Movatterモバイル変換

Leviticus 11:28,40
And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: theyare unclean unto you…

Leviticus 14:8
And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

Leviticus 15:5,7-11,13
And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathehimself in water, and be unclean until the even…

must wash his clothes
Washing clothes symbolizes purification and the removal of impurity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, washing was a common ritual for cleansing, both physically and spiritually. This act signifies a return to a state of purity and readiness to participate in community worship and activities. The requirement to wash clothes after contact with a carcass underscores the seriousness of maintaining holiness and the need for continual cleansing, which is a precursor to the New Testament teaching on spiritual cleansing through Christ.

and he will be unclean until evening
The state of being unclean until evening indicates a temporary period of impurity. This time frame allowed for reflection and acknowledgment of the need for purification. The evening marks the beginning of a new day in the Hebrew calendar, symbolizing renewal and restoration. This concept of temporary uncleanness points to the transient nature of sin's effects and foreshadows the ultimate cleansing and redemption found in Jesus Christ. The evening purification aligns with the biblical theme of light overcoming darkness, as seen in the creation narrative and fulfilled in the coming of Christ, the Light of the World.

Leviticus 11 lays out a detailed distinction between clean and unclean animals. Verses 24-28 explain how touching or moving a dead body of an unclean creature transmits impurity. Verse 25 focuses on the person who handles the carcass, highlighting God’s concern for holiness in every ordinary chore. Similar patterns appear inLeviticus 11:39-40 andNumbers 19:11-13, where contact with death requires purification.

• The command is universal—“whoever” includes priests, Levites, and laypeople alike (seeLeviticus 5:2-3).

• God levels the ground: no one is exempt from the call to purity (Romans 3:23 reminds us that all fall short).

• By naming the ordinary mover of a carcass, Scripture presses responsibility into daily life, not merely temple duties.

• “Their” points back to the specific unclean animals in 11:24-26—animals that move on paws.

• Death magnifies defilement; even a clean animal’s corpse brings impurity (Leviticus 11:39-40), but an unclean animal’s corpse does so emphatically (Deuteronomy 14:7-8).

• Handling death reminds Israel of the fall (Genesis 2:17;Romans 5:12). Each carcass is a tactile sermon: sin produces death.

• Washing symbolized removal of pollution (Leviticus 14:8-9;Numbers 19:19).

• The garment represents the whole person—what touches us must be cleansed.

•Hebrews 10:22 uses similar imagery for believers: “having our bodies washed with pure water,” pointing to the deeper cleansing Jesus provides.

• The impurity is temporary yet real. Evening resets the ceremonial clock (Leviticus 22:6-7).

• The waiting period teaches patience and respect for God’s timing (Psalm 130:5-6).

• Sundown also foreshadows rest: after darkness comes renewal (Mark 1:32-34 shows crowds waiting until sundown before approaching Jesus, honoring the law).

• Israel was to be “holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45).

• These rules created daily reminders of covenant identity and dependence on God for cleansing (Deuteronomy 23:14).

• Physical symbols trained the nation to recognize moral and spiritual purity.

• Animal carcasses and ritual washings looked ahead to a perfect, once-for-all cleansing (Hebrews 9:13-14).

• Jesus touched the dead and the unclean without becoming defiled (Luke 7:14-15), illustrating His power to reverse impurity.

• At the cross He bore our uncleanness so we could be presented “without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27).

• We still handle “carcasses” in the form of sinful habits, corrupt media, or toxic relationships. Scripture calls us to keep short accounts with the Lord (1 John 1:9).

• Practical steps:

– Regular confession and repentance

– Immersing ourselves in the Word (Psalm 119:9)

– Guarding associations (2 Corinthians 6:17)

• Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), so we pursue purity both inwardly and outwardly.

Leviticus 11:25 teaches that any Israelite who lifted the carcass of an unclean animal had to launder his clothes and remain ceremonially impure until nightfall. The rule underscored God’s absolute holiness, the defiling nature of death, and the need for cleansing. While the ceremonial aspect was temporary, the principle endures: contact with impurity requires deliberate washing, and true purification is fulfilled in Christ, who alone removes our uncleanness and enables us to live holy lives every day.

Ought of the carcase.--The uncleanness was contracted by not only carrying away the whole carcase, but by removing any portion of it. (SeeLeviticus 11:32.) The expressionoughtis represented in the original, and is rightly printed in the ordinary type of the text in the Authorised Version of 1611. The printing it in italics is an unauthorised innovation, though it is followed in theSpeaker's Commentary,which professes to give the text of 1611. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...