Leviticus 11:12 kjv
Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
Leviticus 11:12 nkjv
Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales?that shall be an abomination to you.
Leviticus 11:12 niv
Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be regarded as unclean by you.
Leviticus 11:12 esv
Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.
Leviticus 11:12 nlt
Any marine animal that does not have both fins and scales is detestable to you.
Leviticus 11 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 11:9-10 | Every creature that has fins and scales...but whatever does not have fins and scales... | Defines clean and unclean aquatic animals immediately preceding this verse. |
| Deut 14:9-10 | Whatever has fins and scales...is clean; whatever does not...is unclean. | Reiteration of this specific dietary law in a different legal context. |
| Lev 10:10 | distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean | Emphasizes the overarching theme of making distinctions, crucial to Mosaic law. |
| Lev 11:44-45 | For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. | Divine command for holiness, the broader context and reason for all dietary laws. |
| Lev 20:25 | You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean... | Reinforces the importance of the principle of distinction in Israel's life. |
| Ez 22:26 | Her priests have violated my law...nor taught the distinction between the unclean and the clean. | Prophets lament Israel's failure to uphold these purity distinctions. |
| Mk 7:19 | (Thus he declared all foods clean.) | Jesus fulfills and abrogates Old Testament dietary laws, emphasizing inner purity over external rules. |
| Acts 10:14-15 | "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." And the voice came to him again: "What God has made clean, do not call common." | Peter's vision, explicitly signifying the abolition of ceremonial food laws for the New Covenant. |
| Rom 14:2-3 | One believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. The one who eats, let him not despise the one who abstains... | Christian liberty regarding food choices; encourages charity and mutual acceptance. |
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | Shifts focus from external ritual observances to the spiritual realities of God's kingdom. |
| Col 2:16-17 | Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink...These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. | Old Covenant ceremonial laws, including food, are shadows fulfilled in Christ. |
| Heb 9:9-10 | ...imposed until the time of reformation. | Ceremonial laws were temporary provisions until Christ established the New Covenant. |
| 1 Tim 4:3-5 | ...abstain from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. | God's creation is good; foods are sanctified by God's word and prayer for Christians. |
| Gen 1:21 | So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves... | Connection to God's original creation of all living creatures in the waters. |
| Gen 9:3 | Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. | Post-flood, early permission for general consumption of animals, later nuanced by Mosaic law. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." | New Covenant echoes the call to holiness, but now through spiritual transformation. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing. | Spiritual application of separation and holiness for believers today. |
| 1 Cor 10:23 | "All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. | Principle of Christian freedom and responsibility, considering edification of others. |
| Is 66:17 | Those who sanctify and purify themselves...eating pig's flesh and abominable things and mice, shall come to an end... | Prophetic condemnation illustrating the seriousness of consuming forbidden foods, linking it to spiritual defilement. |
| Jer 16:18 | I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things... | Connects the consumption of "detestable things" (sheqets) to grave sin and land defilement. |
Leviticus 11 verses
Leviticus 11 12 Meaning
This verse defines certain aquatic creatures as ritually "detestable" or "unclean" for the Israelites to eat, specifically those lacking both fins and scales. It establishes a boundary for the people of God, setting them apart through dietary distinction as a part of their covenantal holiness and as an act of obedience to divine command.
Leviticus 11 12 Context
Leviticus 11:12 is situated within the "Holiness Code" (Leviticus 17-26 is often designated as such, but chapters 11-15 certainly establish the basis for ritual purity essential for holiness). Specifically, Chapter 11 lays out extensive dietary laws for the Israelites, distinguishing between "clean" and "unclean" animals permissible for consumption. These regulations were not merely about hygiene but were profoundly theological. Their primary purpose was to enforce Israel's distinctive identity as God's set-apart people, fostering ritual purity necessary for communion with a holy God. By adhering to these strict food prohibitions, the Israelites daily reaffirmed their covenant relationship with Yahweh, demonstrated their obedience, and lived out their calling to be a holy nation, separate from the idolatrous and promiscuous practices of the surrounding cultures. This constant discernment between clean and unclean imprinted upon them the broader principle of living a life separated for God.
Leviticus 11 12 Word analysis
- Everything (כֹּל, kol): This Hebrew term denotes absolute inclusivity, meaning "all," "every single one," or "the whole." Its use here emphasizes the comprehensiveness of the divine rule, leaving no exceptions or subjective interpretation for the specified category of creatures in the waters.
- in the waters (בַּמַּיִם, bammayim): This phrase precisely limits the scope of the commandment to aquatic creatures. It encompasses all bodies of water—seas, rivers, lakes—providing a clear environmental boundary for the instruction.
- that does not have (אֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ, asher ein lo): This negative construction specifically identifies the forbidden by absence. It unequivocally states the criterion for uncleanness: the creature must lack both of the subsequent identifying features. This precise phrasing highlights the clear, objective standard established by God.
- fins (סְנַפִּיר, snapir): Appearing solely in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 in the Old Testament, this term refers to the propelling and steering appendages of fish. The presence of fins suggests a creature that actively and distinctly moves through the water, distinguishing it from sessile or bottom-dwelling creatures.
- and scales (וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת, vekasqeset): Also unique to these passages, this term refers to the small, overlapping plates that protect the skin of many fish. The presence of scales, in conjunction with fins, defines what is considered a "true" or "typical" fish by biblical standards, differentiating it from those that often live in murky environments or scavenge. The crucial point is that both fins and scales must be present for a creature to be clean.
- is detestable (שֶׁקֶץ הוּא, sheqets hu): The Hebrew word sheqets is very strong, indicating an "abomination," "loathing," or "detestation." It's not just "unclean" (
tameh), but carries a connotation of repugnance or disgust, often linked to idolatry and things abhorrent to Yahweh elsewhere in scripture. Applying it to food elevates its seriousness, making it a forbidden item that evokes God's aversion. Consuming it would defile the Israelite and separate them from God's holiness. - to you (לָכֶם, lakhem): This plural address indicates that the command applies to the entire community of Israel. It emphasizes the collective responsibility for maintaining holiness and purity as a covenant people, fostering a shared identity and practice.
Words-group analysis
- Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales: This entire phrase serves as a precise definition, delineating the exact category of forbidden aquatic life. The specificity emphasizes that these regulations were not arbitrary but based on divinely ordained criteria, reinforcing order and discernment within the created world. The combination of "fins and scales" signifies animals that navigate their environment typically and clearly, distinguishing them from those that might be considered more ambiguous or predatory scavengers by appearance or habit.
- is detestable to you: This strong declaration underscores the absolute nature of the prohibition. The term sheqets transforms a dietary rule into a profound religious injunction. It trained the Israelites to abhor what God abhorred, reinforcing their identity as a separated and holy people. This daily practice of abstaining from "detestable" items reminded them of their unique covenant status and their constant call to reflect God's own holiness in their lives.
Leviticus 11 12 Bonus section
The requirement that both fins and scales be present is critical; lacking either one renders the aquatic creature unclean. This excludes a wide variety of seafood commonly eaten today but prohibited for ancient Israel, such as eels (which have fins but no visible scales), shellfish (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops – have neither), and crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster – have neither). This strict double criterion eliminated ambiguity for the Israelites, ensuring clear adherence to the law. Furthermore, this specificity in dietary law functioned as a powerful visible boundary and an identity marker for the Israelite community, visibly setting them apart from surrounding pagan cultures who freely consumed such items. This daily, communal practice of discerning between "clean" and "unclean" served as a constant reminder of their sacred obligation to be a distinct people consecrated to their holy God.
Leviticus 11 12 Commentary
Leviticus 11:12 strictly prohibits the consumption of aquatic creatures lacking both fins and scales, branding them as "detestable." This command is part of the extensive dietary laws given to ancient Israel, aimed at cultivating holiness and distinction. It was not primarily a health code but a spiritual discipline, instructing God's people in discernment and obedience. By adhering to these criteria, Israelites outwardly manifested their commitment to their unique covenant with Yahweh, constantly reminded that they were a people set apart to reflect His divine purity. While these specific ceremonial laws have been superseded and fulfilled in Christ for New Covenant believers (as seen in Mk 7 and Acts 10), the underlying principles of discerning God's will, seeking purity, and living a life of dedicated obedience remain eternally relevant.