Exodus 22:31
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Original Language Analysis
וְאַנְשֵׁי
H376
וְאַנְשֵׁי
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
1 of 12
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
And ye shall be holy
H6944
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
And ye shall be holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
2 of 12
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
תִּֽהְי֣וּן
H1961
תִּֽהְי֣וּן
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּבָשָׂ֨ר
any flesh
H1320
וּבָשָׂ֨ר
any flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
5 of 12
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
טְרֵפָה֙
that is torn of beasts
H2966
טְרֵפָה֙
that is torn of beasts
Strong's:
H2966
Word #:
7 of 12
prey, i.e., flocks devoured by animals
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֹאכֵ֔לוּ
unto me neither shall ye eat
H398
תֹאכֵ֔לוּ
unto me neither shall ye eat
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
9 of 12
to eat (literally or figuratively)
לַכֶּ֖לֶב
it to the dogs
H3611
לַכֶּ֖לֶב
it to the dogs
Strong's:
H3611
Word #:
10 of 12
a dog; hence (by euphemism) a male prostitute
Cross References
Ezekiel 4:14Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.Leviticus 19:2Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.Acts 15:20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.Deuteronomy 14:21Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.Ezekiel 44:31The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.Leviticus 22:8That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD.
Historical Context
Terefah (torn flesh) laws protected Israel from improperly slaughtered animals. In Christ, dietary laws are fulfilled (Mark 7:19, Acts 10:15), but the principle of holiness affecting daily choices continues.
Questions for Reflection
- How do dietary restrictions teach the principle that holiness affects all life areas?
- Although Christians aren't bound by Old Testament food laws, how does 1 Corinthians 10:31 apply the holiness principle?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
'Holy men' (אַנְשֵׁי־קֹדֶשׁ, anshei-qodesh)—set apart people. Holiness affects diet: don't eat torn flesh (טְרֵפָה, terefah, carrion). Why? It's impure—animals killed by predators likely have blood still in them, violating clean eating laws. 'Cast to dogs'—what's unfit for holy people is fit for animals. The principle: holiness extends to all life areas, including meals. Leviticus 11 expands dietary laws. Peter's vision (Acts 10:9-16) declares all foods clean—ceremonial laws fulfilled in Christ. But principle remains: holiness affects practical choices. 'Whether you eat or drink, do all for God's glory' (1 Corinthians 10:31).