Leviticus 11:45

brought you up out of the land of Egypt: This phrase or a similar one appears often in the first five books of the Bible (see Leviticus 19:36; 22:33; 25:38; 26:13; Exodus 13:9; 20:2; Numbers 15:41; Deuteronomy 4:37). Each time, it reminds the Israelites, God's chosen people, of God's great act of freeing them from Egypt. Other verses in the Old Testament often mention the exodus event (Psalms 80:8; 106:21; Isaiah 11:16; Jeremiah 34:13; Hosea 12:9; 13:4; Amos 2:10).

• I am the LORD your God: See study note on Leviticus 18:2.

• be holy, because I am holy: These words express the main theme of Leviticus: God is holy. They must consider and treat God as holy. God expects holiness from his people (Leviticus 10:3; 19:2). This verse teaches that God's character influences those who make a covenant with him (see also 11:45; 20:7, 26; 21:8, 15; 22:9, 16, 32). They must become holy in their actions (Exodus 22:31; Deuteronomy 28:9; compare 1 Peter 1:16).

These chapters explain the rules about purity. Mixing different types of animals was forbidden (see Deuteronomy 22:9–11). This is because it opposed God's natural order. Creatures like fish without fins and scales, meat-eating animals, crawling insects, and animals without split hooves were considered "abnormal." They crossed the boundaries between "normal" types and were not suitable for food or offerings (see also Deuteronomy 14:1–21). The dietary laws intended to set Israel apart as a holy people from other nations (Leviticus 11:44–45).