Cloven
TextsWhat is the meaning of Cloven in the Bible?
The term cloven refers to animals possessing split hooves, a physical characteristic required for ritual purity and consumption under Mosaic dietary laws, and is used in the New Testament to describe the divided tongues of fire that appeared at Pentecost.
TEXTUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the definition of cloven hooves clarifies the specific biological criteria for clean and unclean animals in Levitical law, while understanding the imagery of divided tongues aids in interpreting the symbolic manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Manuscript & Literary Context: Notice how Cloven functions as an authoritative historical witness connecting earlier prophetic promises with scripture's broader fulfillment.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Cloven in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Cloven clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Cloven." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/cloven/