Clean and Unclean Foods
Deuteronomy 14
Moses lists which land animals, water creatures, and birds Israel may and may not eat, forbids boiling a young goat in its mother's milk, and instructs the people to bring a yearly tithe of their grain, wine, oil, and firstborn animals to the place the Lord will choose. Every third year that tithe is instead to be shared with the Levite, the sojourner, the orphan, and the widow.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonYOU are the children of the Lord your God; you shall not make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
BrentonYe are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
GreekΥἱοί ἐστε Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ὑμῶν· οὐκ ἐπιθήσετε φαλάκρωμα ἀναμέσον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ νεκρῷ.
KJVYe are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
JPSYe are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
2
ThomsonBecause thou art a people dedicated to the Lord thy God, and the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people to Himself, above all the nations on the face of the earth,
BrentonFor thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God, and the Lord thy God has chosen thee to be a peculiar people to himself of all the nations on the face of the earth.
GreekὍτι λαὸς ἅγιος εἶ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου, καὶ σε ἐξελέξατο Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου γενέσθαι σε λαὸν αὐτῷ περιούσιον ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς.
KJVFor thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
JPSFor thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be His own treasure out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.
3
Thomsonyou shall not eat any abomination.
BrentonYe shall not eat any abominable thing.
GreekΟὐ φάγεσθε πᾶν βδέλυγμα.
KJVThou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
JPSThou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
4
ThomsonThese are the beasts which you shall eat: young bulls, and sheep, and goats,
BrentonThese are the beasts which ye shall eat; the calf of the herd, and lamb of the sheep, and kid of the goats;
GreekΤαῦτα κτήνη ἃ φάγεσθε· μόσχον ἐκ βοῶν, καὶ ἀμνὸν ἐκ προβάτων, καὶ χίμαρον ἐξ αἰγῶν·
KJVThese are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
JPSThese are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
5
Thomson—
Brentonthe stag, and doe, and pygarg, and wild goat, and camelopard.
Greekἔλαφον, καὶ δορκάδα, καὶ πύγαργον, ὄρυγα, καὶ καμηλοπάρδαλιν.
KJVThe hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.
JPSthe hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the mountain-sheep.
6
Thomsonevery beast which parteth the hoof, dividing it into two distinct hoofs, and which cheweth the cud; these among the cattle you may eat.
BrentonEvery beast that divides the hoofs, and makes claws of two divisions, and that chews the cud among beasts, these ye shall eat.
GreekΠᾶν κτῆνος διχηλοῦν ὁπλὴν, καὶ ὀνυχιστῆρας ὀνυχίζον δύο χηλῶν, καὶ ἀνάγον μηρυκισμὸν ἐν τοῖς κτήνεσι, ταῦτα φάγεσθε.
KJVAnd every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
JPSAnd every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof wholly cloven in two, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that ye may eat.
7
ThomsonBut of those which chew the cud, and of those which part not the hoof, dividing it into two distinct hoofs, these you shall not eat—the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit. Because though they chew the cud they do not part the hoof, they are unclean to you—
BrentonAnd these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, and of those that divide the hoofs, and make distinct claws; the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit; because they chew the cud, and do not divide the hoof, these are unclean to you.
GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα οὐ φάγεσθε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀναγόντων μηρυκισμὸν, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν διχηλούντων τὰς ὁπλὰς, καὶ ὀνυχιζόντων ὀνυχιστῆρας· τὸν κάμηλον, καὶ δασύποδα, καὶ χοιρογρύλλιον· ὅτι ἀνάγουσι μηρυκισμὸν, καὶ ὁπλὴν οὐ διχηλοῦσιν, ἀκάθαρτα ταῦτα ὑμῖν ἐστι.
KJVNevertheless 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.
JPSNevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them that only have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rock-badger, because they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto you;
8
Thomsonthe swine also, because, though it parteth the hoof and divideth it into distinct hoofs, yet it doth not chew the cud, it is unclean to you. You shall not eat their flesh, nor touch their dead carcasses.
BrentonAnd as for the swine, because he divides the hoof, and makes claws of the hoof, yet he chews not the cud, he is unclean to you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, ye shall not touch their dead bodies.
GreekΚαὶ τὸν ὗν, ὅτι διχηλεῖ ὁπλὴν τοῦτο, καὶ ὀνυχίζει ὀνυχιστῆρας ὁπλῆς, καὶ τοῦτο μηρυκισμὸν οὐ μηρυκᾶται ἀκάθαρτον τοῦτο ὑμῖν· ἀπὸ τῶν κρεῶν αὐτῶν οὐ φάγεσθε, τῶν θνησιμαίων αὐτῶν οὐχ ἅψεσθε.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand the swine, because he parteth the hoof but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you; of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch.
9
ThomsonAnd of all that are in the water, these you may eat.
BrentonAnd these ye shall eat of all that are in the water, ye shall eat all that have fins and scales.
GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα φάγεσθε ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐν τῷ ὕδατι, πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν ἐν αὐτοῖς πτερύγια καὶ λεπίδες, φάγεσθε.
KJVThese ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:
JPSThese ye may eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales may ye eat;
10
ThomsonYou may eat all that have fins and scales. But all that have not fins and scales, you shall not eat; they are unclean to you.
BrentonAnd all that have not fins and scales ye shall not eat; they are unclean to you.
GreekΚαὶ πάντα ὅσα οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς πτερύγια καὶ λεπίδες, οὐ φάγεσθε· ἀκάθαρτα ὑμῖν ἐστι.
KJVAnd whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.
JPSand whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye shall not eat; it is unclean unto you.
11
ThomsonEvery clean fowl yon may eat;
BrentonYe shall eat every clean bird.
GreekΠᾶν ὄρνεον καθαρὸν φάγεσθε.
KJVOf all clean birds ye shall eat.
JPSOf all clean birds ye may eat.
12
Thomsonthe eagle and the osprey, and the sea-eagle,
BrentonAnd these of them ye shall not eat; the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the sea-eagle,
GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα οὐ φάγεσθε ἀπʼ αὐτῶν· τὸν ἀετὸν, καὶ τὸν γρύπα, καὶ τὸν ἁλιάετον,
KJVBut these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,
JPSBut these are they of which ye shall not eat: the great vulture, and the bearded vulture, and the ospray;
13
Thomsonand the vulture, and the kite, and all of its kind;
Brentonand the vulture, and the kite and the like to it,
Greekκαὶ τὸν γύπα, καὶ τὸν ἴκτινον, καὶ τὰ ὅμοια αὐτῷ,
KJVAnd the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,
JPSand the glede, and the falcon, and the kite after its kinds;
15
Thomson—
Brentonand the sparrow, and the owl, and the sea-mew,
Greekκαὶ στρουθὸν, καὶ γλαῦκα, καὶ λάρον,
KJV—
JPSand the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kinds;
16
Thomsonand the owl, and the gull, and the heron, and the swan, and the ibis, and cormorant, and the hawk, and all of its kind; and the hoopoe, and the night raven,
Brentonand the heron, and the swan, and the stork,
Greekκαὶ ἐρωδιὸν, καὶ κύκνον, καὶ ἶβιν,
KJVThe little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,
JPS—
17
Thomson—
Brentonand the cormorant, and the hawk, and its like, and the hoopoe, and the raven,
Greekκαὶ καταράκτην, καὶ ἱέρακα, καὶ τὰ ὅμοια αὐτῷ, καὶ ἔποπα, καὶ νυκτικόρακα,
KJV—
JPS—
18
Thomsonand the flamingo, and the bat,
Brentonand the pelican, and the diver and the like to it, and the red-bill and the bat.
Greekκαὶ πελακᾶνα, καὶ χαραδριὸν, καὶ τὰ ὅμοια αὐτῷ, καὶ πορφυρίωνα, καὶ νυκτερίδα.
KJV—
JPS—
19
ThomsonAll the creeping things which fly are unclean to you. You shall not eat any of them.
BrentonAll winged animals that creep are unclean to you; ye shall not eat of them.
GreekΠάντα τὰ ἑρπετὰ τῶν πετεινῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν ὑμῖν· οὐ φάγεσθε ἀπʼ αὐτῶν.
KJV—
JPSAnd all winged swarming things are unclean unto you; they shall not be eaten.
20
ThomsonEvery flying thing, which is clean, you may eat.
BrentonYe shall eat every clean bird.
GreekΠᾶν πετεινὸν καθαρὸν φάγεσθε.
KJVBut of all clean fowls ye may eat.
JPSOf all clean winged things ye may eat.
21
ThomsonEverything which dieth of itself you shall not eat. It may be given to the stranger, who is in thy cities, and he may eat it, or thou mayst sell it to the stranger. Because thou art a people dedicated to the Lord thy God, thou shalt not boil a lamb in the milk of its ewe.
BrentonYe shall eat nothing that dies of itself; it shall be given to the sojourner in thy cities and he shall eat it, or thou shalt sell it to a stranger, because thou art a holy people to the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a lamb in his mother's milk.
GreekΠᾶν θνησιμαῖον οὐ φάγεσθε· τῷ παροίκῳ τῷ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσί σου δοθήσεται καὶ φάγεται, ἢ ἀποδώσῃ τῷ ἀλλοτρίῳ, ὅτι λαὸς ἅγιος εἶ Κυρίῳ τῷ Θεῷ σου. Οὐχ ἑψήσεις ἄρνα ἐν γάλακτι μητρὸς αὐτοῦ.
KJVYe shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk.
JPSYe shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself; thou mayest give it unto the stranger that is within thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto a foreigner; for thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother’s milk.
22
ThomsonThou shalt set apart the tenth of all the increase of thy seed, the product of thy field year after year;
BrentonThou shalt tithe a tenth of all the produce of thy seed, the fruit of thy field year by year.
GreekΔεκάτην ἀποδεκατώσεις παντὸς γεννήματος τοῦ σπέρματός σου, τὸ γέννημα τοῦ ἀγροῦ σου ἐνιαυτὸν κατʼ ἐνιαυτόν.
KJVThou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
JPSThou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, that which is brought forth in the field year by year.
23
Thomsonand this thou shalt eat in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, for His name to be there invoked. Thither you shall bring the tenths of thy corn, and of thy wine, and thine oil and the firstlings of thy kine, and of thy flocks, that thou mayst learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
BrentonAnd thou shalt eat it in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there; ye shall bring the tithe of thy corn and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thy herd and of thy flock, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
GreekΚαὶ φαγῇ αὐτὸ ἐν τῷ τόπῳ, ᾧ ἐὰν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ· οἴσετε τὰ ἐπιδέκατα τοῦ σίτου σου, καὶ τοῦ οἴνου σου, καὶ τοῦ ἐλαίου σου, τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν βοῶν σου, καὶ τῶν προβάτων σου, ἵνα μάθῃς φοβεῖσθαι Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας.
KJVAnd thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
JPSAnd thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which He shall choose to cause His name to dwell there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
24
ThomsonBut if the way be too long for thee, and thou canst not carry them up, because the place is far distant from thee, which the Lord thy God hath chosen for His name to be there invoked; seeing the Lord thy God hath blessed thee,
BrentonAnd if the journey be too far for thee, and thou art not able to bring them, because the place is far from thee which the Lord thy God shall choose to have his name called there, because the Lord thy God will bless thee;
GreekἘὰν δὲ μακρὰν γένηται ἡ ὁδὸς ἀπὸ σοῦ, καὶ μὴ δύνῃ ἀναφέρειν αὐτὰ, ὅτι μακρὰν ἀπὸ σοῦ ὁ τόπος, ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐπικληθῆναι τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκεῖ, ὅτι εὐλογήσει σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σοῦ,
KJVAnd if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
JPSAnd if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set His name there, when the LORD thy God shall bless thee;
25
Thomsontherefore thou shalt sell them for money; and thou shalt take the money in thy hand, and go to the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen;
Brentonthen thou shalt sell them for money, and thou shalt take the money in thy hands, and thou shalt go to the place which the Lord thy God shall choose.
Greekκαὶ ἀποδώσῃ αὐτὰ ἀργυρίου, καὶ λήψῃ τὸ ἀργύριον ἐν ταῖς χερσί σου, καὶ πορεύσῃ εἰς τὸν τόπον ὃν ἂν ἐκλέξηται Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου αὐτόν.
KJVThen shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
JPSthen shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose.
26
Thomsonand thou shalt give this money for whatever thy soul may desire—for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or strong drink, or for anything which thy soul may desire; and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and rejoice with thy household,
BrentonAnd thou shalt give the money for whatsoever thy soul shall desire, for oxen or for sheep, or for wine, or thou shalt lay it out on strong drink, or on whatsoever thy soul may desire, and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice and thy house,
GreekΚαὶ δώσεις ἀργύριον ἐπὶ παντὸς οὗ ἂν ἐπιθυμεῇ ἡ ψυχή σου, ἐπὶ βουσὶν ἤ ἐπὶ προβάτοις, ἢ ἐτʼ οἴνῳ ἢ ἐπὶ σίκερα, ἢ ἐπὶ σίκερα, ἢ ἐπὶ παντὸς οὗ ἂν ἐπιθυμῇ ἡ φυχή σου, καὶ φαγῇ ἐκεῖ ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, καὶ εὐφρανθήσῃ σὺ καὶ ὁ οἶκός σου,
KJVAnd thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
JPSAnd thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.
27
Thomsonand the Levite who is in thy cities, because he hath no portion nor lot with you.
Brentonand the Levite that is in thy cities, because he has not a portion or inheritance with thee.
Greekκαὶ ὁ Λευίτης ὁ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσί σου, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος μετὰ σοῦ.
KJVAnd the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
JPSAnd the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee.
28
ThomsonAnd, at the end of three years, thou shalt carry out all the tenth of thy products in that year, and lay it up in thy cities,
BrentonAfter three years thou shalt bring out all the tithes of thy fruits, in that year thou shalt lay it up in thy cities.
GreekΜετὰ τρία ἔτη ἐξοίσεις πᾶν τὸ ἐπιδέκατον τῶν γεννημάτων σου, ἐν τῷ ἐνιαυτῷ ἐκείνῳ θήσεις αὐτὸ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσί σου.
KJVAt the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
JPSAt the end of every three years, even in the same year, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase, and shall lay it up within thy gates.
29
Thomsonand the Levite shall come, because he hath no portion nor lot with thee, and the proselyte, and the orphan, and the widow, who is in thy cities, and they shall eat and be filled, that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works which thou dost.
BrentonAnd the Levite shall come, because he has no part or lot with thee, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow which is in thy cities; and they shall eat and be filled, that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works which thou shalt do.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλεύσεται ὁ Λευίτης, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ μερὶς οὐδὲ κλῆρος μετὰ σοῦ, καὶ ὁ προσήλυτος καὶ ὁ ὀρφανὸς καὶ ἡ χήρα ἡ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσί σου, καὶ φάγονται καὶ ἐμπλησθήσονται, ἵνα εὐλογήσῃ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις οἷς ἐὰν ποιῇς.
KJVAnd the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
JPSAnd the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest.