These are a list of birds which the Israelites must not eat:  eagles, osprey, vulture, hawk, raven, owl, night hawk, cuckoo, cormorant, swan, pelican, stork, heron, seagulls, ostriches, buzzards, crows, hoopoes, bat, and lapwing. 
[13] And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
[14] And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;
[15] Every raven after his kind;
[16] And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,
[17] And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,
[18] And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,
[19] And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.



Insects with wings that crawl on the ground are unclean, except for the ones that jump--the locust, the bald locust, the cricket, and the grasshopper.  All other flying insects with 4 feet are unclean.
[20] All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
[21] Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
[22] Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
[23] But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

Rules about the dead bodies of animals


They should not touch the dead bodies of any unclean animals.  If they do, they will also be unclean until the evening.  If they carry the dead bodies of any unclean animals, they must wash their clothes, and they themselves will be unclean until the evening. 
[24] And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.
[25] And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

If they carry the dead bodies of these unclean animals, they will be unclean until evening:  animals with hooves (unless the hooves are divided, and the animal chews a cud) and animals with 4 paws.  The people who carry the dead bodies of these animals must wash their clothes. They will be unclean until evening.
[26] The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.
[27] And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.
[28] And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.


These animals that crawl on the ground are unclean:  the weasel, mouse, turtle, ferret, chameleon, lizard, snail, and mole.  Anyone who touches one of the animal's dead bodies will be unclean until the evening.
[29] These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,
[30] And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.
[31] These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

If a body of an unclean animals falls onto something, it is unclean, too.  It doesn't matter if it is made of wood, cloth, leather, or a sack. It must be washed in water, and it will be unclean until the evening. 
[32] And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.


If the body of an unclean animal falls into a clay pot, they must destroy the pot. They can't use it.
[33] And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.


In this situation, there is some food that people may eat. But water from a pot that had a dead animal in it spills on the food.  They cannot eat the meat. It is not clean anymore. No one can drink from that pot either.
[34] Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

If a dead body of an unclean animal touches a clay oven or stove, the oven or stove will be unclean. The oven or stove cannot be used anymore, and it must be destroyed.
[35] And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

If the body of a dead unclean animal falls into a spring or cistern (places with a lot of water), the places will stay clean. But anything else that touches the animal's body will be unclean.
[36] Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.


If the body of a dead unclean animal touches dry seed that will be planted, the seed will still be clean. They can still plant the seed. But if the body touches water, and the water is put on the seed, the seed becomes unclean. 
[37] And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.
[38] But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.


If a person touches the body of a dead clean animal, the person will be unclean until the evening. 
[39] And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

If a person eats or carries a dead clean animal, he must wash his clothes.  He will be unclean until evening. 
[40] And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Rules about eating animals that crawl


Animals that crawl on the ground are unclean, and the Israelites should not eat them. This means any animal that crawls even if it has 4 or more feet. 
[41] And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
[42] Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
[43] 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.

God said that He is the Lord their God. He brought them out of Egypt. They should stay holy because God is holy. They should not make themselves unclean by touching or eating animals that crawl. 
[44] For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[45] 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.


These are the laws about eating animals, birds, fish, and animals that crawl.  These laws teach them which animals are clean and which animals are unclean.  They needed to know so that they could eat only clean animals.
[46] This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
[47] To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Leviticus 12

Rules about women who have babies

God talked to Moses. He gave some laws about women who have babies. When women have babies, they bleed. This makes them unclean.  If a woman had a baby boy, she was unclean for 7 days. This was the same as when she had her monthly period. 
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

When the baby boy was 8 days old, he would be circumcised. Circumcision is cutting away the foreskin on the male organ.
[3] And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.


After her baby was circumcised, the mother would be unclean for 33 more days. She was not allowed to touch anything holy or go into the tabernacle. 
[4] And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

If a woman had a baby girl, she was unclean for 14 days. This was the same as when she had her monthly period. Then she would be unclean for another 66 days.
[5] But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.


After her unclean days are finished, she must bring offerings to the tabernacle.  She must bring a 1 year old lamb for a burnt offering. She must also bring a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. She must give her offerings to the priest. The priest will make the sacrifice for her so that she is clean again. This is the law for mothers who had boys or girls.
[6] And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
[7] Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.

If the mother cannot bring a lamb for an offering, she must bring 2 birds instead of only 1.  Then the priest will sacrifice the birds for her, and she will be clean again.
[8] And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus 13

Rules about skin diseases

Some skin diseases are contagious. This means that a healthy person can get the disease if he is too close to a person who has the disease. In this section, many different skin diseases are called "leprosy". This may not be the same as the modern skin disease called leprosy (another name is Hansen's Disease). 

God talked to Moses and Aaron and gave them rules about skin diseases.  
[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,

If a person has something in his skin like a sore, scab, or a spot, he should go to see Aaron or his sons the priests.
[2] When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or a bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:


The priest will look at the skin. If the hair in the sore has changed to white, and if the sore looks deep, it is a contagious skin disease. The priest will say that the person is unclean.
[3] And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.


If the spot on his skin is white, but it is not deep, and the hair has not changed to white, he must stay away from other people for 7 days.
[4] If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:


On the 7th day, the priest will look at the person's skin. If the white spot has not gotten bigger or spread, the person should continue to stay away from people for 7 more days. 
[5] And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:


The priest will check him for a third time on the 7th day.  If the white spot has gotten dark and hasn't spread, then the sore was only a scab. The person should wash his clothes, and then he is clean again.
[6] And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

But if the same scab comes back and gets bigger later, the person must see the priest again.  The priest will say that he has a contagious skin disease. The person will be unclean. 
[7] But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:
[8] And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.


If anyone has a skin problem, he must go to see the priest. 
[9] When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;



If the priest sees pus in the sore, the hair in the sore is white, and the sore is raw (broken open), the priest will say that the person is unclean. But he is not contagious. He does not need to stay away from other people. 
[10] And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
[11] It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.


If a person has a skin disease and the white skin covers all of his body, the priest will say that the person is clean
[12] And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
[13] Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.

But if the skin breaks open and it is raw, the person is unclean. The priest will look at it and say that he is unclean. 
[14] But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.
[15] And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.


It the raw skin turns white again, the priest should look at the person again. The priest will say the person is clean again.
[16] Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;
[17] And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.


If a person had a boil (a deep sore) that healed, but later he sees pus in the skin again, he should go see the priest.
The priest will look at it. If the hair in the sore is white, and if the sore is deeper than the skin around it, the priest will say that the person is unclean. He has a bad skin disease that started in the boil.
[18] The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
[19] And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;
[20] And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.


But if the priests sees no white hair and the sore is not deeper than the skin around it, but the skin is dark, the person should stay away from other people for 7 days.  
[21] But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:

The priest will check the skin again later. If the dark skin has spread, the priest will say the person is unclean. But if the dark skin does not spread, it is not a bad skin disease. It is just an infected sore. 
[22] And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.
[23] But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

Skin that has been burned


If a person has been burned, and the burned skin is white or reddish, he will go see the priest. The priest will look at the skin. If the hair in the burned spot is white, and the burned spot is deeper than the skin around it, the person has a bad skin disease. The priest will say he is unclean.  
[24] Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
[25] Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.


But if the hair in the burned skin is not white and the burned spot is not deeper than the skin around it, but it is dark, the person must stay away from other people for 7 days.  After 7 days, the priest will look at the spot again. If the darkness has spread, the priest will say the person is unclean. He has a bad skin disease.  If the darkness stayed the same, the priest will say the person is clean. The darkness is from the burn and is not a bad skin disease. 
[26] But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
[27] And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
[28] And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.

Skin diseases on the head


If a man or a woman has a sore on his head or chin, the priest needs to look at it.   If the sore is deeper than the other skin, and the hair is thin and yellow, the person is unclean. He has a bad skin disease.
[29] If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;
[30] Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.


If the sore on the head or chin is not deep, but there is no hair in it, the person should stay away from other people for 7 days.
[31] And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:


After 7 days, the priest will look at the sore again.  If it has not gotten bigger, there is no yellow hair in it, and the sore is not deeper than the skin around it, the person will need to stay away from other people for 7  more days.  The person's hair must be shaved, but he should not shave the sore. 
[32] And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
[33] He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:


After these 7 days, the priest will check the sore again.  If it has not spread and it is not deeper than the skin around it, the priest will say the person is clean. He should go and wash his clothes and be clean. 
[34] And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.


If the sore starts to spread later, the priest should look at it again.  Even if there is no yellow hair, the priest will say the person is unclean.  
[35] But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;
[36] Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.


If the sore does not get bigger and there is black hair in it, the sore is better. The priest will say the person is clean.
[37] But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.

If a man or a woman has a bright or white spot on their skin, he must go and see the priest. If the priest looks at the spot and sees that it is a dull white color, he will say the person is clean.
[38] If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
[39] Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.


If a man is bald in the front or the back, he is clean.
[40] And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.
[41] And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.


But if the bald spot has a reddish-white sore in it, the person has a bad skin disease. The priest will look at it.  If the priests sees the sore, he will say the person is unclean. 
[42] And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
[43] Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;
[44] He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.

The rule for people who are unclean because of a bad skin disease.


The people who have the bad skin disease are unclean.  They should rip their clothes (the Israelite way to show grief or sadness), not comb their hair, put coverings over their upper lip, and yell, "Unclean, unclean!" to warn other people to stay away from him. He must also live outside the camp by himself.
[45] And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
[46] All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

Rules about clothing

Sometimes the people would see something growing--like mold or mildew-- in their clothes.  If they saw something green or red growing in wool, linen, or leather,  they should show the clothes to the priest.
[47] The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;
[48] Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;
[49] And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest: