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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 22:31 You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/22-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/02_Exo_22_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 22:31 - Laws of Social Responsibility" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/22-31.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/22-31.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/22.htm">Chapter 22</a> > Verse 31</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/22-30.htm" title="Exodus 22:30">◄</a> Exodus 22:31 <a href="/exodus/23-1.htm" title="Exodus 23:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/exodus/22.htm">New International Version</a> &#8220You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nlt/exodus/22.htm">New Living Translation</a> “You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs. <a href="/esv/exodus/22.htm">English Standard Version</a> “You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/bsb/exodus/22.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs. <a href="/kjv/exodus/22.htm">King James Bible</a> And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/nkjv/exodus/22.htm">New King James Version</a> “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nasb_/exodus/22.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “You shall be holy people to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nasb/exodus/22.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nasb77/exodus/22.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And you shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/lsb/exodus/22.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/amp/exodus/22.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “You shall be holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/csb/exodus/22.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “Be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; throw it to the dogs. <a href="/hcsb/exodus/22.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; throw it to the dogs.&#8221 <a href="/asv/exodus/22.htm">American Standard Version</a> And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/cev/exodus/22.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You are my chosen people, so don't eat the meat of any of your livestock that was killed by a wild animal. Instead, feed the meat to dogs. <a href="/erv/exodus/22.htm">English Revised Version</a> And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/gwt/exodus/22.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "You must be my holy people. Never eat the meat of an animal that has been killed by wild animals out in the countryside. Throw it to the dogs." <a href="/gnt/exodus/22.htm">Good News Translation</a> "You are my people, so you must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals; instead, give it to the dogs. <a href="/isv/exodus/22.htm">International Standard Version</a> "You are to be people set apart for me. You are not to eat flesh torn apart in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs." <a href="/msb/exodus/22.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs. <a href="/net/exodus/22.htm">NET Bible</a> "You will be holy people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. You must throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nheb/exodus/22.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/wbt/exodus/22.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And ye shall be holy men to me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/web/exodus/22.htm">World English Bible</a> “You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/exodus/22.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And you are holy men to Me, and you do not eat flesh torn in the field, you cast it to a dog. <a href="/ylt/exodus/22.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And ye are holy men to Me, and flesh torn in the field ye do not eat, to a dog ye do cast it. <a href="/slt/exodus/22.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And ye shall be holy men to me, and ye shall not eat flesh torn in pieces in the field; ye shall cast it to the dog.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/exodus/22.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/cpdv/exodus/22.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> You shall be holy men for me. The flesh, from which beasts will have tasted, you shall not eat, but you will throw it to the dogs.” <a href="/nabre/exodus/22.htm">New American Bible</a> You shall be a people sacred to me. Flesh torn to pieces in the field you shall not eat; you must throw it to the dogs. <a href="/nrsvce/exodus/22.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/exodus/22.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And you shall be holy men to me; neither shall you eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. <a href="/hpbt/exodus/22.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And you shall be holy people to me and the flesh that is torn apart by living animals you shall not eat; you shall cast it to the dogs. <div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/exodus/22.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And ye shall be holy men unto Me; therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs. <a href="/sep/exodus/22.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And ye shall be holy men to me; and ye shall not eat flesh taken of beasts, ye shall cast it to the dog. <a href="/parallel/exodus/22-31.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/kVae3PiKqhs?start=5722" 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/exodus/22.htm">Laws of Social Responsibility</a> …30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me. 31<a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: tih·yūn (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp:: Pn) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">You are to be</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">My</a> <a href="/hebrew/6944.htm" title="6944: qō·ḏeš (N-ms) -- Apartness, sacredness. From qadash; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity.">holy</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: wə·’an·šê- (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">people.</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">You must not</a> <a href="/hebrew/398.htm" title="398: ṯō·ḵê·lū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To eat. A primitive root; to eat.">eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/1320.htm" title="1320: ū·ḇā·śār (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Flesh. From basar; flesh; by extension, body, person; also The pudenda of a man.">the meat</a> <a href="/hebrew/2966.htm" title="2966: ṭə·rê·p̄āh (N-fs) -- Torn animal, torn flesh. Feminine of tereph; prey, i.e. Flocks devoured by animals.">of a mauled animal</a> <a href="/hebrew/7704.htm" title="7704: baś·śā·ḏeh (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- Field, land. Or saday; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field.">found in the field;</a> <a href="/hebrew/7993.htm" title="7993: taš·li·ḵūn (V-Hifil-Imperf-2mp:: Pn) -- To throw, fling, cast. A primitive root; to throw out, down or away.">you are to throw</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">it</a> <a href="/hebrew/3611.htm" title="3611: lak·ke·leḇ (Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- A dog. From an unused root means. To yelp, or else to attack; a dog; hence a male prostitute.">to the dogs.</a> <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="/leviticus/11-44.htm">Leviticus 11:44-45</a> For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. / For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. <a href="/deuteronomy/14-21.htm">Deuteronomy 14:21</a> You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. <a href="/leviticus/20-26.htm">Leviticus 20:26</a> You 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. <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.” <a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Leviticus 19:2</a> “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy. <a href="/deuteronomy/7-6.htm">Deuteronomy 7:6</a> For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. <a href="/1_corinthians/6-19.htm">1 Corinthians 6:19-20</a> Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. <a href="/leviticus/22-8.htm">Leviticus 22:8</a> He must not eat anything found dead or torn by wild animals, which would make him unclean. I am the LORD. <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="/1_thessalonians/4-7.htm">1 Thessalonians 4:7</a> For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness. <a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Leviticus 17:15</a> And any person, whether native or foreigner, who eats anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening; then he will be clean. <a href="/2_corinthians/6-17.htm">2 Corinthians 6:17</a> “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” <a href="/leviticus/7-24.htm">Leviticus 7:24</a> The fat of an animal found dead or mauled by wild beasts may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it. <a href="/romans/12-1.htm">Romans 12:1</a> Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. <a href="/numbers/15-40.htm">Numbers 15:40</a> Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And you shall be holy men to me: neither shall you eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.holy<a href="/exodus/19-5.htm">Exodus 19:5,6</a> Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: … <a href="/leviticus/11-45.htm">Leviticus 11:45</a> For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.<a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Leviticus 19:2</a> Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.neither<a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Leviticus 17:15,16</a> And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean… <a href="/leviticus/20-25.htm">Leviticus 20:25</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="/leviticus/22-8.htm">Leviticus 22:8</a> That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/exodus/12-21.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/exodus/22-14.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/exodus/15-25.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/exodus/22-2.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/exodus/19-14.htm">Consecrated</a> <a href="/exodus/22-24.htm">Death</a> <a href="/exodus/11-7.htm">Dog</a> <a href="/revelation/22-15.htm">Dogs</a> <a href="/exodus/18-12.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Field</a> <a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">Food</a> <a href="/exodus/20-11.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/exodus/22-13.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/exodus/9-8.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/exodus/22-13.htm">Torn</a> <a href="/exodus/21-36.htm">Used</a> <a href="/exodus/22-13.htm">Wild</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Animal</a> <a href="/exodus/23-26.htm">Animals</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Beasts</a> <a href="/exodus/23-26.htm">Cast</a> <a href="/exodus/25-37.htm">Caused</a> <a href="/exodus/28-41.htm">Consecrated</a> <a href="/exodus/23-7.htm">Death</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/23-18.htm">Dog</a> <a href="/1_kings/14-11.htm">Dogs</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Field</a> <a href="/exodus/27-3.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/exodus/23-25.htm">Food</a> <a href="/exodus/25-8.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/exodus/27-3.htm">Meat</a> <a href="/exodus/23-24.htm">Pieces</a> <a href="/exodus/23-27.htm">Throw</a> <a href="/exodus/28-32.htm">Torn</a> <a href="/exodus/25-27.htm">Used</a> <a href="/exodus/23-11.htm">Wild</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 22</div>1. <a href="/exodus/22-1.htm">Of Theft</a> 5. <a href="/exodus/22-5.htm">Of damage</a> 7. <a href="/exodus/22-7.htm">Of trespasses</a> 14. <a href="/exodus/22-14.htm">Of borrowing</a> 16. <a href="/exodus/22-16.htm">Of fornication</a> 18. <a href="/exodus/22-18.htm">Of witchcraft</a> 19. <a href="/exodus/22-19.htm">Of bestiality</a> 20. <a href="/exodus/22-20.htm">Of idolatry</a> 21. <a href="/exodus/22-21.htm">Of strangers, widows, and fatherless</a> 25. <a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Of usury</a> 26. <a href="/exodus/22-26.htm">Of pledges</a> 28. <a href="/exodus/22-28.htm">Of reverence to magistrates</a> 29. <a href="/exodus/22-29.htm">Of the first fruits</a> 31. <a href="/exodus/22-31.htm">Of torn flesh</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'; 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This phrase emphasizes the call for the Israelites to be set apart for God, reflecting His holiness in their conduct and lifestyle. The concept of holiness is central to the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as seen in <a href="/leviticus/19-2.htm">Leviticus 19:2</a>, where God commands, "Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy." This call to holiness is not just about ritual purity but encompasses moral and ethical behavior, distinguishing the Israelites from surrounding nations. The idea of being God's people is rooted in the Abrahamic covenant (<a href="/genesis/17-7.htm">Genesis 17:7</a>), where God promises to be the God of Abraham's descendants. This identity as God's holy people is fulfilled in the New Testament through the church, as seen in <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a>, where believers are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; This command reflects the dietary laws given to Israel, which are part of the broader holiness code. Eating meat from an animal that died naturally or was killed by other animals was prohibited because it was considered unclean (<a href="/leviticus/17-15.htm">Leviticus 17:15</a>). This law served both hygienic purposes and symbolized the separation from death and decay, which are contrary to God's nature. The prohibition also underscores the importance of respecting life and the proper handling of food, which is a recurring theme in the Mosaic Law. In a broader sense, it points to the need for discernment and purity in what the people of God consume, both physically and spiritually.you are to throw it to the dogs. In ancient Israel, dogs were not typically domesticated pets but were often scavengers. The instruction to throw the meat to the dogs indicates that what is unfit for God's holy people is suitable only for animals considered unclean. This act of discarding the meat to dogs reinforces the separation between the holy and the profane. It also serves as a practical solution for disposing of the carcass, ensuring that the Israelites maintain their ritual purity. The mention of dogs can also be seen as a metaphor for those outside the covenant community, as in <a href="/matthew/15-26.htm">Matthew 15:26</a>, where Jesus uses the term to describe Gentiles in a cultural context. This highlights the distinction between those who are part of God's covenant and those who are not, a theme that runs throughout the biblical narrative.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a> - The speaker of the command, emphasizing His covenant relationship with the Israelites and His desire for them to be set apart as holy. 2. <a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a> - The recipients of the command, called to live as God's holy people, distinct from surrounding nations. 3. <a href="/topical/m/mauled_animal.htm">Mauled Animal</a> - Represents unclean or defiled food, which the Israelites are instructed to avoid to maintain their holiness. 4. <a href="/topical/d/dogs.htm">Dogs</a> - Symbolic of impurity in ancient Israelite culture, often associated with uncleanliness and scavenging.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/h/holiness_as_a_distinctive_mark.htm">Holiness as a Distinctive Mark</a> God calls His people to be holy, which means being set apart for His purposes. This distinctiveness should be evident in every aspect of life, including dietary practices. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a> The command not to eat mauled animals underscores the importance of obedience to God's laws, which are designed to protect and sanctify His people. <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_purity.htm">Symbolism of Purity</a> The prohibition against eating defiled meat serves as a metaphor for maintaining spiritual purity and avoiding moral corruption. <a href="/topical/p/practical_separation_from_the_world.htm">Practical Separation from the World</a> Just as the Israelites were to avoid certain foods, Christians are called to avoid practices and influences that compromise their spiritual integrity. <a href="/topical/g/god's_provision_and_care.htm">God's Provision and Care</a> By instructing the Israelites to throw the meat to the dogs, God demonstrates His provision, ensuring His people have what they need without resorting to defiled sources.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_exodus_22.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 22</a> <a href="/q/who_is_the_holy_spirit.htm">What is the identity of the Holy Spirit?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_ezekiel_22_31_with_god's_mercy.htm">How can readers harmonize the severe judgment in Ezekiel 22:31 with passages in other books that emphasize God's mercy and willingness to forgive?</a> <a href="/q/why_execute_sabbath_workers_if_god_is_merciful.htm">If God is merciful, why does He command the execution of people who work on the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14)?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_old_and_new_covenants_differ.htm">How do the Old and New Covenants differ?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/22.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(31) Ye shall be holy men unto me.--Compare <a href="/exodus/19-6.htm" title="And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.">Exodus 19:6</a>. The holiness really desired was holiness of heart and spirit. Outward ordinances could not effect this; but, to keep the thought perpetually before- men's minds, a network of external obligations was devised, whereof a specimen is given in the law which follows. The flesh of an animal torn by a carnivorous beast would be doubly unclean: (1) By contact with the unclean carnivorous beast; and (2) through not having all the blood properly drained from it. It was therefore not to be eaten by a Hebrew.Ye shall cast it to the dogs--i.e., ye shall do this rather than eat it. The flesh might probably be given, or even sold, to an alien. (Compare <a href="/deuteronomy/14-21.htm" title="You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you shall give it to the stranger that is in your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to an alien: for you are an holy people to the LORD your God. You shall not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.">Deuteronomy 14:21</a>.)<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/22.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 31. - And ye shall be holy men unto me. Ye shall not be as other men, but "an holy nation, a peculiar people;" and therefore your separateness shall be marked by all manner of laws and regulations with respect to meats and drinks, designed to keep you free from every uncleanness. One such law then follows - Law against eating the flesh of an animal killed by another. The blood of such an animal would not be properly drained from it. Some would remain in the tissues, and thence the antrum would be unclean; again, the carnivorous beast which "tore" it would also be unclean, and by contact would impart of its uncleanness to the other. Ye shall cast it to the dogs, is probably not intended to exclude the giving or selling of it to an Mien, if one were at hand, according to the permission accorded in <a href="/deuteronomy/14-21.htm">Deuteronomy 14:21</a>; but points simply to the mode whereby the flesh was to be got rid of, if aliens were not at hand, or if they declined to eat the animals. Dogs were so unclean that they might be fed on anything. Their chief use was to be scavengers (<a href="/2_kings/9-35.htm">2 Kings 9:35, 36</a>). <a href="/commentaries/exodus/22-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>You are to be תִּהְי֣וּן (tih·yūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> To fall out, come to pass, become, be My לִ֑י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> holy קֹ֖דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6944.htm">Strong's 6944: </a> A sacred place, thing, sanctity people. וְאַנְשֵׁי־ (wə·’an·šê-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person You must not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no eat תֹאכֵ֔לוּ (ṯō·ḵê·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_398.htm">Strong's 398: </a> To eat the meat וּבָשָׂ֨ר (ū·ḇā·śār) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1320.htm">Strong's 1320: </a> Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man of a mauled animal טְרֵפָה֙ (ṭə·rê·p̄āh) Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2966.htm">Strong's 2966: </a> Prey, flocks devoured by animals found in the field; בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה (baś·śā·ḏeh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7704.htm">Strong's 7704: </a> Field, land you are to throw תַּשְׁלִכ֥וּן (taš·li·ḵūn) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7993.htm">Strong's 7993: </a> To throw out, down, away it אֹתֽוֹ׃ (’ō·ṯōw) Direct object marker | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case to the dogs. לַכֶּ֖לֶב (lak·ke·leḇ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3611.htm">Strong's 3611: </a> A dog, a male prostitute <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/exodus/22-31.htm">Exodus 22:31 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/exodus/22-31.htm">OT Law: Exodus 22:31 You shall be holy men to me (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/22-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 22:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 22:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/23-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 23:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 23:1" /></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>