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Read the Bible
The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible
Exodus 22:31
You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
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Hebrew Names Version
"You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
King James Version
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Lexham English Bible
And you will be men of holiness for me; and you will not eat meat from a carcass mangled in the field; you will throw it to the dog.
And you will be men of holiness for me; and you will not eat meat from a carcass mangled in the field; you will throw it to the dog.
New Century Version
"You are to be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals. Instead, give it to the dogs.
"You are to be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals. Instead, give it to the dogs.
New English Translation
"You will be holy people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. You must throw it to the dogs.
"You will be holy people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. You must throw it to the dogs.
Amplified Bible
"You shall be holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
New American Standard Bible
"You shall be holy people to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy people to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beastes in the fielde: ye shall cast it to the dogge.
Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beastes in the fielde: ye shall cast it to the dogge.
Legacy Standard Bible
"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Contemporary English Version
You are my chosen people, so don't eat the meat of any of your livestock that was killed by a wild animal. Instead, feed the meat to dogs.
You are my chosen people, so don't eat the meat of any of your livestock that was killed by a wild animal. Instead, feed the meat to dogs.
Complete Jewish Bible
"If a thief caught in the act of breaking in is beaten to death, it is not murder; unless it happens after sunrise, in which case it is murder. A thief must make restitution; so if he has nothing, he himself is to be sold to make good the loss from the theft. If what he stole is found alive in his possession, he is to pay double, no matter whether it is an ox, a donkey or a sheep. (iii) "If a person causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over or lets his animal loose to graze in someone else's field, he is to make restitution from the best produce of his own field and vineyard. "If a fire is started and spreads to thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain or a field is destroyed, the person who lit it must make restitution. "If a person entrusts a neighbor with money or goods, and they are stolen from the trustee's house, then, if the thief is found, he must pay double. But if the thief is not found, then the trustee must state before God that he did not take the person's goods himself. In every case of dispute over ownership, whether of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any missing property, where one person says, ‘This is mine,' both parties are to come before God; and the one whom God condemns must pay the other one double. "If a person trusts a neighbor to look after a donkey, ox, sheep or any animal, and it dies, is injured or is driven away unseen, then the neighbor's oath before Adonai that he has not taken the goods will settle the matter between them — the owner is to accept it without the neighbor's making restitution. But if it was stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner. If it was torn to pieces by an animal, the neighbor must bring it as evidence, and then he doesn't need to make good the loss. "If someone borrows something from his neighbor, and it gets injured or dies with the owner not present, he must make restitution. If the owner was present, he need not make good the loss. If the owner hired it out, the loss is covered by the hiring fee. "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. But if her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay a sum equivalent to the bride-price for virgins. "You are not to permit a sorceress to live. "Whoever has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death. "Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than Adonai alone is to be completely destroyed. "You must neither wrong nor oppress a foreigner living among you, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. "You are not to abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them in any way, and they cry to me, I will certainly heed their cry. My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword — your own wives will be widows and your own children fatherless. "If you loan money to one of my people who is poor, you are not to deal with him as would a creditor; and you are not to charge him interest. If you take your neighbor's coat as collateral, you are to restore it to him by sundown, because it is his only garment — he needs it to wrap his body; what else does he have in which to sleep? Moreover, if he cries out to me, I will listen; because I am compassionate. (iv) "You are not to curse God, and you are not to curse a leader of your people. "You are not to delay offering from your harvest of grain, olive oil or wine. "The firstborn of your sons you are to give to me. You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep — it is to stay with its mother seven days, and on the eighth day you are to give it to me. "You are to be my specially separated people. Therefore you are not to eat any flesh torn by wild animals in the countryside; rather, throw it out for the dogs.
"If a thief caught in the act of breaking in is beaten to death, it is not murder; unless it happens after sunrise, in which case it is murder. A thief must make restitution; so if he has nothing, he himself is to be sold to make good the loss from the theft. If what he stole is found alive in his possession, he is to pay double, no matter whether it is an ox, a donkey or a sheep. (iii) "If a person causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over or lets his animal loose to graze in someone else's field, he is to make restitution from the best produce of his own field and vineyard. "If a fire is started and spreads to thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain or a field is destroyed, the person who lit it must make restitution. "If a person entrusts a neighbor with money or goods, and they are stolen from the trustee's house, then, if the thief is found, he must pay double. But if the thief is not found, then the trustee must state before God that he did not take the person's goods himself. In every case of dispute over ownership, whether of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any missing property, where one person says, ‘This is mine,' both parties are to come before God; and the one whom God condemns must pay the other one double. "If a person trusts a neighbor to look after a donkey, ox, sheep or any animal, and it dies, is injured or is driven away unseen, then the neighbor's oath before Adonai that he has not taken the goods will settle the matter between them — the owner is to accept it without the neighbor's making restitution. But if it was stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner. If it was torn to pieces by an animal, the neighbor must bring it as evidence, and then he doesn't need to make good the loss. "If someone borrows something from his neighbor, and it gets injured or dies with the owner not present, he must make restitution. If the owner was present, he need not make good the loss. If the owner hired it out, the loss is covered by the hiring fee. "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. But if her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay a sum equivalent to the bride-price for virgins. "You are not to permit a sorceress to live. "Whoever has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death. "Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than Adonai alone is to be completely destroyed. "You must neither wrong nor oppress a foreigner living among you, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. "You are not to abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them in any way, and they cry to me, I will certainly heed their cry. My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword — your own wives will be widows and your own children fatherless. "If you loan money to one of my people who is poor, you are not to deal with him as would a creditor; and you are not to charge him interest. If you take your neighbor's coat as collateral, you are to restore it to him by sundown, because it is his only garment — he needs it to wrap his body; what else does he have in which to sleep? Moreover, if he cries out to me, I will listen; because I am compassionate. (iv) "You are not to curse God, and you are not to curse a leader of your people. "You are not to delay offering from your harvest of grain, olive oil or wine. "The firstborn of your sons you are to give to me. You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep — it is to stay with its mother seven days, and on the eighth day you are to give it to me. "You are to be my specially separated people. Therefore you are not to eat any flesh torn by wild animals in the countryside; rather, throw it out for the dogs.
Darby Translation
—And ye shall be holy men unto me; and ye shall not eat flesh torn in the field: ye shall cast it to the dog.
—And ye shall be holy men unto me; and ye shall not eat flesh torn in the field: ye shall cast it to the dog.
Easy-to-Read Version
"You are my special people. So don't eat the meat from something that was killed by wild animals. Let the dogs eat that dead animal.
"You are my special people. So don't eat the meat from something that was killed by wild animals. Let the dogs eat that dead animal.
English Standard Version
"You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
George Lamsa Translation
And you shall be holy men to me; neither shall you eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
And you shall be holy men to me; neither shall you eat any flesh that has been torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Good News Translation
"You are my people, so you must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals; instead, give it to the dogs.
"You are my people, so you must not eat the meat of any animal that has been killed by wild animals; instead, give it to the dogs.
Christian Standard Bible®
“Be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; throw it to the dogs.
“Be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; throw it to the dogs.
Literal Translation
And you shall be holy men to Me. And you shall not eat flesh torn in pieces; you shall throw it to the dogs.
And you shall be holy men to Me. And you shall not eat flesh torn in pieces; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ye shalbe holy people before me. Therfore shal ye eate no flesh, that is torne of beestes in the felde, but cast it vnto the dogges.
Ye shalbe holy people before me. Therfore shal ye eate no flesh, that is torne of beestes in the felde, but cast it vnto the dogges.
American Standard Version
And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Bible in Basic English
You are to be holy men to me: the flesh of no animal whose death has been caused by the beasts of the field may be used for your food; it is to be given to the dogs.
You are to be holy men to me: the flesh of no animal whose death has been caused by the beasts of the field may be used for your food; it is to be given to the dogs.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any fleshe that is torne of beastes in the fielde, but shall cast it to a dogge.
Ye shalbe an holy people vnto me, neither shall ye eate any fleshe that is torne of beastes in the fielde, but shall cast it to a dogge.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="exe.22.1" class="versetxt"> If a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him--he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double. If a man cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution. If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. If a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith: 'This is it,' the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbour. If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep, and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it; the oath of the LORD shall be between them both, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn. And if a man borrow aught of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good; if it be a hireling, he loseth his hire. And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live. Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed. And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise--for if they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry-- My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. If thou lend money to any of My people, even to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest. If thou at all take thy neighbour's garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him by that the sun goeth down; for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin; wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto Me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people. Thou shalt not delay to offer of the fulness of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep; seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me. And ye shall be holy men unto Me; therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="exe.22.1" class="versetxt"> If a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him. If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him--he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double. If a man cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution. If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. If a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith: 'This is it,' the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbour. If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep, and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it; the oath of the LORD shall be between them both, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn. And if a man borrow aught of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good; if it be a hireling, he loseth his hire. And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live. Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death. He that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed. And a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise--for if they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry-- My wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. If thou lend money to any of My people, even to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest. If thou at all take thy neighbour's garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him by that the sun goeth down; for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin; wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto Me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people. Thou shalt not delay to offer of the fulness of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep; seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me. And ye shall be holy men unto Me; therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
King James Version (1611)
And ye shall be holy men vnto me: neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beasts in the field: yee shall cast it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men vnto me: neither shall ye eate any flesh that is torne of beasts in the field: yee shall cast it to the dogs.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And ye shall be holy men to me; and ye shall not eat flesh taken of beasts, ye shall cast it to the dog.
And ye shall be holy men to me; and ye shall not eat flesh taken of beasts, ye shall cast it to the dog.
English Revised Version
And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ye schulen be holi men to me; ye schulen not ete fleisch which is bifore taastid of beestis, but ye schulen caste forth to houndis.
Ye schulen be holi men to me; ye schulen not ete fleisch which is bifore taastid of beestis, but ye schulen caste forth to houndis.
Young's Literal Translation
`And ye are holy men to Me, and flesh torn in the field ye do not eat, to a dog ye do cast it.
`And ye are holy men to Me, and flesh torn in the field ye do not eat, to a dog ye do cast it.
Update Bible Version
And you shall be holy men to me: therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.
And you shall be holy men to me: therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.
Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall be holy men to me: neither shall ye eat [any] flesh [that is] torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
And ye shall be holy men to me: neither shall ye eat [any] flesh [that is] torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
World English Bible
"You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
New King James Version
"And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
New Living Translation
"You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.
"You must be my holy people. Therefore, do not eat any animal that has been torn up and killed by wild animals. Throw it to the dogs.
New Life Bible
You will be holy men to Me. So you will not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field. You will throw it to the dogs.
You will be holy men to Me. So you will not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field. You will throw it to the dogs.
New Revised Standard
You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Holy men, therefore shall ye truly become to me, - and flesh in the field torn to pieces, shall ye not eat, to the dogs, shall ye cast it.
Holy men, therefore shall ye truly become to me, - and flesh in the field torn to pieces, shall ye not eat, to the dogs, shall ye cast it.
Douay-Rheims Bible
You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.
You shall be holy men to me: the flesh that beasts have tasted of before, you shall not eat, but shall cast it to the dogs.
Revised Standard Version
"You shall be men consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.
"You shall be men consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; you shall cast it to the dogs.
THE MESSAGE
"Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs."
"Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
"You shall be holy men to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Contextual Overview
25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him any interest. 26If you take your neighbor's cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset, 27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. 29You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons. 30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me. 31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
holy: Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6, Leviticus 11:45, Leviticus 19:2, Deuteronomy 14:21, 1 Peter 1:15, 1 Peter 1:16
neither: Leviticus 17:15, Leviticus 17:16, Leviticus 20:25, Leviticus 22:8, Deuteronomy 14:21, Ezekiel 4:14, Ezekiel 44:31, Acts 10:14, Acts 15:20
Reciprocal: Genesis 31:39 - torn of Leviticus 7:24 - beast Leviticus 11:40 - eateth Ezra 7:26 - whether it be Ezra 9:2 - the holy seed
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And ye shall be holy men unto me,.... They were so by God's act of election, not special and particular, but general and national; choosing and separating them to be an holy people to him, above all the people on the face of the earth, and in a ceremonial sense they observing laws and appointments of God of this kind; which is the sense here intended, as appears by what follows: all men, and so these Israelites, ought to be holy in a moral sense, and some are holy in a spiritual and evangelical sense, being made holy by the Spirit of God; of these the Apostle Peter speaks, in allusion to this, and such like passages, 1 Peter 2:9
neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; or in the house, as Jarchi notes; but the Scripture, as he observes, speaks of the place where it is more usual for beasts to tear, and so Aben Ezra; otherwise what is torn elsewhere, or by whatsoever accident it is bruised and maimed, was not to be eaten: ye shall cast it to the dogs: for even a stranger was not to eat of it, or if he did he was unclean, and was obliged to wash his clothes, and bathe himself,
Leviticus 17:15 and yet Jarchi interprets this figuratively of such as are like dogs, meaning the Gentiles, whom the Jews used to call so, see
Matthew 15:26. An Heathen poet gives instructions perfectly agreeable to this law;
"do not (says he) eat flesh fed upon by beasts, but leave the remains to the swift dogs o.''
o μηδε Ïι θηÏοβοÏον &c. Phocylides, ver. 136, 137.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The sanctification of the nation was emphatically symbolized by strictness of diet as regards both the kind of animal, and the mode of slaughtering. See Leviticus 11:0; Leviticus 17:0.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Exodus 22:31. Neither shall ye eat - flesh - torn of beasts in the field — This has been supposed to be an ordinance against eating flesh cut off the animal while alive, and so the Syriac seems to have understood it. If we can credit Mr. Bruce, this is a frequent custom in Abyssinia; but human nature revolts from it. The reason of the prohibition against eating the flesh of animals that had been torn, or as we term it worried in the field, appears to have been simply this: That the people might not eat the blood, which in this case must be coagulated in the flesh; and the blood, being the life of the beast, and emblematical of the blood of the covenant, was ever to be held sacred, and was prohibited from the days of Noah. Genesis 9:4.
IN the conclusion of this chapter we see the grand reason of all the ordinances and laws which it contains. No command was issued merely from the sovereignty of God. He gave them to the people as restraints on disorderly passions, and incentives to holiness; and hence he says, Ye shall be holy men unto me. Mere outward services could neither please him nor profit them; for from the very beginning of the world the end of the commandment was love out of a pure heart and good conscience, and faith unfeigned, 1 Timothy 1:5. And without these accompaniments no set of religious duties, however punctually performed, could be pleasing in the sight of that God who seeks truth in the inward parts, and in whose eyes the faith that worketh by love is alone valuable. A holy heart and a holy, useful life God invariably requires in all his worshippers. Reader, how standest thou in his sight?
