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Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/leviticus/20-25.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/03_Lev_20_25.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Leviticus 20:25 - Keep All My Decrees" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. 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Do not defile yourselves by any animal or bird or anything that moves along the ground—those that I have set apart as unclean for you. <a href="/nlt/leviticus/20.htm">New Living Translation</a> “You must therefore make a distinction between ceremonially clean and unclean animals, and between clean and unclean birds. You must not defile yourselves by eating any unclean animal or bird or creature that scurries along the ground. I have identified them as being unclean for you. <a href="/esv/leviticus/20.htm">English Standard Version</a> You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. <a href="/bsb/leviticus/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. <a href="/kjv/leviticus/20.htm">King James Bible</a> 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. <a href="/nkjv/leviticus/20.htm">New King James Version</a> You shall therefore distinguish between clean animals and unclean, between unclean birds and clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by any kind of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. <a href="/nasb_/leviticus/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground, which I have distinguished for you as unclean. <a href="/nasb/leviticus/20.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8216You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean. <a href="/nasb77/leviticus/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a> ‘You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean. <a href="/lsb/leviticus/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> You are therefore to separate between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean. <a href="/amp/leviticus/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a> You are therefore to make a distinction between the [ceremonially] clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that crawls on the ground, which I have set apart from you as unclean. <a href="/csb/leviticus/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Therefore you are to distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. <a href="/hcsb/leviticus/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Therefore you must distinguish the clean animal from the unclean one, and the unclean bird from the clean one. Do not become contaminated by any land animal, bird, or whatever crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. <a href="/asv/leviticus/20.htm">American Standard Version</a> Ye shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by bird, or by anything wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have separated from you as unclean. <a href="/cev/leviticus/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> That's why you must make a difference between animals and birds that I have said are clean and unclean--this will keep you from becoming disgusting to me. <a href="/erv/leviticus/20.htm">English Revised Version</a> Ye shall therefore separate between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have separated from you as unclean. <a href="/gwt/leviticus/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Separate clean and unclean animals and birds. Never become disgusting by eating any animal or bird or anything that crawls on the ground. I have separated you from every unclean thing. <a href="/gnt/leviticus/20.htm">Good News Translation</a> So then, you must make a clear distinction between animals and birds that are ritually clean and those that are not. Do not eat unclean animals or birds. I have declared them unclean, and eating them would make you unclean. <a href="/isv/leviticus/20.htm">International Standard Version</a> You are to differentiate between the clean animal and the unclean and between the unclean bird and the clean. You are not to make yourselves detestable on account of any animal, bird, or any creeping creature of the ground that I've separated for you as unclean. <a href="/msb/leviticus/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you. <a href="/net/leviticus/20.htm">NET Bible</a> Therefore you must distinguish between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean, and you must not make yourselves detestable by means of an animal or bird or anything that creeps on the ground--creatures I have distinguished for you as unclean. <a href="/nheb/leviticus/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "'You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. <a href="/wbt/leviticus/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Ye shall therefore distinguish 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 animal that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. <a href="/web/leviticus/20.htm">World English Bible</a> “‘You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean. You shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/leviticus/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And you have made separation between the pure beasts and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the pure, and you do not make yourselves abominable by beast or by bird, or by anything which creeps [on] the ground which I have separated to you for unclean. <a href="/ylt/leviticus/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And ye have made separation between the pure beasts and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the pure, and ye do not make yourselves abominable by beast or by fowl, or by anything which creepeth on the ground which I have separated to you for unclean; <a href="/slt/leviticus/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And ye separated between clean cattle to unclean, and between unclean birds and clean: and ye shall not make you souls abhorred by cattle or bird, and by any which shall creep upon the earth which I separated to you for unclean.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/leviticus/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Therefore do you also separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the clean fowl from the unclean: defile not your souls with beasts, or birds, or any things that move on the earth, and which I have shewn you to be unclean. <a href="/cpdv/leviticus/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Therefore, you must also separate the clean animals from the unclean, and the clean birds from the unclean. Do not pollute your souls with cattle, or birds, or anything that moves upon the earth, and which I have shown you to be unclean. <a href="/nabre/leviticus/20.htm">New American Bible</a> You, too, must set apart, then, the clean animals from the unclean, and the clean birds from the unclean, so that you do not make yourselves detestable through any beast or bird or any creature which creeps on the ground that I have set apart for you as unclean. <a href="/nrsvce/leviticus/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; you shall not bring abomination on yourselves by animal or by bird or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/leviticus/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> You shall therefore make a distinction between clean beasts and unclean, and between clean fowls and unclean; and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast or by fowl or by any manner of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. <a href="/hpbt/leviticus/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Separate between a clean beast and an unclean and between a clean bird and an unclean, and you shall not defile your souls with an animal or with a bird or with any creeping thing of the Earth, which I have separated for you to uncleanness.<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/leviticus/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Ye shall therefore separate between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean; and ye shall not make your souls detestable by beast, or by fowl, or by any thing wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. <a href="/sep/leviticus/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And ye shall make a distinction between the clean and the unclean cattle, and between clean and unclean birds; and ye shall not defile your souls with cattle, or with birds, or with any creeping things of the earth, which I have separated for you by reason of uncleanness. <a href="/parallel/leviticus/20-25.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NWs_V1RyMFo?start=5509" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/leviticus/20.htm">Keep All My Decrees</a> …24But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples. 25<a href="/hebrew/914.htm" title="914: wə·hiḇ·dal·tem (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-2mp) -- To be divided, separate. A primitive root; to divide.">You are therefore to distinguish</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên- (Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">between</a> <a href="/hebrew/2889.htm" title="2889: haṭ·ṭə·hō·rāh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Clean, pure. Or tahor; from taher; pure.">clean</a> <a href="/hebrew/2931.htm" title="2931: laṭ·ṭə·mê·’āh (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-fs) -- Unclean. From tame'; foul in a relig. Sense.">and unclean</a> <a href="/hebrew/929.htm" title="929: hab·bə·hê·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- A beast, animal, cattle. From an unused root; properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal.">animals</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: ū·ḇên- (Conj-w:: Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/2931.htm" title="2931: haṭ·ṭā·mê (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Unclean. From tame'; foul in a relig. Sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5775.htm" title="5775: hā·‘ō·wp̄ (Art:: N-ms) -- Flying creatures. From uwph; a bird, often collectively.">birds.</a> <a href="/hebrew/2889.htm" title="2889: laṭ·ṭā·hōr (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-ms) -- Clean, pure. Or tahor; from taher; pure."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">Do not</a> <a href="/hebrew/8262.htm" title="8262: ṯə·šaq·qə·ṣū (V-Piel-Imperf-2mp) -- To detest, make detestable. A primitive root; to be filthy, i.e. to loathe, pollute.">become contaminated</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: nap̄·šō·ṯê·ḵem (N-fpc:: 2mp) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense."></a> <a href="/hebrew/929.htm" title="929: bab·bə·hê·māh (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- A beast, animal, cattle. From an unused root; properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal.">by any animal</a> <a href="/hebrew/5775.htm" title="5775: ū·ḇā·‘ō·wp̄ (Conj-w, Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Flying creatures. From uwph; a bird, often collectively.">or bird,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: ū·ḇə·ḵōl (Conj-w, Prep-b:: N-ms) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">or by anything</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/7430.htm" title="7430: tir·mōś (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- A primitive root; properly, to glide swiftly, i.e. To crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm.">crawls</a> <a href="/hebrew/127.htm" title="127: hā·’ă·ḏā·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- Ground, land. From 'adam; soil.">on the ground;</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">I have set these</a> <a href="/hebrew/914.htm" title="914: hiḇ·dal·tî (V-Hifil-Perf-1cs) -- To be divided, separate. A primitive root; to divide.">apart</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: lə·ṭam·mê (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">as unclean</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">for you.</a> 26You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/acts/10-14.htm">Acts 10:14-15</a> “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” <a href="/deuteronomy/14-3.htm">Deuteronomy 14:3-21</a> You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ... <a href="/mark/7-18.htm">Mark 7:18-19</a> “Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) <a href="/genesis/7-2.htm">Genesis 7:2</a> You are to take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate; <a href="/ezekiel/22-26.htm">Ezekiel 22:26</a> Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. <a href="/romans/14-14.htm">Romans 14:14</a> I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. <a href="/1_timothy/4-4.htm">1 Timothy 4:4-5</a> For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. <a href="/isaiah/66-17.htm">Isaiah 66:17</a> “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD. <a href="/colossians/2-16.htm">Colossians 2:16-17</a> Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. <a href="/leviticus/11-1.htm">Leviticus 11:1-47</a> The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them, / “Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. ... <a href="/matthew/15-11.htm">Matthew 15:11</a> A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.” <a href="/1_corinthians/10-25.htm">1 Corinthians 10:25-26</a> Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, / for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” <a href="/deuteronomy/14-2.htm">Deuteronomy 14:2</a> for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth. <a href="/acts/15-28.htm">Acts 15:28-29</a> It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: / You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell. <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15-16</a> But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>You shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and you shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creeps on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.put difference<a href="/leviticus/11-1.htm">Leviticus 11:1-47</a> And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, … <a href="/deuteronomy/14-3.htm">Deuteronomy 14:3-21</a> Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing… <a href="/acts/10-11.htm">Acts 10:11-15,28</a> And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: … abominable<a href="/leviticus/11-43.htm">Leviticus 11:43</a> Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.creepeth.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/leviticus/19-7.htm">Abominable</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-16.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-13.htm">Bird</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-46.htm">Creepeth</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-46.htm">Creeps</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-13.htm">Detestable</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-47.htm">Difference</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-47.htm">Distinction</a> <a href="/leviticus/17-13.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-20.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-24.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-23.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-24.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-24.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/leviticus/18-29.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/genesis/9-2.htm">Teemeth</a> <a href="/genesis/9-2.htm">Teems</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-21.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-7.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/deuteronomy/7-26.htm">Abominable</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-5.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-18.htm">Beast</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-8.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-17.htm">Bird</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-4.htm">Clean</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-18.htm">Creepeth</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-18.htm">Creeps</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-25.htm">Detestable</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/12-8.htm">Difference</a> <a href="/ezekiel/22-26.htm">Distinction</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-17.htm">Fowl</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-20.htm">Fowls</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-4.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-3.htm">Manner</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Separate</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-27.htm">Souls</a> <a href="/genesis/9-2.htm">Teemeth</a> <a href="/psalms/104-25.htm">Teems</a> <a href="/leviticus/21-1.htm">Unclean</a> <a href="/leviticus/23-15.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Leviticus 20</div>1. <a href="/leviticus/20-1.htm">Of him who gives his seed to Moloch</a> 4. <a href="/leviticus/20-4.htm">Of him who favors such an one</a> 6. <a href="/leviticus/20-6.htm">Of going to wizards</a> 7. <a href="/leviticus/20-7.htm">Of sanctification</a> 9. <a href="/leviticus/20-9.htm">Of him who curses his parents</a> 11. <a href="/leviticus/20-11.htm">Of incest</a> 13. <a href="/leviticus/20-13.htm">Of sodomy</a> 15. <a href="/leviticus/20-15.htm">Of bestiality</a> 18. <a href="/leviticus/20-18.htm">Of uncleanness</a> 22. <a href="/leviticus/20-22.htm">Obedience is required with holiness</a> 27. <a href="/leviticus/20-27.htm">Wizards must be put to death</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/leviticus/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/leviticus/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. This command is part of the Holiness Code, which emphasizes the need for Israel to be set apart from other nations. The distinction between clean and unclean animals is first introduced in <a href="/leviticus/11.htm">Leviticus 11</a>. This separation is not only about dietary laws but also about maintaining ritual purity. The Israelites were to be a holy people, reflecting God's holiness (<a href="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44-45</a>). The practice of distinguishing between clean and unclean animals served as a daily reminder of their covenant relationship with God. This concept of separation is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are called to live distinct lives (<a href="/2_corinthians/6-17.htm">2 Corinthians 6:17</a>).Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; Contamination here refers to ritual impurity, which could affect one's ability to participate in worship and community life. The laws concerning clean and unclean animals were a means to prevent such contamination. This reflects the broader biblical theme of purity and holiness, which is essential for approaching God. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills the law, and the focus shifts from external purity to internal purity of the heart (<a href="/mark/7-18.htm">Mark 7:18-23</a>). However, the principle of avoiding spiritual contamination remains relevant for believers.I have set these apart as unclean for you. God's designation of certain animals as unclean was specific to the Israelites and served to reinforce their identity as a people set apart for Him. This separation was a physical representation of spiritual truths. The idea of being set apart is central to the concept of holiness. In the New Testament, Peter reiterates this call to holiness, urging believers to be holy in all their conduct (<a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15-16</a>). The setting apart of unclean animals can also be seen as a type of Christ, who was set apart as the ultimate sacrifice to cleanse humanity from sin (<a href="/hebrews/10-10.htm">Hebrews 10:10</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a> The prophet and leader of the Israelites, who received the laws from God and communicated them to the people. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> The chosen people of God, to whom the laws of cleanliness and holiness were given. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mount_sinai.htm">Mount Sinai</a> The place where God gave the Law to Moses, including the instructions found in Leviticus. 4. <a href="/topical/c/clean_and_unclean_animals.htm">Clean and Unclean Animals</a> Categories of animals defined by God, distinguishing what the Israelites could and could not eat or touch. 5. <a href="/topical/h/holiness_code.htm">Holiness Code</a> A section of Leviticus (chapters 17-26) that includes laws about holiness, including dietary laws.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_holiness.htm">Understanding Holiness</a> The call to distinguish between clean and unclean is a call to holiness. God desires His people to be set apart and distinct from the world. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a> The Israelites were to obey God's laws as an expression of their covenant relationship with Him. Obedience is a demonstration of faith and trust in God's wisdom. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_discernment.htm">Spiritual Discernment</a> Just as the Israelites were to discern between clean and unclean, Christians are called to discern between what is spiritually beneficial and what is harmful. <a href="/topical/c/cultural_and_spiritual_identity.htm">Cultural and Spiritual Identity</a> The dietary laws helped define the cultural and spiritual identity of the Israelites. Believers today are called to maintain their identity in Christ amidst a secular world. <a href="/topical/f/freedom_in_christ.htm">Freedom in Christ</a> While the Old Testament laws served a purpose, believers now have freedom in Christ. This freedom should be exercised with love and consideration for others.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_leviticus_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 20</a> <a href="/q/purification_rules_for_discharges.htm">What are the purification rules for bodily discharges?</a> <a href="/q/does_god_disapprove_of_eating_shrimp.htm">Does God disapprove of eating shrimp?</a> <a href="/q/does_the_bible_mention_the_paleo_diet.htm">Does the Bible mention the paleo diet?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_god_demand_death_for_molek_rites.htm">In Leviticus 20:2-5, why would an omniscient God require death for sacrificing children to Molek, yet historically many other cultures that practiced similar rites seemingly flourished?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/leviticus/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(25) Ye shall therefore put difference.--Better, Ye shall therefore separate. It is the same word which is used at the end of the preceding verse, and which is rendered "separate" in the Authorised Version. It is important that the word should be translated by the same expression, since it not only shows the intimate connection between the two verses, but brings out more forcibly the reason for the exhortation in the verse before us. Because the Lord has separated or distinguished the Israelites from all nations, and is about to give them the promised land, therefore the Israelites are to separate or to distinguish between the clean and unclean animals, as ordained in Leviticus 11. By strictly following out the dietary laws, the Israelites will always be able to keep separate from all other nations (<a href="/daniel/1-8.htm" title="But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.">Daniel 1:8</a>). <a href="/commentaries/leviticus/20-25.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>You are therefore to distinguish וְהִבְדַּלְתֶּ֞ם (wə·hiḇ·dal·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_914.htm">Strong's 914: </a> To be divided, separate between בֵּֽין־ (bên-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> An interval, space between clean הַטְּהֹרָה֙ (haṭ·ṭə·hō·rāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2889.htm">Strong's 2889: </a> Clean, pure and unclean לַטְּמֵאָ֔ה (laṭ·ṭə·mê·’āh) Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2931.htm">Strong's 2931: </a> Unclean animals הַבְּהֵמָ֤ה (hab·bə·hê·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_929.htm">Strong's 929: </a> A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal and וּבֵין־ (ū·ḇên-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> An interval, space between birds. הָע֥וֹף (hā·‘ō·wp̄) Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5775.htm">Strong's 5775: </a> Flying creatures Do not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no become contaminated תְשַׁקְּצ֨וּ (ṯə·šaq·qə·ṣū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8262.htm">Strong's 8262: </a> To be filthy, to loathe, pollute by any animal בַּבְּהֵמָ֣ה (bab·bə·hê·māh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_929.htm">Strong's 929: </a> A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal or bird, וּבָע֗וֹף (ū·ḇā·‘ō·wp̄) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5775.htm">Strong's 5775: </a> Flying creatures or by anything וּבְכֹל֙ (ū·ḇə·ḵōl) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> The whole, all, any, every that אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that crawls תִּרְמֹ֣שׂ (tir·mōś) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7430.htm">Strong's 7430: </a> To glide swiftly, to crawl, move with short steps, to swarm on the ground; הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_127.htm">Strong's 127: </a> Ground, land I have set these אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that apart הִבְדַּ֥לְתִּי (hiḇ·dal·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_914.htm">Strong's 914: </a> To be divided, separate as unclean לְטַמֵּֽא׃ (lə·ṭam·mê) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> To be or become unclean for you. לָכֶ֖ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_0.htm">Strong's 0: </a> 0 <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/leviticus/20-25.htm">OT Law: Leviticus 20:25 You shall therefore make a distinction between (Le Lv Lev.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/leviticus/20-24.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Leviticus 20:24"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Leviticus 20:24" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Leviticus 20:26"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Leviticus 20:26" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>