Leviticus 11:39

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Leviticus 11:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 11:39 — American Standard Version

Context — Leviticus 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if any beast of which ye may eat die, etc.] Any clean beast, as the ox, sheep, goat, deer, etc. what, if rightly killed, is very lawful to eat of; but if it died of itself through any distemper, or was torn by the wild beasts, so the Targum of Jonathan: he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even; not the bones, nerves, horns, hoofs, or skin, as Jarchi observes; these might be handled, because some of them, at least, were wrought up into one instrument or another, by artificers, for use and service, but the flesh of them might not be touched; whoever did touch it was ceremonially unclean, and might not go into the sanctuary, or have conversation with men, until…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If any beast die - Either of itself, or being killed by some wild beast, in which cases the blood was not poured forth, as it was when they were killed by men either for food or sacrifice. Leviticus 11:40”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:39-40 Israelites were not to consume blood (7:26). They could eat an animal only after the blood had been drained and properly disposed of (17:13). The undrained blood of an otherwise clean animal that died of natural causes rendered it unclean. An Israelite was permitted to give or sell such an animal to foreigners (Deut 14:21) but not to eat it.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Lev 11:24, Lev 11:28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:7; Num 19:11, Num 19:16 Leviticus 11:40”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Lastly, contact with edible animals, if they had not been slaughtered, but had died a natural death, and had become carrion in consequence, is also said to defile (cf. Lev 11:39, Lev 11:40 with Lev 11:24-28). This was the case, too, with the eating of the swarming land animals, whether they went upon the belly, (Note: The large ו in גּחון ( Lev 11:42) shows that this vav is the middle letter of the Pentateuch.) as snakes and worms, or upon four feet, as rats, mice, weasels, etc., or upon many feet, like the insects ( Lev 11:41-43). Lastly ( Lev 11:44, Lev 11:45), the whole law is enforced by an appeal to the calling of the Israelites, as a holy nation, to be holy as Jehovah their God, who…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification