The term "cloven" is often associated with the concept of being divided or split into two parts. In the context of the Bible, it is most notably used to describe the appearance of tongues of fire during the event of Pentecost, as well as in the description of certain animals considered clean or unclean according to Mosaic Law.

Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

In the New Testament, the term "cloven" is used in the account of Pentecost in the Book of Acts. Acts 2:3 states, "They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." The word "cloven" here is often interpreted as "divided" or "distributed," indicating that the Holy Spirit manifested in a visible form that appeared to be split or divided among the disciples. This event marked the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit to empower His followers, signifying the birth of the Church and the beginning of its mission to spread the Gospel.

Clean and Unclean Animals

In the Old Testament, the concept of cloven hooves is significant in the dietary laws given to the Israelites. Leviticus 11:3 states, "You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud." The term "cloven" refers to animals with hooves that are split into two parts. Such animals were considered clean and permissible for consumption. This distinction was part of the broader Levitical code that set the Israelites apart from other nations, emphasizing holiness and obedience to God's commands.

The distinction between clean and unclean animals is reiterated in Deuteronomy 14:6 : "You may eat any animal that has hooves divided in two and that chews the cud." The cloven hoof, along with the characteristic of chewing the cud, served as a physical marker of animals that were acceptable for the Israelites to eat, symbolizing purity and separation from pagan practices.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

The imagery of cloven tongues of fire at Pentecost carries deep spiritual significance. Fire is often associated with God's presence, purification, and empowerment. The divided tongues symbolize the universality of the Gospel message, as the disciples were enabled to speak in various languages, reaching people from different nations and cultures. This event underscores the inclusivity of the Christian message and the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile.

In the context of dietary laws, the cloven hoof serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the importance of discernment in distinguishing between what is clean and unclean, both physically and spiritually. The physical characteristics of animals were used as teaching tools to instill principles of separation and dedication to God.

Overall, the concept of "cloven" in the Bible highlights themes of division and distinction, whether in the miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit or in the practical guidelines for living a life set apart for God.1. (p. p.) of Cleave.

2. (p. p. & a.) from Cleave, v. t.

CLOVEN

klo'-v'-n: In the Old Testament, represented by a participle from shaca, "to split," and applied to beasts that divide the hoof (Leviticus 11:3 Deuteronomy 14:7). Beasts with hoofs completely divided into two parts, that were also ruminant, were allowed the Israelites as food; see CUD; HOOF. In the New Testament, for diamerizomenai, in Acts 2:3 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "tongues parting asunder," i.e. "bifurcated flames." Another explanation found in the Revised Version, margin applies the word, not to tongues, but to the multitude, "parting among them," or "distributing themselves among them," settling upon the head of each disciple.

H. E. Jacobs

1266. diamerizo -- to distribute, to divide
... cloven, divided. From dia and merizo; to partition thoroughly (literally in
distribution, figuratively in dissension) -- cloven, divide, part. see GREEK dia. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1266.htm - 7k8156. shasa -- to divide, cleave
... cleave, be cloven footed, rend, stay. A primitive root; to split or tear; figuratively,
to upbraid -- cleave, (be) cloven ((footed)), rend, stay. 8155, 8156. ...
/hebrew/8156.htm - 6k

6541. parsah -- a hoof
... claw, cloven-footed, hoof. Feminine of perec; a claw or split hoof -- claw,
(cloven-)footed, hoof. see HEBREW perec. 6540, 6541. parsah. 6542 . ...
/hebrew/6541.htm - 6k

8157. shesa -- cleft
... Word Origin from shasa Definition cleft NASB Word Usage hoof (1). cleft,
cloven-footed. From shaca'; a fissure -- cleft, clovenfooted. see HEBREW shaca'. ...
/hebrew/8157.htm - 6k

The Cloven Rock
... The Cloven Rock. CPC Isaiah 32:2. In the great and terrible wilderness. I wandered
in thirst and dread; The burning sands were beneath my feet,. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the cloven rock.htm

The Holy Ghost Descended in the Shape of Cloven Tongues of Fire on ...
... [Way-1-114] The Holy Ghost descended in the shape of cloven tongues of
fire on the heads? The Holy Ghost descended in the shape ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-1-114 the holy ghost descended.htm

Spiritual Significance of the Precepts of Moses Respecting ...
... But Moses says still further, "Ye shall eat every animal that is cloven-footed and
ruminant." What does he mean? ... But what means the cloven-footed? ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter x spiritual significance of the.htm

The Anthropomorphites not So Bad as the Manich??ans.
... of Him as having boundless material extension, yet not in all directions, but with
three parts infinite and solid, while in one part He is cloven, with an ...
/.../chapter 23 name anthropomorphites not.htm

The Form of the Region of Light the Worse of the Two.
... And what an unseemly appearance is this of the region of light!"like a cloven arch,
with a black wedge inserted below, bounded only in the direction of the ...
/.../chapter 22 name form of.htm

The Creature is not So Taken by the Holy Spirit as Flesh is by the ...
... Accordingly, although that dove is called the Spirit; [249] and in speaking of that
fire, "There appeared unto them," he says, "cloven tongues, like as of fire ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 6 the creature is not.htm

The Fourfold Symbols of the Spirit
... 'Cloven tongues like as of fire.' ... ... II. And now a word as to the second of these
symbols"'Cloven tongues as of fire'"the fire of the Spirit. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the fourfold symbols of the.htm

Epistle Lxii. C??cilius, on the Sacrament of the Cup of the Lord.
... "If they shall thirst," he says, "He shall lead them through the deserts, shall
bring forth water for them out of the rock; the rock shall be cloven, and the ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxii caecilius on the.htm

John Chapter i. 32, 33
... was first a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, as we read in the Acts
of the Apostles, and "there appeared unto them," it says, "cloven tongues as ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate vi john chapter i.htm

Acts ii. 1, 2
... Nor is this all; but what is more awful still, "And there appeared unto them," it
says, "cloven tongues like as of fire." (v.3.) Observe how it is always ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily iv acts ii 1.htm

Cloven (12 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CLOVEN. ...Cloven (12 Occurrences). Acts 2:3 And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ...
/c/cloven.htm - 11k

Cloven-footed (3 Occurrences)
Cloven-footed. Clovenfooted, Cloven-footed. Club . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Alt. of Cloven-hoofed. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/cloven-footed.htm - 7k

Hoofs (18 Occurrences)
... Hoofs (18 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:3 Whatever hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite
split open, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts that shall ye eat. ...
/h/hoofs.htm - 12k

Cud (9 Occurrences)
... Many theories have been advanced as to the reasons for the distinctions
with regard to the chewing of the cud and the cloven hoof. ...
/c/cud.htm - 11k

Split (36 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Leviticus 11:3 Whatever hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite split open, and
cheweth the cud, among the beasts that shall ye eat. (DBY NAS NIV). ...
/s/split.htm - 19k

Hoof (11 Occurrences)
... A cleft hoof as of neat cattle (Exodus 10:26; Ezek. 32:13); hence also of the horse,
though not cloven (Isaiah 5:28). ... HOOF. hoof. See CHEW; CLOVEN. ...
/h/hoof.htm - 11k

Chew (5 Occurrences)
... Many theories have been advanced as to the reasons for the distinctions
with regard to the chewing of the cud and the cloven hoof. ...
/c/chew.htm - 9k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Leviticus 11:3 Whatever hath cloven hoofs, and feet quite split open,
and cheweth the cud, among the beasts that shall ye eat. (DBY). ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Cheweth (8 Occurrences)
... Cheweth (8 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is
cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. ...
/c/cheweth.htm - 8k

Chews (6 Occurrences)
... Chews (6 Occurrences). Leviticus 11:3 Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed,
and chews the cud among the animals, that you may eat. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/chews.htm - 8k

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Cloven: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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