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Leviticus 11 · a question people ask

Was being unclean the same as sinning?

In the text

The chapter never uses the word sin. Touching a carcass made a person "unclean until the evening" (11:24), and carrying one meant he "shall wash his clothes" (11:25). Other chapters show where it mattered: at the holy things. Anyone who ate of the peace offerings "having his uncleanness on him" was to be cut off (7:20). One of Aaron's offspring who touched "any creeping thing" (22:5) was to be "unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bathes his body in water" (22:6). Leviticus 15 ends with a reason: "so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them" (15:31). Still, this chapter commands, "You shall not make yourselves unclean with them" (11:43). And Leviticus 5 says that if anyone touched "the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty" (5:2); "when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned" (5:5), and bring an offering (5:6). In this chapter uncleanness is met by washing and waiting until the evening (11:25, 11:32); in Leviticus 5, touching an unclean thing that was hidden from him brings guilt, confession and an offering (5:2-6).

The verses

““‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.”
Leviticus 11:24-25 · World English Bible
“but the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belongs to the LORD, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the LORD, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’””
Leviticus 7:20-21 · World English Bible
““‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’””
Leviticus 15:31 · World English Bible
“You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps. You shall not make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled by them.”
Leviticus 11:43 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11: For I am holy

Leviticus 11 sorts the animals by signs (a parted hoof and the cud, fins and scales), lists the birds, allows the locust, and says what a carcass makes unclean by touch. It gives one reason, the LORD himself: "be holy; for I am holy" (11:44). Peter quotes that call to people redeemed "with precious blood… the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:19).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions