Clean

Clean (טָהוֹר, tahor', καθαρός) and UNCLEAN (טָמֵא, tame', ἀκάθαρτος). These words are of frequent occurrence and obvious meaning in the sacred writings; but it is in their peculiar application, by the Mosaic law, to persons, animals, and things, that they are now to be considered. In order to partake of the privileges of the Jewish Church, and to engage acceptably in its outward worship, the individual must not only be circumcised, but he must bet ceremonially pure or clean; that is, he must be free from uncleanness. How the various kinds of uncleanness were contracted, what time it continued, and what was the process of purification, we find particularly described in Le 11-15; Nu 19. See PURIFICATION.

The division of animals into clean and unclean existed before the Flood (Ge 7:2), and was probably founded upon the practice of animal sacrifice. The regulations concerning clean and unclean animals are chiefly recorded in Leviticus, ch. 11, and Deuteronomy, ch. 14, where the following animals are pronounced unclean, and are consequently interdicted to be used as food:

(1.) Quadrupeds which do not ruminate, or which have uncloven feet.