Back to Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:21-25

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.

“ ‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Leviticus 11:21-25 sits inside this longer paragraph.

“ ‘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.

“ ‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    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.

    “ ‘By these you will become unclean: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

    Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

  • KJV King James Version

    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.

    And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

    And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    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.

    And by these ye shall become unclean; whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until even.

    And whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

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Cross-references (47)

  • Leviticus 11:40 (v25) He who eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. He also who carries its carcass shall wash his…
  • Leviticus 14:8 (v25) “He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that…
  • Leviticus 15:5 (v25) Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
  • Numbers 31:24 (v25) You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. Afterward you shall come into the camp.”
  • 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.
Show all 46 cross-references
  • 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 16:28 (v25) He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
  • Numbers 19:10 (v25) He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. It shall be to the children of Israel, and…
  • 1 John 1:7 (vv24–25) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses…
  • Exodus 19:10 (v25) Yahweh said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,
  • Exodus 19:14 (v25) Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
  • Leviticus 11:8 (v24) You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.
  • Leviticus 11:27-28 (v24) 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…
  • Leviticus 11:28 (v25) He who carries their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. They are unclean to you.
  • Leviticus 11:31 (v24) These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.
  • Leviticus 11:38-40 (v24) But if water is put on the seed, and part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. “ ‘If any animal of which you may eat dies,…
  • Leviticus 14:47 (v25) He who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.
  • Leviticus 15:7-11 (v25) “ ‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the…
  • Leviticus 15:13 (v25) “ ‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his…
  • Leviticus 17:15-16 (v24) “ ‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his…
  • Numbers 19:8 (v25) He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.
  • Numbers 19:19 (v25) The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall purify him. He shall…
  • Numbers 19:21-22 (v25) It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for…
  • Psalms 51:2 (v25) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
  • Psalms 51:7 (v25) Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
  • Isaiah 22:14 (v24) Yahweh of Armies revealed himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, Yahweh of…
  • Isaiah 35:3 (v22) Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
  • Zechariah 13:1 (v25) “In that day there will be a spring opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
  • John 13:8 (v25) Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
  • Acts 22:16 (v25) Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
  • 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.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:33 (v24) Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
  • 2 Corinthians 6:17 (v24) Therefore “ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
  • Ephesians 2:1-3 (v24) You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world,…
  • Ephesians 5:11 (v24) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
  • Colossians 2:16-17 (v24) Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day, which are a shadow…
  • Colossians 2:20 (v24) If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
  • Hebrews 5:11 (v22) About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
  • Hebrews 9:10 (v25) being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
  • Hebrews 9:26 (v24) or else he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been revealed to put…
  • Hebrews 10:22 (v25) let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed…
  • 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 Peter 3:21 (v25) This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward…
  • Revelation 7:14 (v25) I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering.They washed their robes, and made them…

46 distinct cross-references across this passage (47 total citations).

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

Explain this passage (16 sources)

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

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv21, 22, 25 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 vv21–25 Lev 11:21 Yet these may ye eat of every…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv21–25 Which have legs above their feet. The truth of…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv21–25 Yet these may ye eat,.... Which are after described…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv22–25 The locust - Locusts, though unusual in our food,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv21–22 Verse 21. Which have legs above their feet] This…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv22–23 Lev 11:22. The locust after his kind — The…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv21, 22, 24 Legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv21–25 Walketh. Hebrew adds lo, "not." But the Massorets read…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv21, 22, 24 CONCERNING WINGED INSECTS, Lev_11:20-25.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv21, 24 21–23. Four kinds of these swarming things which may…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv21–25 (21) Of every flying creeping thing.—Rather, of all winged…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v24 Vers. 24-28. These verses contain an expansion of the…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v24 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv21, 24 11:21-22 insects that walk along the ground and have…
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