Parts the hoof and has the hoof cloven: this is a double description of the same feature; it means simply “[any animal that] has cloven [or, divided] hoofs.” In cultures where animals like this are unknown, we may use a descriptive phrase; for example, “having feet that are separated [or, split] in the middle,” or “with feet that have two parts.”

And chews the cud: in order to be considered clean, that is, fit to be eaten, an animal had to fit both of these descriptions: it had to have cloven hoofs and had to chew the cud. As verses 7 and 8 show, if an animal displayed only one of these characteristics, then it could not be eaten. Chewing the cud is part of the digestion process in certain animals that have more than one stomach. Such animals can bring up the food from their stomachs in order to chew it again. Some languages will have technical terms for this activity, but in others a descriptive phrase may be used; for example, “animals who chew their food a second time” or “animals that bring up their food and chew it again.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .