Back to Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:20-23

“ ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you. Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth. Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper. But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “ ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

    Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth.

    Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.

    But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.

  • KJV King James Version

    All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

    Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

    Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

    But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    All winged swarming things that go upon all fours are a detestable thing unto you.

    Yet these may ye eat of all winged swarming things that go upon all fours, which have jointed legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the earth;

    even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kinds, and the bald locust after its kinds, and the cricket after its kinds, and the grasshopper after its kinds.

    But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, are a detestable thing unto you.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Science (1)

Historical claims about the natural world, weighed against the scientific record.

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Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

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Commandments (1)

The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.

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Cross-references (19)

  • Matthew 3:4 (v22) Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
  • Mark 1:6 (v22) John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
  • Exodus 10:4-5 (v22) Or else, if you refuse to let my people go, behold, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country, and they shall cover the surface of…
  • Leviticus 11:23 (v20) But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.
  • Leviticus 11:27 (v20) Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean…
Show all 19 cross-references
  • Deuteronomy 14:19 (v20) All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten.
  • 2 Kings 17:28-41 (v20) So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.…
  • Psalms 17:14 (v20) from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons…
  • Isaiah 35:3 (v22) Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
  • Matthew 6:24 (v20) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other.…
  • Romans 14:1 (v22) Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.
  • Romans 15:1 (v22) Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
  • Philippians 3:18-19 (v20) For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction,…
  • 2 Timothy 4:10 (v20) for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia; and Titus to Dalmatia.
  • Hebrews 5:11 (v22) About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
  • Hebrews 12:12-13 (v22) Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so what is lame may not be…
  • 1 John 2:15-17 (v20) Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. For all that is in the…
  • Jude 1:10 (v20) But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the…
  • Jude 1:19 (v20) These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv21–22 Or, have no bowings on their feet.

Or, have no bowings on their feet.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv20–23 Lev 11:20 All fowls that creep, going upon [all]…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv20–23 All fowls that crawl or creep upon the earth,…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v20 Here is the law, 1. Concerning flying insects, as…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv20–23 All fowls that creep,.... Or rather "every creeping thing…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv20, 22, 23 All fowls - Flying things that crawl or creep…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv20–22 Verse 20. All fowls that creep] Such as the…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv20, 22, 23 Lev 11:20-21. All fowls that creep — The original…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv20–22 Rather, “All creeping things which have wings,” etc. The…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv20–23 Feet. Such as bees, (Calmet) and other insects of…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv20–21 All fowls that creep, &c.--By "fowls" here are to…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv21–22 CONCERNING WINGED INSECTS, Lev_11:20-25.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–21 20. All winged swarming things] The same words as…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv20–23 (20) All the fowls that creep.—Better, all creeping things…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v20 Vers. 20-23. All fowls that creep should rather be…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v20 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v21 11:21-22 insects that walk along the ground and have…
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