Deuteronomy 14 9

Deuteronomy 14:9 kjv

These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:

Deuteronomy 14:9 nkjv

"These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat all that have fins and scales.

Deuteronomy 14:9 niv

Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.

Deuteronomy 14:9 esv

"Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat.

Deuteronomy 14:9 nlt

"Of all the marine animals, you may eat whatever has both fins and scales.

Deuteronomy 14 verses

Deuteronomy 14 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 14:9 stipulates a specific dietary guideline for water creatures. It grants permission to the Israelites to consume only those animals living in water that possess both fins and scales. This verse clearly distinguishes edible aquatic life from forbidden types, emphasizing a criterion for purity and holiness in their diet as part of God's covenant with them.

Deuteronomy 14 9 Context

Deuteronomy 14 is part of Moses' address to the new generation of Israelites on the verge of entering the Promised Land. This chapter, specifically, deals with practices that set Israel apart as God's chosen and holy people. It begins with a prohibition against pagan mourning rituals (Deut 14:1-2), transitions to clean and unclean animals (Deut 14:3-21), and then details tithes (Deut 14:22-29). Deuteronomy 14:9-10 specifically elaborates on the laws for aquatic animals, reiterating and reinforcing the more extensive clean food laws given earlier in Leviticus 11. The underlying historical context is the need for Israel to maintain its distinctiveness and holiness in the midst of Canaanite nations, who practiced diverse and often ritually defiling customs.

Deuteronomy 14 9 Word analysis

• Of all that are in the waters (מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר בַּמָּיִם - mikol asher bamyim):

  • Mikol ("of all") signifies a comprehensive category, encompassing all forms of water life.
  • Asher bamyim ("that are in the waters") specifies the habitat, referring to rivers, lakes, seas, and any aquatic environment.
  • This phrase broadly defines the scope before narrowing down the specific edible creatures.

• you may eat these (תֹּאכְלוּ - tokhelu):

  • This is the Hebrew word for "you shall eat" or "you may eat," indicating permission or command.
  • The repetition of this verb (tokhelu appears again at the end of the verse) emphasizes the allowance for these specific creatures.
  • It's a divine allowance, not merely a human preference.

• whatever has (כֹּל אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ - kol asher-lo):

  • Kol here means "all" or "everything" as a general qualifier.
  • Asher-lo ("which has for itself") emphasizes the inherent possession of the characteristics that follow.
  • This sets up the precise criteria for determining "clean" aquatic life.

• fins (סְנַפִּיר - snapir):

  • This Hebrew word specifically denotes a fish's fin, used for propulsion and balance in water.
  • Its presence indicates an animal that is fully mobile and typical of what is considered a "fish."
  • Creatures lacking fins (like shellfish or some eels) are thus excluded.

• and scales (וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת - v'kasqeset):

  • Vav (v') means "and," linking fins and scales as co-requisites. Both must be present.
  • Kasqeset refers to the hard, overlapping plates that cover a fish's skin, providing protection.
  • Its presence indicates a "true" fish in the biblical classification. Bottom-dwellers or scavenger fish often lack distinct scales or have very fine, imperceptible ones.

• you may eat (תֹּאכֵלוּ - tokhelu):

  • The final reiteration of the allowance. The form tokhelu (imperfect Qal) carries the sense of ongoing permission.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Of all that are in the waters, you may eat these": This initial clause defines the general category of edible water creatures, setting the stage for the specific conditions. It broadens the scope before refining it, indicating a permission to eat some things from the waters.
  • "whatever has fins and scales you may eat": This second part delivers the precise, dual criteria. The inclusion of "fins and scales" is not merely descriptive but prescriptive. It establishes a binary distinction: if a water creature has both, it is permissible; if it lacks either or both, it is not. This highlights a deliberate, divinely imposed standard for distinguishing "clean" from "unclean" in the aquatic realm. This duality (both fins and scales) excludes various creatures common in ancient Near Eastern diets, such as eels, crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster), and mollusks (clams, oysters, mussels), which often served as bottom-feeders or scavengers.

Deuteronomy 14 9 Bonus section

• Symbolic interpretations: Some interpretations suggest that fins and scales represent aspects of righteous living. Fins allow a fish to move forward against currents, symbolizing active resistance to the corrupting influences of the world. Scales, as a form of protection, might represent discernment or adherence to truth that shields one from defilement.
• Holiness and order: The laws regarding clean animals often favored those that moved in ways "natural" to their type (e.g., land animals with four legs that chew cud and have cloven hooves; birds that fly, not scavenge) and appeared to fit the divine order of creation. Creatures without fins or scales were sometimes associated with chaotic or undifferentiated aspects, aligning with pagan mythologies of primeval disorder. By rejecting these, Israel affirmed God's orderly creation.
• Economic implications: While health reasons are often debated as primary, adherence to these laws would also have implications for trade and economic interaction, further distinguishing Israel from their neighbors who freely consumed a wider range of foods. This contributed to their socio-religious isolation as a consecrated nation.

Deuteronomy 14 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 14:9 concisely lays down the specific requirement for water animals to be considered clean and fit for consumption by the Israelites: they must possess both fins and scales. This instruction is not merely a dietary suggestion but a divine command, part of a larger body of laws (like those in Lev 11) designed to separate Israel from the surrounding nations and to establish their unique identity as a holy people dedicated to God. The distinction between clean and unclean foods served multiple purposes: health considerations (though this was likely secondary to spiritual aims), maintenance of order (creatures adhering to their proper form and environment were often "clean"), and crucially, the pedagogical instruction in holiness and discernment. By observing these laws, Israelites were constantly reminded of God's character (holy and orderly) and their covenant relationship, fostering a life of intentional obedience and spiritual distinctiveness. In the New Testament, through Christ's sacrifice and Peter's vision (Acts 10), the ceremonial food laws, including this one, are revealed to have reached their fulfillment and are no longer binding for believers, shifting the focus from external distinctions to internal purity and faith in Christ.