And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.
Anyone who eats an animal that died naturally or was killed by wild animals—whether they are an Israelite or a foreigner living among you—must wash their clothes and bathe with water. They will be ceremonially unclean until evening, and then they will be clean again.
This verse teaches that eating animals that died naturally or were killed by wild beasts made a person ceremonially unclean, requiring washing and waiting until evening to be clean again.
📚 Historical Context
This law was given to the Israelites in the wilderness as part of God's instructions for holy living and proper food handling. In ancient times, animals that died naturally or were killed by predators could carry diseases or have blood that wasn't properly drained, making them unsafe to eat. The ceremonial cleansing rituals helped maintain both physical health and spiritual purity within the community.
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