Leviticus 11:26 (KJV)

Passage

The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

Nearby Context

Leviticus 11:24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Leviticus 11:26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

Leviticus 11:27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

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

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "carcases", "beast", "divideth", "hoof", "clovenfooted", "cheweth", "unclean", and "toucheth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "carcases" and "beast", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 25's "And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase..." into verse 27's "And whatsoever goeth upon his paws among...", so "carcases" and "beast" belong inside that flow. In Leviticus context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "carcases" and "beast" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.