Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed: parts the hoof is misleading, since it appears to be synonymous with cloven-footed. A literal rendering is “which possess hoofs and which have a split (or, division) in the hoof.” According to some commentators, the twofold specification in Hebrew is intended, first, to separate animals with hoofs from those without, and secondly, to distinguish those with divided hoofs (like a cow) from those with undivided hoofs (like a horse). But the two may be summarized in a single statement, since those animals having divided hoofs obviously have hoofs. Well-known technical terms will be available to translators in some languages, while others will have to use descriptive phrases such as “with two-part feet” or “having feet that are separated.”

Chews the cud: literally “brings up the cud.” This refers to the habit of certain animals that have two or more stomachs and that bring food back up from the first stomach into the mouth to be chewed again. Although the ancient Jews were probably not familiar with the details of this complex physiological happening, they were certainly able to observe that some animals “brought their food back up” to be chewed again. The most obvious, visible aspect of this process is the rechewing of the food. Some languages may have technical terms that are widely understood and may be used in translating this idea. In others it will be necessary to resort to a descriptive phrase such as “who eat their food a second time” or “who bring their food up to be chewed again.”

Among the animals, you may eat: in many languages this constitutes unnecessary repetition of information found in the previous verse. Good News Translation, for example, omits it entirely.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .