Nevertheless 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.
However, you must not eat these animals that either chew the cud or have split hooves, but not both: the camel, the rabbit, and the rock badger. These animals chew the cud but don't have split hooves, so they are unclean for you to eat.
God is telling the Israelites that certain animals are off-limits for food because they don't meet both requirements of chewing cud AND having split hooves.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the dietary laws God gave to the Israelites through Moses as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. These food restrictions helped set Israel apart as God's chosen people and taught them principles of holiness and obedience. The specific animals mentioned were common in the ancient Near East and would have been familiar to the original audience.
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