But suppose the priest looks at it carefully. And suppose the mold has faded after the thing has been washed. Then the priest must tear out the part with mold on it. He must tear it out of the clothes or leather. He must tear it out of the woven or knitted cloth. ⁵⁷ But suppose it shows up again in the clothes. Or suppose it shows up again in the woven or knitted cloth or in the leather goods. Then it is spreading. Everything with the mold on it must be burned. ⁵⁸ The clothes that have been washed and do not have any more mold on them must be washed again. So must the woven or knitted cloth or the leather goods. Then they will be ‘clean.’ ”

⁵⁹ These are the rules about what to do with anything with mold on it. They apply to clothes that are made out of wool or linen. They apply to woven and knitted cloth and to leather goods. They give a priest directions about when to announce whether something is “clean” or “unclean.”