Compiled and written by Jonathan W.

Lankford

http://jonathansdocs.com

Living in purity:
The laws of clean and unclean food
Biblical cleanliness is not just limited to food. Biblical cleanliness, especially
regarding food, involves spiritual cleanliness and physical cleanliness. Spiritual
cleanliness means abstaining from ways in which other people worship their gods.
Physical cleanliness means abstaining from things that harm the physical body.
According to Scripture, worshipping Yehovah in ways that pagans worship their
gods is sin:
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the
temple of the living God; just as God said, I will dwell in them and walk
among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17
Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord.
And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. (2 Corinthians
6:16-17; cf. Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 36:27)
16

And eating things, or doing anything, that harms the body is sin:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is
in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For
you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
(1Corinthians 6:19-20)
19

Adams
covenant
No animals
eaten

Modern churchs view of the Law

Noahs
Abrahams
Moses
Jesus
covenant
covenant
covenant
covenant
Clean
All
All animals
All animals
animals
animals
eaten
eaten
eaten
eaten

Future
Kingdom
?

Original view of the Law

Yehovahs covenant with all people
Vegetables or clean animals eaten for all time
English
Adjective: clean, pure
Adjective: unclean, impure
Noun: uncleanness, impurity
Noun: common, shared; clean
according to custom rather than law

Hebrew
( tahor)
( tame)
( tumah)
( cheber)

Greek
(katharos)
(akathartos)
(akatharsia)
(koinos)

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References to clean and unclean food

Genesis 2:9, 16-17 The original diet included fruit from trees.
Out of the ground Yehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the
sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the
tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yehovah God commanded the man, saying,
From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of knowledge
of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely
die.
Genesis 3:21, 4:4 Clean animals were used for clothing and sacrifice
even before Moses.
Yehovah God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.
Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.
And Yehovah had regard for Abel and his offering.
Yasher 2:26-27 People hunted for food and ate meat.
26
Lamech was very old and could not see much, and Tubal Cain his son was very
young lad.
27
And Tubal Cain told his father to draw his bow, and Lamech drew his bow, and
with the arrows he smote Cain, who was yet far off, and he slew him, for he
appeared to them to be an animal.
Genesis 7:2-4 Noah knew the difference between clean and unclean
animals even before Moses.
2
You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female;
and of the animals that are not clean two, a male and his female;
3
also of the birds of the sky, by sevens, male and female, to keep offspring alive
on the face of all the earth.
4
For after seven more days, I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty
nights; and I will blot out from the face of the land every living thing that I have
made.
Genesis 9:3-4 Eating blood was prohibited even before Moses.
3
Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave
the green plant.
4
Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 The Law clearly defines clean animals.
Leviticus 11:43-47 Holiness is connected to diet.
43
and you shall not make yourselves unclean [akathartos] with them so that
you become unclean [akathartos].
44
For I am Yehovah your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for
I am holy

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For I am Yehovah who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God;
thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.
46
This is the law regarding the animal and the bird, and every living thing that
moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth,
47
to make a distinction between the unclean [akathartos] and the clean
[kathartos], and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be
eaten.
45

Leviticus 3:17 - Animal fat and blood are not food.

It is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you
shall not eat any fat or any blood.
Leviticus 7:22-27 Animal fat can be used for different purposes but not
for food. Blood is not food.
22
Then Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
23
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, You shall not eat any fat from an ox, a
sheep or a goat.
24
Also the fat of an animal which dies and the fat of an animal torn by beasts
may be put to any other use, but you must certainly not eat it.
25
For whoever eats the fat of the animal from which an offering by fire is offered
to Yehovah, even the person who eats shall be cut off from his people.
26
You are not to eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your dwellings.
27
Any person who eats any blood, even that person shall be cut off from his
people.
Deuteronomy 12:16; 15:23 Animals blood must drain from the body.
Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out on the ground like water.
Deuteronomy 14:23-25 Animals blood must drain from the body.
23
Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat
the life with the flesh.
24
You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.
25
You shall not eat it, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you,
for you will be doing what is right in the sight of Yehovah.
Judges 13 In a nation [Israel] that was rebellious against Gods Law,
Samsons mother ate no unclean thing during her pregnancy.
3
Then the angel of Yehovah appeared to the woman and said to her, Behold
now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give
birth to a son.
4
Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean
[akathartos] thing.
5
For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come
upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall
begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.

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Psalm 16:4 Drinking blood is part of pagan religion.

The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall
not pour out their drink offerings of blood, nor will I take their names upon my
lips.
Isaiah 65:3-4 Eating unclean animals is part of pagan religion.
A people who continually provoke Me to My face, offering sacrifices in gardens and
burning incense on bricks; who sit among graves and spend the night in secret
places; who eat swines flesh, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.
Isaiah 66:16-17 Unclean animals are still unclean in the future kingdom
of Yehovah.
For Yehovah will execute judgment by fire and by His sword on all flesh,
and those slain by Yehovah will be many. Those who sanctify and purify
themselves to go to the gardens, following one in the center, who eat swines
flesh, detestable things and mice, will come to an end altogether, declares
Yehovah.
Daniel 1 Daniel refused unclean food and found favor with God and men.
8
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's
choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the
commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
9
Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander
of the officials.
Luke 11 Yeshua made a distinction between what is clean and unclean.
9
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you.
10
For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who
knocks, it will be opened.
11
Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give
him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
12
Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?
13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

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Acts 15:19-21 - The beginning of obedience for non-Jewish people is

abstaining from idolatry, abstaining from eating animals not drained of
blood, abstaining from drinking blood, and learning about the true Law
every Sabbath.
19
Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to
God from among the Gentiles,
20
but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols
and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.
21
For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him,
since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.
1 Corinthians 10:7 (cf. Exodus 32:6) Food and drink associated with
idols is unclean, as is clear in the story in Exodus.
Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down
to eat and drink, and stoop up to play.
2 Corinthians 6:17 (cf. Isaiah 52:11) Idolatry is unclean.
Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do
not touch what is unclean [akathartos], and I will welcome you.
2 Corinthians 12:21 Paul encouraged sanctification and cleanliness.
I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I
may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of
the impurity [akatharsia], immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.
Galatians 5:19 Paul considered general uncleanness to be sin.
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity
[akatharsia], sensuality
Ephesians 5:3 Paul considered general uncleanness to be wrong.
But immorality or any impurity [akatharsia] or greed must not even be named
among you, as is proper among saints.
Ephesians 5:5 People who practice general uncleanness will not receive
the reward of the Kingdom of God.
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure [akathartos] person
or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God.
Colossians 3 Paul taught abstaining from general uncleanness.
5
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality,
impurity [akatharsia], passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
6
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons
of disobedience,
7
and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

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1 Thessalonians 4 Paul confirmed that God wants people to be clean.

7
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity [akatharsia], but in
sanctification.
8
So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy
Spirit to you.
1 Peter 1:15-16 Peter quoted from the law regarding clean animals.
15
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your
behavior;
16
because it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Revelation 18:2 (my translation according to M-02A from the
Alexandrinus Codex) Unclean animals still exist in the future.
And he cried out in a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great
one; and she became a dwelling place of demons, and a prison of every unclean
[akathartos] and hateful spirit, and a prison of every unclean [akathartos] and
hateful animal.
Revelation 21:27 - Things of common use and not sanctified will not be
allowed in the future kingdom.
And nothing unclean [koinos], and no one who practices abomination and lying,
shall ever come into it [the New Jerusalem], but only those whose names are
written in the Lamb's book of life.

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Historical evidence for keeping the laws of cleanliness

Irenaeus of the 2nd century teaches life application from the laws of
cleanliness:
Now the law has figuratively predicted all these, delineating man by the
[various] animals: whatsoever of these, says [the Scripture], have a double
hoof and ruminate, it proclaims as clean; but whatsoever of them do not
possess one or other of these [properties], it sets aside by themselves as
unclean. Who then are the clean? Those who make their way by faith
steadily towards the Father and the Son; for this is denoted by the
steadiness of those which divide the hoof; and they meditate day and night
upon the words of God, that they may be adorned with good works: for this
is the meaning of the ruminants. The unclean, however, are those which do
neither divide the hoof nor ruminate; that is, those persons who have
neither faith in God, nor do meditate on His words: and such is the
abomination of the Gentiles. But as to those animals which do indeed chew
the cud, but have not the double hoof, and are themselves unclean, we
have in them a figurative description of the Jews, who certainly have the
words of God in their mouth, but who do not fix their rooted steadfastness
in the Father and in the Son; wherefore they are an unstable generation.
For those animals which have the hoof all in one piece easily slip; but those
which have it divided are more sure-footed, their cleft hoofs succeeding
each other as they advance, and the one hoof supporting the other. In like
manner, too, those are unclean which have the double hoof but do not
ruminate: this is plainly an indication of all heretics, and of those who do
not meditate on the words of God, neither are adorned with works of
righteousness; to whom also the Lord says, Why do you call Me Lord, Lord,
and do not the things which I say to you? For men of this stamp do indeed
say that they believe in the Father and the Son, but they never meditate as
they should upon the things of God, neither are they adorned with works of
righteousness; but, as I have already observed, they have adopted the lives
of swine and of dogs, giving themselves over to filthiness, to gluttony, and
recklessness of all sorts. Justly, therefore, did the apostle call all such carnal
and animal, [all those, namely], who through their own unbelief and
luxury do not receive the Divine Spirit, and in their various phases cast out
from themselves the life-giving Word, and walk stupidly after their own
lusts: the prophets, too, spoke of them as beasts of burden and wild beasts;
custom likewise has viewed them in the light of cattle and irrational
creatures; and the law has pronounced them unclean.
Ratton (1915) states:
The early church at Jerusalem, retained most of the distinctive customs of
the Jews, such as circumcision, kosher meats, the Jewish Sabbath, the
Jewish rites, and the worship of the Temple. Our Lord, Himself, lived the
exterior life of a Jew, even so far as the observance of Jewish religious

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customs was concerned. The early Church of Jerusalem followed His

example. The Jews looked upon the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem simply
as a Jewish sect, which they called the sect of the Nazarenes. Tertullus,
pleading before Felix, the Governor, described S. Paul as the author of the
sedition of the sect of the Nazarenes [Acts 24:5]. S. John was a leader of
the Nazarenes. He is said by Polycrates to have worn the pe,ta/lon or
sacerdotal headpiece of a high priest. It was a plate of the finest gold having
engraved on it, The Holy of Yehovah [Exodus 39:29]. This shows his
position in the Nazarene Church, and the Jewish complexion of that Church.
(p. 4)
Lopes (1997) states that the Catholic Church abolished Gods laws:
13. ELEUTHERIUS, ST. [175-189] Born at Nicopolis in Epirus, he was a
disciple of Pope Anicetus...He dispensed with the obligations of Christians
to follow several dietary laws of Judaic origin. (p. 5)

Misunderstood New Testament verses

Matthew 15:1-11 (cf. Mark 7:19) The topic is not about the laws of
Biblically clean or unclean meat. Yeshua rejected the tradition of washing
hands and emphasized the Law of honoring parents; dirt does not make
someone unclean, but disobedience to the Law makes someone unclean.
1
Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Yehovah from Jerusalem and said,
2
Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash
their hands when they eat bread.
3
And He answered and said to them, Why do you yourselves transgress the
commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
4
For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, He who speaks evil of father
or mother is to be put to death.
5
But you say, Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever I have that
would help you has been given to God,
6
he is not to honor his father or his mother. And by this you invalidated the word
of God for the sake of your tradition.
7
You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
8
This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.
9
But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.
10
After Yehovah called the crowd to Him, He said to them, Hear and understand.
11
It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds
out of the mouth, this defiles the man.

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Mark 7:19 The Catholic and Protestant ecumenical publication societies

changed the words of the Bible to deceive people into thinking the Law
regarding food has been abolished.
The modern New
American Standard Bible
adds a whole sentence.
The traditional King
James Version is right.
The Greek New
Testament UBS 4th
Edition and my
translation are clear.

because it does not go into his heart, but into his

stomach, and is eliminated? (Thus He declared all
foods clean.)
Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the
belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all
meats?



Because it does not enter into his heart but into his
stomach and goes out of the drain, purging all food.

Acts 10 The topic is not about the laws of Biblically clean or unclean
meat. Peters vision and the interpretation: All faithful people are equally
clean. Also, the Jewish tradition of separating from non-Jewish people
has been abolished. This tradition is not in the Law of Yehovah.
9
On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went
up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
10
But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making
preparations, he fell into a trance;
11
and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down,
lowered by four corners to the ground,
12
and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of
the earth and birds of the air.
13
A voice came to him, Get up, Peter, kill and eat!
14
But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy
[koinos] and unclean [akathartos].
15
Again a voice came to him a second time, What God has cleansed, no longer
consider unholy.
16
This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the
sky.
17
Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he
had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked
directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;
24
On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them
and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
26
But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I too am just a man.
27
As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.

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And he said to them, You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is
a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that
I should not call any man unholy [koinos] or unclean [akathartos].
29
That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for.
So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.
34
Opening his mouth, Peter said: I most certainly understand now that God is
not one to show partiality,
35
but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome
to Him.
28

Acts 15 - The topic is not about true conversion and repentance to the
Biblical Law of Moses, but the topic is about conversion according to the
Pharisees and submission to the Oral Law of the Pharisees.
Silberburg (2009) wrote:
The Torah has two parts: The "Torah Shebichtav" (Written Law), which is
composed of the twenty-four books of the Tanach, and the "Torah Sheba'al
Peh" (Oral Law).... Originally the Oral Law was not transcribed. Instead it
was transmitted from father to son and from teacher to disciple (thus the
name "Oral" Law).... Until the end of the Talmudic Era (approx. 1500 years
ago) there was a central rabbinic authority which issued gezayrot (edicts)
which were accepted by all the Jews.
Eisen (2004) wrote:
Rabbi Judah HaNasi was the compiler of the Mishnah and the last of the
Tannaim (i.e. sages).... Before the times of Rabbi, it was forbidden to write
a public record of the Oral Law, although notes for private use were
permitted.... Over a period of many years, each subject was painstakingly
analyzed, with legislation left undecided from previous generations written
into law and incorporated into the Mishnah.... Rabbi concluded the Mishnah
in 190 CE.
Romans 14:1-6 The topic is not about the laws of Biblically clean or
unclean meat. The topic is about not judging another person for being a
vegetarian or having fasting days, and not judging a person on things not
in the Law or on things that are merely opinions.
1
Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing
judgment on his opinions.
2
One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats
vegetables only.
3
The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and
the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted
him.
4
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or
falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

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One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.
Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
6
He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for
the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does
not eat, and gives thanks to God.
14
I know and am convinced in the Lord Yeshua that nothing is unclean [koinos]
in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean [koinos], to him it is unclean
[koinos].
5

1 Timothy 4:1-5 - The topic is not about the laws of Biblically clean or
unclean meat. Paul warned about false teachers from demons that teach
things contrary to the Law. He also stated that all food is good with two
conditions: (1) the Word of God permits it and (2) Yehovah is credited for
the provision.
1
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith,
paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
2
by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a
branding iron,
3
men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has
created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
4
For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is
received with gratitude;
5
for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
Titus 1:10-16 - Paul warned against men who teach the tradition/custom
that non-Jews are unclean.
10
For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially
those of the circumcision,
11
who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching
things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
12
One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, lazy gluttons.
13
This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may
be sound in the faith,
14
not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn
away from the truth.
15
To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving,
nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
16
They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable
and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

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Final verses to consider

Deuteronomy 4:2
You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from
it, that you may keep the commandments of Yehovah your God which I command
you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take
away from it.
Psalm 119:151-152
151
You are near, O Yehovah, and all Your commandments are truth.
152
Of old I have known from Your testimonies that You have founded them
forever.
Psalm 119:172-175
172
Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are
righteousness.
173
Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174
I long for Your salvation, O Yehovah, and Your law is my delight.
175
Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.
Isaiah 43:10-11
10
You are My witnesses, declares Yehovah, and My servant whom I have
chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.
11
"I, even I, am Yehovah, and there is no savior besides Me.
1 Peter 1:22-25
22
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love
of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
23
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable,
that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
24
For, All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of grass. The grass
withers, and the flower falls off,
25
but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which was
preached to you.

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References
Eisen, Yosef. (2004). Miraculous journey. Targum Press, Inc. and Feldheim
Publishers. Retrieved from
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2714790/jewish/TheCompilation-of-the-Mishnah.htm
Irenaeus. (trans. 1885). Against Heresies. In Roberts, Alexander & Donaldson,
James (Eds.), Ante-Nicene Fathers (Book 5, chapter 8:4].
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103508.htm
Lopes, Antonino. (1997). The Popes: The lives of the pontiffs through 2000
years of history. Rome: Futura Edizoni.
Ratton, James J. L. (1915). The apocalypse of St. John: A commentary on the
Greek New Testament (2nd ed.). London: R & T Washbourne, Ltd.
Silberberg, Naftali. (2009). What is the Oral Torah? Retrieved from
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/812102/jewish/What-isthe-Oral-Torah.htm

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible (1995) and
the King James Version (public domain).

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