Deuteronomy 14:8

And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.

Deuteronomy 14:8 (KJV)

Context

Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Old Testament and part of the Pentateuch, attributed to Moses. The book primarily contains Moses’ speeches to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. This verse falls within a broader section where Moses is instructing the people about clean and unclean animals, as outlined by God.

Meaning

The general rule for clean land animals, stated in Deuteronomy 14:6, is that an animal must both have a divided hoof and chew the cud. Verse 7 lists animals that chew the cud but lack a divided hoof. This verse addresses the opposite case: the swine, or pig. The pig has a divided hoof but does not chew the cud, so it fails to meet both criteria and is therefore unclean.

The verse explicitly forbids two things: eating the pig’s flesh and touching its dead carcass. The prohibition against touching the dead carcass reinforced the concept of ceremonial uncleanness and the need for separation from what God declared unclean. The same prohibition appears in Leviticus 11:7, showing consistency in the law.

Biblical connections

These dietary laws served multiple purposes. They acted as a means to differentiate the Israelites from the practices of neighboring cultures and establish their unique identity as God’s chosen people. They also fostered obedience and discipline, promoting a lifestyle of holiness and separation from impurity. The pig’s example illustrates that having some right characteristics is insufficient if one lacks the essential ones.

While the dietary laws outlined in the Old Testament were specifically given to the Israelites, they are not binding on Christians today. In the New Testament, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19). The Apostle Paul also emphasized that Christians are not bound by dietary restrictions (Romans 14:14, 1 Timothy 4:4-5).

Application

For the Christian, this points to the need for complete obedience and the danger of partial conformity to God’s standards. The dietary laws were a tutor pointing to the need for inner purity and separation from sin. The verse’s emphasis on not touching the dead carcass highlights the principle of avoiding contamination by what is unclean. Believers are to avoid contact with sin and anything that defiles.

Christians are encouraged to exercise wisdom and self-control in matters of food and to respect the convictions of others. The underlying principle of holiness and obedience remains relevant. The call to be set apart continues, not by dietary rules, but by the Spirit’s work in the heart.

Reflection

God’s standards are precise and not to be altered. The pig’s uncleanness was a perpetual statute for Israel, teaching them to discern between clean and unclean. For the modern reader, this verse challenges us to examine our own lives for areas of partial obedience and points to the need for a heart wholly devoted to God.