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Read the Verse of the Day – Deuteronomy 14:6 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
Deuteronomy 14:6 is part of God’s instructions to the Israelites on how to live holy and separate lives. This verse speaks about animals that are clean and can be eaten. While it may seem like a simple dietary rule, it has deep meaning for believers today.
The Context of Deuteronomy 14:6 KJV
The Book of Deuteronomy
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It was written by Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy means “second law.” It is a retelling of the law that was given earlier in Exodus and Leviticus. The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, and Moses reminded them of God’s commandments before they crossed the Jordan River.
Israel’s Calling to Be Holy
In Deuteronomy 14, Moses emphasizes that Israel is a holy nation. God chose them to be His own special people. Because they belonged to God, they were not to follow the customs or diets of the pagan nations around them. Instead, they were to obey God’s laws, which included what they could and could not eat.
Verses 1-2 of the chapter set the tone:
“Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.
For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” (Deuteronomy 14:1-2 KJV)
Then Moses gives a list of animals that are clean (acceptable to eat) and unclean (not acceptable to eat). This list shows God’s concern for both physical health and spiritual holiness.
The Dietary Laws
These laws were not just for health reasons. They were spiritual symbols. By obeying them, the Israelites showed they trusted and followed God. They learned to be separate from worldly practices and focus on holy living.
This brings us to verse 6.
Deuteronomy 14:6 (KJV)
“And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.” — Deuteronomy 14:6, KJV
This verse is clear in its instruction. It gives a physical description of animals that are considered clean and therefore permitted to be eaten. But what does this really mean?
Deuteronomy 14:6 Meaning
Key Terms in the Verse
Let’s break down the key terms in this verse to understand it better.
“Beast”: This refers to land animals.
“Parteth the hoof”: This means the animal has a split or divided hoof.
“Cleft into two claws”: This further explains the divided hoof; the animal’s hoof is split in a certain way.
“Cheweth the cud”: This refers to animals that eat their food, partially digest it, then bring it back up to chew it again. This is called ruminating.
Animals That Qualify
According to this rule, clean animals must do both:
- Have a split hoof, and
- Chew the cud.
Some examples of animals that meet these two conditions are:
- Cows
- Sheep
- Goats
- Deer
These were acceptable to the Israelites as food.
Animals That Do Not Qualify
If an animal only met one condition, it was considered unclean. For example:
- The camel chews the cud but does not have a split hoof — unclean.
- The pig has a split hoof but does not chew the cud — unclean.
This two-fold requirement is very specific. It wasn’t just about being picky; it was about obeying God’s exact words.
Spiritual Symbolism
Though these instructions were about food, they symbolized something greater. The animals represent behavior and nature. God was teaching His people how to discern — how to separate the holy from the unholy, the clean from the unclean.
- Chewing the cud can represent meditation. A clean animal “thinks” deeply, in a sense, by chewing food again. This mirrors the believer who meditates on God’s Word.
- Split hooves may represent walking a straight and holy path — the “walk” of a believer.
So the physical characteristics of these animals pointed to spiritual lessons.
Deuteronomy 14:6 Application in Life
1. God Cares About Obedience
The Israelites were not told why each animal was clean or unclean. They were simply told to obey. This teaches us that God’s people must walk by faith. Obedience sometimes means doing something just because God said so.
Even today, we may not understand all of God’s commands. But we are still called to trust and obey Him. Jesus said:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 KJV)
2. The Call to Be Separate
As believers in Christ, we are also called to be holy and set apart. The dietary laws for Israel remind us that God wants His people to live differently from the world. This does not mean we follow the exact same food laws today, but it means we follow the principle of separation.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers… come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 6:14,17 KJV)
We must avoid sinful behavior and not copy the world’s ungodly ways.
3. Jesus Fulfilled the Law
In the New Testament, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:18-19). Peter also had a vision in Acts 10 where God told him not to call unclean what God has made clean. This means the food laws in Deuteronomy were symbolic and temporary.
But that does not mean Deuteronomy 14:6 is useless today. It still teaches important truths:
- God wants His people to obey.
- God makes distinctions between holy and unholy.
- God’s instructions are for our good.
4. Clean Living Still Matters
Even if the specific food rules don’t apply now, the spiritual principle remains. God wants us to be pure in heart and mind. Clean animals in Deuteronomy 14:6 show us a pattern: think on God’s Word (like chewing the cud), and walk in holiness (like the split hoof).
Paul wrote:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren… that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” (Romans 12:1 KJV)
We are called to purity. We should be careful about what we consume spiritually — the media we watch, the thoughts we allow, and the habits we form.
5. God’s Word Is Always Relevant
Deuteronomy 14:6 reminds us that no part of God’s Word is outdated. Even verses about animal traits can guide us in faith and life. They reveal God’s character — His order, His holiness, His attention to detail.
Paul said:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)
Yes, even Deuteronomy 14:6!
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 14:6 may seem like a simple verse about animal types, but it carries rich meaning. It teaches us about obedience, holiness, and living a life that pleases God. In the Old Testament, this verse helped the Israelites remember that they were chosen and set apart. In the New Testament, it reminds us to live clean and holy lives through Christ.
Though we are no longer under the dietary law, we are still called to spiritual purity. Just like clean animals had to both chew the cud and have a split hoof, Christians should both meditate on God’s Word and walk in His ways.
Let us learn from Deuteronomy 14:6. Let us be people who seek to please God in everything — in what we eat, think, do, and say. As God said to Israel, so He says to us through Christ:
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV)
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