Swine: the Hebrew term used here refers to the wild pig, since domesticated pigs as we know them today are a relatively recent development resulting from genetic selection and crossbreeding. This animal is singled out perhaps because swine were considered especially offensive and to be avoided at all cost. It is the prime example (but not the only one) of an animal to be avoided because, although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. Note that this is just the opposite of the category forbidden in verses 4-6. In some languages one may wish to say “although they have divided hoofs, they do not chew the cud” or “in spite of the fact that they have divided hoofs….”

Is unclean to you: see verses 5-6 above.

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 .