cloven hoof
Divided animal foot
A cloven hoof is a hoof divided into two toes, as found on cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and pigs.
In biblical dietary laws, animals with cloven hooves that also chew cud are considered clean.
Because the devil is traditionally depicted with cloven hooves, the phrase carries sinister connotations: showing one's cloven hoof means revealing a hidden evil nature.
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
- goatHorned, bearded livestock
- sheepWoolly farm animal
- deerAntlered hoofed mammal
- pigDomesticated swine for meat
antelope · bison · buffalo · elk · moose · giraffe · gazelle · ibex
Mammal with hooves
- keratinStructural hair protein
- ruminantMulti-stomached grazing mammal
- pasternEquine ankle region
- dewclawVestigial canine digit
interdigital · bisected · fissure · toe · split · bovine · caprine · ovine
Evil supernatural entity
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- LuciferRebellious angel of Christian theology
- BeelzebubPrince of demons
Mephistopheles · Baphomet · hellish · infernal · diabolical · sinister · evil · satyr
Hebrew scripture of rituals
- DeuteronomyFifth Torah book
- kosherPermissible by Jewish law
- uncleanSoiled or contaminated
- tabooCultural or social prohibition
purity · ritual · sacrifice · altar · Mosaic · Abrahamic · commandment · prohibition
cattle
Domesticated bovines kept commercially
pig · antelope · bison · buffalo · elk · moose · giraffe · gazelle · ibex · chamois
ungulate
Mammal with hooves
dewclaw · interdigital · bisected · fissure · toe · split · bovine · caprine · ovine · cervine
devil
Evil supernatural entity
- SatanJudeo-Christian arch-enemy of God
- demonMalevolent supernatural being
- LuciferRebellious angel of Christian theology
Beelzebub · Mephistopheles · Baphomet · hellish · infernal · diabolical · sinister · evil · satyr · Pan
Leviticus
Hebrew scripture of rituals
- DeuteronomyFifth Torah book
- kosherPermissible by Jewish law
- uncleanSoiled or contaminated
taboo · purity · ritual · sacrifice · altar · Mosaic · Abrahamic · commandment · prohibition · Israelites