What Animals Were Unclean In The Old Testament

Question

What made some animals make clean and others unclean (Genesis 7)?

Respond

Noah took 2 of every kind of animal into the ark, right? Not exactly. The Bible states, "Take with y'all vii pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean creature, a male and its mate, and also vii pairs of every kind of bird, male and female person, to continue their diverse kinds live throughout the earth" (Genesis 7:2–3). The Hebrew phrase translated "vii pairs" literally means "seven sevens," then there is some question as to whether Noah took seven specimens of each "clean" species (iii pairs and an actress) or seven pairs. Either way, he was told to take more clean animals than unclean on the ark. Only the unclean animals came in pairs (Genesis 6:xix).

Leviticus 11 defines the difference between clean and unclean animals, but Noah lived before the giving of the Police. We are non told how Noah knew which animals were clean and unclean, but he obviously knew the difference. Sacrifices to God were made before the Mosaic Police (Genesis 4:four), which ways God had somehow communicated to man what animals were suitable for cede (and, subsequently, for eating).

Leviticus 11 specifies which birds, land animals, and sea creatures were clean and unclean. Here are a few of the clean and unclean animals in those lists:

Clean animals: land animals that chew the cud and have a divided hoof, such as cattle, deer, goats, and sheep; seafood with both fins and scales, such as bluegill, grouper, and cod; certain birds, including chickens, doves, and ducks; and fifty-fifty some insects, such equally grasshoppers and locusts.

Unclean animals: state animals that either do not chew the cud or practice not have a split hoof, such as pigs, dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, and rats; seafood lacking either fins or scales, such as shellfish, lobster, oysters, and catfish; some birds, such equally owls, hawks, and vultures; and other animals, such as reptiles and amphibians.

While the New Testament teaches that we are no longer judged regarding what foods nosotros swallow (Colossians 2:sixteen), nutritionists accept noted that the listings of clean and unclean foods in the Erstwhile Attestation actually provide a guideline for a healthy diet. In a fourth dimension period lacking mod food safety techniques, a diet consisting of only clean animals would take protected people against many wellness issues.

Ultimately, God's distinction between clean and unclean animals was about more than one's diet. Many of God's regulations were to remind His people, Israel, that they were set autonomously to worship the one, true God. The original audience of Genesis 7, during Moses' day, would have associated the reference to make clean animals with the animals God had given them for food as well every bit cede. It would only make sense to include more clean animals than unclean on the ark. Noah made a sacrifice immediately subsequently the Flood (Genesis 8:20). Since seven (or seven pairs) of every clean animal had been aboard, the sacrifices would still take left plenty of animals to begin replenishing the earth.

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What made some animals clean and others unclean (Genesis 7)?

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This page last updated: January 4, 2022

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