Yehovah states several times that there was to be a difference, a distinguishing, between the holy and unholy and between the clean and the unclean. In another study we looked at an area of the holy and the unholy. In this study we will look at one of the areas we are told to make a difference in, between the unclean and the clean. [Note: The King James Version of the Bible uses the word LORD, spelled with all capital letters, for the name of the Creator. His Holy personal name has been hidden for the most part. Recent scholarship shows that His name is Yehovah, the emphasis being on the “vah.” In this study I will use Yehovah rather than LORD. We will cover more on this subject in another study.]
Yehovah instructed the priests and Levites, whose job it was to teach the people, to clearly make a difference between the holy and the unholy and between the clean and unclean. We read over in the book of Ezekiel that they had not always done their job. Notice, Ezekiel 22:26, “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean,...” Sadly, there are many today whose job it is to teach and show the difference between what is holy and unholy and what is clean and unclean who have also not done so. We read over a few chapters in the book of Ezekiel that there is a time coming when Yehovah’s priest will teach those differences. Let us read Ezekiel 44:23. “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
We need not wait until that time. Yehovah is opening to many His wonderful and glorious truths from the Scriptures. We can begin to “put difference” between the unclean and the clean. Yehovah tells us what He considers clean and pure and also, what is an abomination, detestable and repulsive. The entire subject of clean and unclean will need a much longer study but for this study we will be looking at the particular clean and unclean as it pertains to meats.
Most people have heard of those that abstain from eating pork or shell fish or other meats. Often those who follow the Biblical guidelines as to what meats are to be eaten or not eaten are thought by many to be following those old “Jewish laws.” Some will attempt to tell us that we no longer have to follow the Old Testament restrictions because “Jesus declared all meats clean.” Others will point to Peter’s vision to try to show that those meats which were declared in Leviticus and Deuteronomy to be unclean have all now been made clean. Just what is the truth of Scripture?
In this study we will look at both the Old Testament and the New Testament and see what it truly says. We will look at what Yehovah taught in the Old Testament and what Yeshua and the Apostles taught in the New Testament. In this study we will “show the difference between the clean and the unclean.”
We have already referred to Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Let us begin our study by turning to Leviticus chapter 11. Verse 1 and 2, “And Yehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.” Following these two verse are spelled out which animals “ye shall eat” and also “these shall ye not eat...” In Deuteronomy 14 Moses rehearses the commandment of Yehovah concerning what meats were to be eaten and which ones were to be avoided just prior to the Israelites crossing into the promise land. We will look at these chapters in more detail a bit later in this study.
A question we need to answer is this, “Are these instructions in Leviticus concerning clean and unclean meats the first time they are ever mentioned?” No, this is not the first time clean and unclean meats are mentioned. Let us go back in Scripture and notice where this subject is mentioned.
We are all familiar with the story of the flood of Noah’s time. Most of us have heard the story since childhood of Noah taking all the animals into the ark by twos. Notice this in Genesis 6:20, “Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.” But, let us keep reading the story. Chapter 7 and verse 2, “Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, (Young’s Literal Bible and others has “seven pairs”) the male and his female: and of beast that are not clean by two, the male and his female.” Here we find many, many years before the time of Moses it was known which beasts were clean and which ones were unclean.
We will look at a couple of other accounts that, although it doesn’t specifically say “clean and unclean,” is quite clear that there was a difference. First, let us look at the story of Cain and Abel we have all heard and read. Genesis 4:2 “...And Abel was a keeper of sheep,...” Verse 4 says he “brought the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” As we look at this a bit more in depth keep in mind that Yehovah tells us that He doesn’t change. (Mal. 3:6) Yeshua (the Hebrew name for the savior, that we know as Jesus in most of our English Bibles) we are told is “the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8)
The account in the book of Genesis tells us that Abel was a keeper of sheep. He wasn’t raising hogs, but was a keeper of sheep. The Hebrew for the word keeper is ra’ah, Strong’s number 07462. It is most often translated “feed” and “shepherd.” It is defined as “to pasture, tend, graze, feed.” So, we are told that Abel is feeding, tending, pasturing sheep. Why do you suppose that is? As we keep reading in the account we find that both Cain and his brother Abel brought offerings to Yehovah. For the moment let us specifically look at Abel’s offering, verse 4. “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” We find nothing written here in Genesis about “firstlings” and about offering “the fat.” For Abel to do so I believe very strongly that Yehovah had given that instruction to Adam, Eve and their children. When we find the various laws regarding offerings and sacrifices that were commanded of the Israelite and written down by Moses we find the details. Keep in mind, that since Yehovah doesn’t change, the same commands would have been given to our first parents and were well known to Abel.
Before we look at some of those commands let us notice the Hebrew words translated “firstlings,” and “firstborn.” These two words are synonyms. In Genesis 4:4, where we have been reading the word “firstlings” is from the Hebrew word bek-o-raw’, Strong’s number 01062 and is from number 01060, bekowr. A third word that appears in some passages is peh-ter, Strong’s number 06363. The definition is the same, “firstborn, firstling.”
We find much concerning the offerings of the firstborn or firstlings in Exodus 13, Numbers 3 and Numbers 18. We will look at a few verses in Numbers 18 beginning with verse 15 and continuing through verse18. “Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto Yehovah, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: (this whole passage is addressed to Aaron and his sons, the priests) nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto Yehovah. And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.”
Now, back to the story of Abel and his offering. Yehovah, who does not change, would NOT have accepted Abel’s offering IF it had not been of the sheep, goats or cattle. Abel knew what was acceptable. He knew the difference between the clean and the unclean. And, he also knew how to make the offering of the firstborn, the firstlings. We read that he “brought of the firstlings of his flock and (take particular notice) of the fat thereof. The offering of the firstlings was not to be a total burnt offering but it was the fat that was to be burnt as a sweet savor to Yehovah.
Now, where did Abel learn all of this? As I mentioned before, it had to have been given to his parents and thus on to him by Yehovah. Is there any indication of this happening? I do believe so.
We have all heard and probably read the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. They disobeyed their only parent, Yehovah. Their eyes were opened, it says, and they knew they were naked. After Yehovah pronounced a curse upon the serpent and also upon Adam and Eve let us notice what He did. Genesis 3:22, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did Yehovah Elohim make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Have we ever considered this passage? The man and woman had “known” they were naked and had made themselves “aprons” or some type of garments to clothe themselves from fig leaves. Wasn’t this sufficient? And, since Yehovah chose to clothe them why did He not make them garments from linen or cotton? Why skins?
Let me call to your attention what we are told over in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 22, last part of the verse especially, “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Adam and Eve had sinned. Yehovah is merciful. He was willing to forgive them, just as He forgives us when we sin. We now have the shed blood of Yeshua to cover our sins. Yeshua had not yet come and we find that the various animal sacrifices and offerings in the Old Testament all pictured His sacrifice, the shedding of His blood that would occur. Yehovah killed animals, shed their blood, in forgiving our first parents sin. What animals? Remember we read earlier that Yehovah does not change. He would have used only clean animals and according to the recorded law we find that of the clean animals only the sheep, goat and cattle were accepted.
Did Yehovah do this without instructing Adam and Eve about what this sacrifice of the animals was all about? Of what animals were to be acceptable? I think not. The account we have here in the book of Genesis contains the barest of details. It is unthinkable to presume Yehovah created mankind and went off without giving them instructions regarding His plan, His laws and commandments, what He desired of them. I believe it is totally unreasonable to think that Adam and Eve were left “in the dark” regarding what the Creator’s will for all of mankind was, what His laws were. And, of those laws the ones regarding clean and unclean animals.
We saw the passages regarding clean and unclean animals at the time of Noah and the flood. Are there any indications of that knowledge from that time to the time of Moses? Let us look at a number of Scriptures.
Just a few chapters further in Genesis, after the account of the flood, we begin to read the story of Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham. In chapter 12, verse 7 it is recorded that Abram built an altar to Yehovah. What were altars used for? The offering of animals as burnt offerings, for the burning of the fat. What animals? As we have already seen Yehovah had revealed which animals were acceptable to Him. In verse 8 it is recorded that he built another altar. Abram was worshiping Yehovah by means of animal sacrifices. In chapter 13, verses 3 and 4, we read that Abram returned to the place of the altar he had made and again worshiped Yehovah, calling on His name. Verse 2 mentioned that Abram was rich in cattle. Verse 5 says that Lot, Abram’s nephew, had flocks. Flocks is referring to sheep and goats, clean animals. Cattle is mentioned again in verse 7.In verse 18 of this chapter we find Abram building another altar.
Notice an interesting account in chapter 15. Yehovah appeared to Abram and reaffirmed the promises He had given in chapter 12. Abram asked Yehovah for a sign that he would inherit. Look at what Yehovah told Abram, verse 9. “And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” These are the very same animals and birds that Yehovah later instructed Moses to use in the offerings. This same knowledge was known by Abram, clean animals which were acceptable to Yehovah.
We won’t turn to the many passages that follow throughout the rest of the book of Genesis that mention cattle, flocks, sheep, goats and kids. Or, the numerous accounts of altars being built to sacrifice to Yehovah. Some you will recall. Yehovah commanding Abram to sacrifice his son and then when He knew Abram’s heart He supplied a ram for the burnt offering. (Gen. 22) Isaac built altars, Jacob built altars, at least one of his by direct command of Yehovah (Gen. 35:1). The whole family of Israel, we are told upon their entry into Egypt, were shepherds. (Gen. 46:32)
All of these accounts imply that the knowledge of clean and unclean animals was with these individuals Yehovah was working with and through. It wasn’t something new when Moses instructed them in the wilderness as to Yehovah’s laws. And, yes, they were Yehovah’s laws, not a “law of the Jews.”
Okay, you may be saying, but didn’t Yeshua “cleanse all meats” over in the New Testament? Didn’t He say that there was no longer any difference or distinction between the clean and the unclean animals in regard to using them for food? Let us look at the passages that are commonly used to try to “prove” this.
Most will turn first to Mark 7 but let us go first to a parallel account found over in Matthew 15 before we turn to Mark 7. When we begin reading Matthew 15 we see the setting. Verses 1 and 2 tell us that some of the scribes and Pharisees (those from the major religious denominations of the day) asked Yeshua why His disciples didn’t follow their man-made rules, the traditions of the elders, in regard to washing their hands before eating. Yeshua turned the question around and asked why they were transgressing Yehovah’s commandments by their traditions. (Verses 3-9) Then in verse 10 Yeshua begins to explain to the multitude the situation. In verse 11 He says, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” It seems that His disciples still didn’t understand what He was teaching. Let us read what He tells them, and us. Verses 17-20, “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemes: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.”
Do you understand what He was saying? There is no discussion about clean and unclean meats here at all. The subject is about eating without washing the hands before eating. He says plainly that a little dirt on the hands is not going to defile a person. Through the digestive process the dirt will be gotten rid of when one has a bowel movement. Defilement of a man is the evil that proceeds from within, from the heart and comes spewing out of the mouth.
So, where is the supposed “cleansing of all meats?” We need to now turn to Mark 7. This is another account of the same occurrence we just looked at in Matthew 15. The verse that is used to teach that Yeshua “cleansed all meats” is verse 19. The King James Version has this “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats.” “Purging all meats” seems to be what is used, attempting to say that the laws regarding clean and unclean meats are “done away.” Most never take the time to check the word “meats.” The Greek word used here is broma, number 1033 in Strong’s. Although the KJV translates it as “meats” in most locations the word is defined as “that which is eaten, food.” Just as we saw in Matthew 15 Yeshua is saying that any little bit of dirt that might be on the hand will not defile the person, that it will be expelled by the natural digestive process.
However, what confuses most people is the fact that many of the new translations and paraphrases of this verse have added a comment. Most don’t recognize those comments as not being a part of the inspired Scripture. Let us notice a few renderings from some of these other translations. From the New International Version, “For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” So far so good. But, now notice what follows in parentheses. “(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods ‘clean’)” Now where did that come from? The New American Standard isn’t any better. “...because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” Now we have following this in parentheses “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)” The Amplified Bible, which is a paraphrase, is even worse. “Since it does not reach and enter his heart but [only his] digestive tract, and so passes on [into the place designed to receive waste]?” Now what follows isn’t even put into parentheses, making it seem that what is here is inspired. “Thus He was making and declaring all foods [ceremonially] clean [that is, abolishing the ceremonial distinctions of the Levitical law’.”
Sadly, the translators have taken great license with the inspired original. Let us look at a couple of reliable literal translations. First from The Interlinear Bible by Jay P. Green, Sr. This is a word for word rendering into English from the Greek. “Not perceive you that all from outside entering into man not is able him to profane because not it does enter of him into the heart, but into the belly, and into the waste-bowl goes out, purging all the foods?” The Young’s Literal Bible has this passage as follows. “Because it doth not enter into the heart, but into the belly, and into the drain it doth go out, purifying all the meats.”
Clearly Yeshua was stating that a little dirt on the hands was not going to defile a person. There is absolutely nothing in this story to indicate that He was in any way, shape or form attempting to “do away with” or change the law of Yehovah in existence since creation.
Let us move on to another “proof text” that some try to use to supposedly prove the law of clean and unclean meats is no longer in effect. And, that is the story in Acts 10 of Peter’s vision. We find in the first verses of this chapter that there was a man named Cornelius who was a very devout man. He was diligent in his giving and his prayers to Yehovah. He was given a vision, verse 3, and was told to send for Peter. Now in verses 9 and 10 we read that Peter is praying and fell into a trance. Then in verses 11-16 we read of the vessel that is let down in this vision three times. Each time Peter is told to kill and eat of all of the various beasts, creeping things and fowls of the air that are in the vessel. Peter responded “Not so Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.” Verse 15 is used to attempt to show that all of these unclean animals are now cleansed. Notice what the voice tells Peter. “...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”
Is that saying that the various beasts, creeping things and fowls of the air are now clean? Peter wondered at first just what this all meant. Verse 17, “Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,...” It states that the men from Cornelius arrived at this time. In verse 19 we read, “While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, behold three men seek thee.” As we keep reading we find that Peter goes with the men to the home of Cornelius. Then we come to verse 28. It contains the answer to Peter’s doubting and wondering about the vision, the answer to our question, did this make all meats clean. Let us read it together. “And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.” Yehovah DIDN’T show him that all unclean animals could now be eaten. Yehovah showed him, read it again, that I should not call any man common or unclean.
There is one more passage of Scripture that is sometimes used by some to excuse themselves from obeying the law of clean and unclean meats given by Yehovah. We find that in the first letter of the Apostle Paul written to Timothy. 1 Timothy 4:4-5, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” It has been put forth by some that if you pray over your food that makes it okay to eat. Is that what Paul is saying to Timothy? Let us look at the context here. Paul states in verse 1 that in the latter times some would depart from the faith and would be “giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” As we keep reading we find what some of those doctrines would be, verse 3, “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Celibacy and vegetarianism. And, not just any meats but “meats which God hath created to be received.” Which ones were those? Paul tells us as we just read a few moments ago in verse 5, “For it is sanctified by the word of God...” To sanctify means to dedicate, to separate, to set apart. What animals are set apart by the word of God? Those we find listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Let us go back to Leviticus 11.
As we have been showing, the distinction and the making a difference between the clean and the unclean animals was established from the time of creation. What we find here in Leviticus 11 isn’t something new but it is the first time we see it all written down. The words we find here were spoken by Yehovah, verse 1. He spoke to Moses and Aaron and commanded them to tell Israel the following information. Moses wrote it down and it has been preserved for us. We won’t go through every word in this paper, you can read through it all on your own. But, let us notice a few things.
Verse 2 tells us that the animals listed immediately after this verse are the ones “which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.” The distinction, the difference, between the clean and the unclean is pointed out immediately. Verse 3 tells us which animals may be eaten. It is very simple to tell. “Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.” The next several verses get very specific about the ones that aren’t to be eaten.
As I said, the instruction in verse 3 is very simple. Perhaps for us it could be simpler if it was translated into the language and understanding of today. Just what animals part the hoof, are clovenfooted and chew the cud? Only those animals that are true ruminants having a four-part stomach AND have a hoof that is divided into two parts. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary On the Old Testament states that the Hebrew means literally “tearing (having) a rent in the hoofs.” Deuteronomy 14:6 adds a bit of information. It says “And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws,...” Yehovah continues in the following verses here in Leviticus 11 to spell out the differences in other animals. In verse 4 He specifically mentions the camel, saying that it chews the cud but it doesn’t divide the hoof. Keil and Delitzsch states regarding the camel, “it ruminates, but it has not cloven hoofs. Its foot is severed, it is true, but not throughly cloven, as there is a ball behind upon which it treads.”
To most of us living in this part of the world verse 7 is very important for us to look at and consider. “And the swine, although he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.” Let us be perfectly clear. I’ve encountered some people who just didn’t know or understand exactly what “swine” were. The swine is a hog, a pig. It’s meat is pork. Ham is the butt cut from the swine. Bacon is made from the swine. Yehovah says all of this popular meat is unclean to us and we are not to eat it, verse 8. “Of their flesh shall ye not eat,...”
In the next four verses we are told what seafood may be eaten. Again the guidelines are very simple. Verse 9, “...whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.” Verse 12 makes it even clearer. “Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.” Lobster, clams, shrimp, oysters do not have fins and scales. They are not to be eaten. Catfish do have fins but no scales. They are an abomination to us.
Yehovah doesn’t give us any general guidelines as to what birds are to be eaten, just a listing of those that are not to be eaten. He mentions “creeping things” that may be eaten, which include locusts, and grasshoppers. Down in verses 29 and 30 He mentions a few more specific animals that shall be unclean. Notice, these include the weasel, the mouse, the tortoise, the ferret, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail and the mole.
A question that we haven’t asked and I’m sure one that has come to your mind as you have been reading through this study, why does Yehovah make the difference between the clean and the unclean animals, birds, fish and creeping things? I’ve have heard many state that these are dietary laws, that the meat from the unclean animals will harm the human body. I believe that this may very well be true but nowhere in Scripture does it state that. Although it seems to be overlooked by most, Yehovah does tell us very plainly why He has given us these laws, why He puts difference between the clean and the unclean. Let us notice His clear statement.
Leviticus 11: 44-47. “For I am Yehovah your Elohim: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am Yehovah that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.”
When something is extremely important Yehovah repeats it. He states the same thing we just read in Leviticus 11 a few chapters later. Notice Leviticus 20:25-26. “Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I, Yehovah, am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”
When Moses repeated the command of what beasts were clean and what ones were unclean just prior to the Israelites going into the promise land we find mentioned once more that we are to be holy as Yehovah is holy. Deuteronomy 14:2-3, “For thou art an holy people unto Yehovah thy Elohim, and Yehovah hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.”
The word “holy” is sometimes hard for us to wrap our minds around. We think of Yehovah as being so far “above” us in His righteousness and sacredness. Yet He tells us to be holy for, or as, He is holy. Some additional definitions would be “set apart” or “dedicated.” He wants us to be clean, pure, undefiled, dedicated to Him, set apart. He says that if we eat of those beasts He has labeled as unclean we are unholy, defiled in His sight. When we don’t eat the unclean meats we are set apart from the people around us. Just as the Sabbath was given to be a sign between Yehovah and His people (Ex. 31) dedicating ourselves to Him by not eating unclean meats clearly identifies us as being holy as He is holy.
The apostle Paul tells us over in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He was specifically speaking of fornication in this passage but anything that defiles the temple does not glorify our Father. Paul states in verse 20, “therefore glorify God in your body;...” Just as in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes when a statue of the Greek god Zeus was set up in the temple at Jerusalem and pigs were slain on the altar, desecrating the temple, when we put pig and other unclean meats into our body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, we desecrate that temple and do not glorify Yehovah. We are in a defiled, unholy, unclean state. We are not holy as Yehovah is holy. Isn’t abstaining from unclean meats a simple enough thing to do that we can be holy?
Let us look at one final Scripture over in the New Testament. Although the apostle might not have had the eating of clean meats in mind when he wrote this passage I believe it fits. 1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy as I am holy.” The word “conversation” might better be translated “conduct, behavior, deportment.” One translator renders it “but be ye holy in every detail of your lives.” That definitely includes the meat we eat and put into the temple.
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