Leviticus 11:44–45
The call is repeated: be holy, for I am holy
Study it word by word44For I am YHWH your Elohim; sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy. And do not make yourselves unclean with any swarming thing that creeps on the earth.
45For I am YHWH who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your Elohim; so you shall be holy, for I am holy.”
In its context
42Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or even whatever has many feet, among all the swarming things that swarm on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are a detestable thing.
43Do not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and do not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean by them.
…
46This is the instruction for the beasts, and the birds, and every living being that moves in the waters, and for every being that swarms on the earth,
47to separate the unclean from the clean, and the animal that may be eaten from the animal that may not be eaten.
Its words in the original
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- אֱלֹהֵיelohe· Elohim, God, gods
The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.
- הִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּםhitkadishtem· consecrate, be holy
Set something apart for God, declare it holy; be holy. God set apart the seventh day as a day different from the others.
- הְיִיתֶםheyitem· be, become, happen
Be, exist; also "become" or "happen". It is the verb of "there was", "it was" and "it came to pass".
- קְדֹשִׁיםkedoshim· holy, Holy One
Holy: set apart for God, different from what is common. As a noun, "the Holy One" (God) or holy ones.
- תְטַמְּאוּtetamu· be unclean, defile
Make unclean, defile; be unclean. Said of a woman, dishonor her.
- נַפְשֹׁתֵיnafshote· soul, living being, life
A breathing being, a living being. It is translated "living being" (people and animals), "life" (when living or dying is at stake), "person" (in counts and laws), "soul" (the person at the innermost: desires, joy, anguish) or "myself". In the Old Testament it names the whole living being, not only a part of it.
- שֶּׁרֶץsherets· swarming things
A swarm of small animals that move in great numbers: fish, insects, small reptiles.
- רֹמֵשׂromes· creep, move
Move along the ground or glide: creep, crawl. It is said of small land animals and also of those that move in the water.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- מַּעֲלֶהmaale· go up, offer up
Go up, ascend, climb. It is also used for "offering" a sacrifice (making it go up), and for coming up from Egypt.
- מִצְרַיִםmitsrayim· Egypt, Mizraim
Mizraim, the Hebrew name of Egypt; also the Egyptians. As a person, a son of Ham, ancestor of the Egyptians.