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Deuteronomy 14:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 14:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
Deuteronomy 14:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
2For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, and Jehovah hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.
3Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
4These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
5the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.
6And every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof cloven in two, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.
7Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the coney; because they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto you.
← Deuteronomy 14:3Deuteronomy 14:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“These are the beasts which they shall eat, etc.] That is, which they might lawfully eat of, which were allowed for their food; for they were not obliged to eat of them if they did not choose it: the ox, the sheep, and the goat; which were creatures used in sacrifice, and the only ones, yet nevertheless they might be used for food if chosen.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Leviticus 11:0. The variations here, whether omissions or additions, are probably to be explained by the time and circumstances of the speaker. Deuteronomy 14:5 The “pygarg” is a species of gazelle, and the “wild ox” and “chamois” are swift types of antelope. Deuteronomy 14:21 The prohibition is repeated from Leviticus 22:8. The directions as to the disposal of the carcass are unique to Deuteronomy, and their motive is clear. To have forbidden the people either themselves to eat that which had died, or to allow any others to do so, would have involved loss of property, and consequent temptation to an infraction of the command. The permissions now for the first time granted would have…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lev 11:2-8; Kg1 4:23 Deuteronomy 14:5”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification