The Meaning of Leviticus 11:3 Explained

Leviticus 11:3

KJV: Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

YLT: any dividing a hoof, and cleaving the cleft of the hoofs, bringing up the cud, among the beasts, it ye do eat.

Darby: Whatever hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite split open, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts that shall ye eat.

ASV: Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whatsoever parteth  the hoof,  and is clovenfooted,  [and] cheweth  the cud,  among the beasts,  that shall ye eat. 

What does Leviticus 11:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 11:1-23 - 41-47, The Distinction Between Clean And Unclean
There were good and sufficient reasons for excluding certain animals from Israel's dietary. Devout medical men insist that this is the finest sanitary code in existence, and that many of the diseases of modern life would disappear if it were universally adopted. God made these distinctions matters of religion, that the well-being of His people might be doubly assured. These restrictions were also imposed to erect strong barriers between the chosen people and the heathen. So long as they obeyed, it was clearly impossible to participate in the heathen festivals, where many of these animals were partaken of.
We are not now bound by these enactments. Our Lord made all meats clean, Mark 7:19, r.v. Peter was bidden to kill and eat all manner of creeping things, and his protest was overborne by the assurance that God had cleansed all. See Acts 10:11-16. Religion consists not in outward rites, but in the inward temper. See Hebrews 9:10. Note that touching was forbidden, because the least contact with evil hurts the soul. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 11

1  What animals may be eaten
4  and what may not be eaten
9  What fishes
13  What fowls
29  The creeping things which are unclean

What do the individual words in Leviticus 11:3 mean?

Whatever divides the hoof and cleft having cloven hooves [and] chewing the cud Among the animals - that you may eat
כֹּ֣ל ׀ מַפְרֶ֣סֶת פַּרְסָ֗ה וְשֹׁסַ֤עַת שֶׁ֙סַע֙ פְּרָסֹ֔ת מַעֲלַ֥ת גֵּרָ֖ה בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה אֹתָ֖הּ תֹּאכֵֽלוּ

כֹּ֣ל ׀  Whatever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מַפְרֶ֣סֶת  divides 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, feminine singular
Root: פָּרַס  
Sense: to divide, break in two.
פַּרְסָ֗ה  the  hoof 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: פַּרְסָה  
Sense: hoof.
שֶׁ֙סַע֙  cleft 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁסַע  
Sense: cleft, cloven, split.
פְּרָסֹ֔ת  having  cloven  hooves 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: פַּרְסָה  
Sense: hoof.
מַעֲלַ֥ת  [and]  chewing 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
גֵּרָ֖ה  the  cud 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: גֵּרָה  
Sense: cud.
בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה  Among  the  animals 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
אֹתָ֖הּ  - 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ  that  you  may  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.