Leviticus Chapter 11

Leviticus 11 — “Clean and Unclean: The Holiness of God and the Purification of Life”

Leviticus 1–10 taught how God is approached by sacrifice and priesthood.
Leviticus 11 now teaches how God is honored in daily conduct.

Worship does not end at the altar.
It continues at the table.

This chapter teaches one central truth:

God’s holiness must shape the whole of life, and the distinction between clean and unclean prepares the way for Christ, who alone makes men truly clean.

1. God Speaks About Food

“The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them…” (Lev 11:1)

Holiness extends into ordinary acts:
eating, touching, choosing.

St Augustine writes:

“God orders even small things, so that obedience may become habit.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

God trains Israel through the body
to prepare them for the soul.

Discipline of appetite
prepares for discipline of heart.

2. Clean Animals: Divided Hoof and Chewing the Cud

(v. 3)

Only animals that:

• divide the hoof
• chew the cud

are clean.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“Chewing the cud signifies meditation; the divided hoof signifies right judgment.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

The clean man is one who:

• meditates on God’s word
• walks in discernment

Christ fulfills this perfectly:

He meditates on the Father’s will
and walks in perfect obedience.

3. Unclean Land Animals

(vv. 4–7)

Some chew but do not divide.
Some divide but do not chew.

St Jerome comments:

“They show the image of men who have part of virtue but not its fullness.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Partial holiness
is not holiness.

Christ alone unites
true meditation and true obedience.

4. Creatures of the Water

(vv. 9–12)

Only those with:

• fins
• scales

may be eaten.

St Ambrose writes:

“Fins show movement toward heaven; scales show defense against corruption.”
(On the Hexaemeron)

Typology:

The believer must:

• move upward in desire
• be protected by virtue

Christ moves always toward the Father
and is clothed in incorruption.

5. Birds of the Air

(vv. 13–19)

Predatory birds are unclean.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“Those who live by tearing others are unfit for God’s table.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Violence and greed
cannot be holy food.

Christ is the Lamb,
not the raven.

6. Winged Insects

(vv. 20–23)

Most are unclean,
but locusts are allowed.

St Jerome remarks:

“Even small creatures teach discipline.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

God teaches that holiness
touches even the smallest choices.

Christ redeems
even the least parts of life.

7. Death Makes Unclean

(vv. 24–28)

Contact with dead animals
brings uncleanness.

St Augustine writes:

“Death defiles because it is the fruit of sin.”
(City of God)

Typology:

Sin brings death.
Death spreads defilement.

Christ touches the dead
and gives life:

He reverses the law of uncleanness.

8. Creeping Things

(vv. 29–38)

Low creatures that crawl
are unclean.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“What clings to the earth cannot rise to heaven.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

Attachment to earthly things
pollutes the soul.

Christ teaches:

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

9. Vessels and Utensils

(vv. 32–35)

Uncleanness spreads to objects.

St Ambrose writes:

“Sin stains what it touches.”
(On Repentance)

Typology:

The world is not neutral.
It shapes the heart.

Christ cleanses vessels
to make them fit for God:

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels.”

10. Flowing Water Cleanses

(v. 36)

Springs and cisterns
remain clean.

St Augustine teaches:

“Living water washes away corruption.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Christ is living water.

Baptism fulfills this cleansing
in truth, not in shadow.

11. Seeds and Plants

(vv. 37–38)

Dry seed remains clean;
wet seed becomes defiled.

St Jerome comments:

“The dry seed is the word not yet planted; the wet seed is life exposed to danger.”
(Commentary)

Typology:

Life in the world
requires vigilance.

Christ plants His word
in purified soil.

12. The Reason Given

“For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” (v. 44)

Holiness is imitation of God.

St Augustine writes:

“We are commanded to be holy because God is holy.”
(Sermons)

Typology:

Christ is holiness incarnate.

What the Law commands,
Christ enables.

13. “You Shall Not Make Yourselves Detestable”

(v. 43)

Uncleanness is not trivial.
It shapes identity.

St Gregory the Great teaches:

“Man becomes what he loves and eats.”
(Homilies)

Typology:

We become what we consume.

Christ gives His flesh
so we may become holy.

14. Separation for God

(v. 45)

“I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt…”

Holiness flows from redemption.

St Ambrose writes:

“He saves first, then commands holiness.”
(On the Faith)

Typology:

Grace precedes law.

Christ frees from sin
before He commands righteousness.

15. The Meaning of Clean and Unclean

These laws teach:

• discernment
• self-control
• separation from corruption
• reverence for life
• obedience in small things

They form Israel
to wait for Christ.

16. Christ and Cleanliness

Christ fulfills Leviticus 11 as:

• the Holy One
• the Clean One
• the Giver of Living Water
• the Toucher of the Dead
• the Purifier of hearts
• the Food of holiness

“Thus He declared all foods clean.” (Mark 7:19)

What was symbol
becomes reality.

17. The Church and Purity

In Christ, the Church becomes:

• a cleansed people
• a discerning people
• a holy nation
• a separated people

St Peter writes:

“As He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves.” (1 Pet 1:15)

Holiness now concerns:

• heart
• will
• body
• desire

Not diet,
but devotion.

Spiritual Application

Guard what you consume.

Discern what you desire.

Avoid what drags you down.

Seek what lifts you up.

Let Christ cleanse you daily.

Live as one redeemed.

Christ in Leviticus 11

Jesus is:

• the Holy One
• the Clean Sacrifice
• the Living Water
• the Purifier of the Dead
• the Food of Life
• the Giver of Holiness
• the Redeemer from Corruption

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
Holy One of God and purifier of our lives,
You came not only to forgive sin
but to cleanse the heart
and make all things new.

Teach us to discern what is clean
and to flee what defiles.
Wash us with the living water of Your Spirit.
Feed us with the bread of holiness.
Guard our hearts from corruption
and our lives from compromise.

Make us holy as You are holy,
not by shadows and symbols
but by the power of Your grace,
until the day when nothing unclean
enters Your Kingdom
and we live before You
in perfect purity and joy
for ever and ever.

Amen.