Why the Torah Bends Its Words to Avoid Naming the Unclean

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Chukat 6:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of "This is the statute of the Torah" (Numbers 19:2): "The sayings of the LORD are pure sayings" (Psalms 12:7). Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: We find that the Torah went out of its way to bend two or three words in the Torah, so as not to bring forth a word of uncleanness from its mouth, as it is said: "Of every clean beast you shall take to yourself seven by seven, the male and his female; and of the beast that is not clean, by two" (Genesis 7:2). And it is not written, "of the unclean beast." Rabbi Yudan said: When it came to begin with the signs of an unclean beast, it did not begin except with the signs of cleanness. It is not written here, "The camel, because it does not divide the hoof"; rather, "because it chews the cud" (Leviticus 11:4). [And "the hare, because it does not divide the hoof" is not written here; rather, "because it chews the cud" (Leviticus 11:6). "The swine, because it does not chew the cud" is not written here; rather, "because it divides the hoof" (Leviticus 11:7).]

Themes

NoahTorahTribesHeresyAnimals

Biblical References

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