And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided into two parts and also chews its cud.
This verse gives God's people clear rules about which animals they can eat - specifically those that both have split hooves and chew cud.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the dietary laws God gave to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. These laws helped distinguish them as God's chosen people and set them apart from surrounding nations. The specific requirements (split hooves AND chewing cud) meant animals like cattle, sheep, and deer were acceptable, while pigs (split hooves but don't chew cud) and camels (chew cud but don't have split hooves) were forbidden.
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