A cleft hoof as of neat cattle (Ex. 10:26; Ezek. 32:13); hence also of the horse, though not cloven (Isa. 5:28). The “parting of the hoof” is one of the distinctions between clean and unclean animals (Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:7).
Hoof
Why would a hoof decide what may be eaten? Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 give one simple test for land animals: the one that “parteth the hoof” and “cheweth the cud” is allowed, and both marks are needed. The camel and the hare chew the cud but do not divide the hoof. The swine “divide the hoof” yet “cheweth not the cud.” Each is called unclean. Deuteronomy adds a list of animals that may be eaten, among them the ox, the sheep and the goat. The passages give the rule and do not explain the reason, and Christians differ on how these food laws apply today. Leviticus 11 is the fuller version.
12 verses
Leviticus
Leviticus 11:3
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
Leviticus 11:4
Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Leviticus 11:5
And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Leviticus 11:6
And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
Leviticus 11:7
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.
Leviticus 11:8
Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.
Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 14:3
Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
Deuteronomy 14:4
These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
Deuteronomy 14:5
The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.
Deuteronomy 14:6
And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.
Deuteronomy 14:7
Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.
Deuteronomy 14:8
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
From Easton's Bible Dictionary
Matthew George Easton, 1897