Deuteronomy 14:7
Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.
Deuteronomy 14:7 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the laws Moses gave to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. The surrounding passage, Deuteronomy 14:6-8, explains that a clean land animal must both chew the cud and have a divided hoof. The camel, hare, and coney fail the second test, so they are unclean. The same list appears in Leviticus 11:4-5, showing that these rules were consistent across the law. These dietary laws were part of a broader system that distinguished clean and unclean animals for Israel’s ceremonial and practical life.
Meaning
Chewing the cud means rumination. Such an animal brings food back from its stomach and chews it again to get more nourishment. A divided hoof means the hoof is split into two clear parts. The camel, hare, and coney chew the cud but do not divide the hoof. Therefore, God called them unclean for Israel. The word unclean meant the people could not eat them or offer them in worship. The clean animals were those that had both characteristics, showing that God’s standard was complete.
Biblical connections
These food laws set Israel apart from other nations. They taught holiness, obedience, and dependence on God. In the New Testament, Jesus explained that what enters the mouth does not defile a person; what comes from the heart does (Mark 7:14-23). Later, God showed Peter in a vision that no food should be called common or unclean (Acts 10:9-16). The apostle Paul also taught that no food is unclean in itself (Romans 14:14-23). So Christians are not bound by these dietary rules. The ceremonial laws are fulfilled in Christ, and the New Testament teaches that dietary restrictions are no longer binding (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15).
Application
The deeper lesson still applies. Chewing the cud can picture meditating on God’s Word again and again, like an animal that rechews its food. A divided hoof can picture walking in obedience to God. Both are needed. Outward religious practice without inward transformation is not enough. Believers today should pursue holiness in every area of life, including daily choices, and remember that God calls His people to be distinct from the world. The principle of holiness and being set apart remains, even though the specific food rules no longer bind us.
Reflection
This verse invites honest self-examination. Do we only appear clean on the outside, or do we also feed deeply on Scripture and walk in faithful obedience? The law pointed to a need that only Christ could fill. Because He fulfilled the ceremonial law, believers are free from these food restrictions, yet the call to be holy remains. Let this passage remind us to honor God with both our hearts and our actions.
