Leviticus 11 20

Leviticus 11:20 kjv

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

Leviticus 11:20 nkjv

'All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.

Leviticus 11:20 niv

"?'All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be regarded as unclean by you.

Leviticus 11:20 esv

"All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.

Leviticus 11:20 nlt

"You must not eat winged insects that walk along the ground; they are detestable to you.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 20 Meaning

Leviticus 11:20 declares that all winged insects that move primarily by walking or crawling on the ground, even though they possess wings, are considered unclean and are detestable for the Israelites to eat. This general prohibition serves to categorize a broad class of flying creatures before specific exceptions are introduced in subsequent verses.

Leviticus 11 20 Context

Leviticus 11:20 is situated within the broader section of dietary laws, sometimes referred to as kashrut laws, given by God to Israel through Moses. This chapter exhaustively lists creatures permissible and impermissible for consumption and defines various forms of uncleanness associated with them. The immediate context of verse 20 specifically introduces the category of "winged insects" after discussing land animals and sea creatures. This verse acts as a general prohibition on such insects, immediately followed by verses 21-23 which detail the exceptions – winged insects that have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the ground (like locusts and crickets), which are permissible.

Historically, these dietary laws served several crucial functions for the ancient Israelites. They fostered a distinct identity, setting God's people apart from the surrounding Canaanite and other pagan nations who did not observe such culinary distinctions and often consumed animals explicitly forbidden to Israel. This distinctiveness prevented syncretism and idolatry by minimizing communal eating practices with non-Israelites. The laws were not primarily about health, although some may have conferred incidental health benefits, but rather about ritual purity and spiritual holiness, symbolizing separation unto a holy God. Animals designated "detestable" (shaqets) were not merely disliked but ritually abhorrent, polluting those who consumed or touched their carcasses.

Leviticus 11 20 Word analysis

• All (כֹּל - kol): This word emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prohibition for the specific category that follows. It signifies that the rule applies without exception to every single instance within the defined group.
• winged insects (הַשֶּׁרֶץ הָעוֹףֵף - ha-sherets ha-ophep):
  • Ha-sherets (שֶׁרֶץ): Refers to "swarming things," "creeping things," or "teeming creatures." In various contexts, it can denote rodents, reptiles, or even marine life. Here, with the addition of "winged," it specifies insects that teem or swarm.
  • Ha-ophep (הָעוֹףֵף): Meaning "that which flies" or "flying." When combined with sherets, it denotes the specific class of small creatures that swarm and can fly, clearly indicating flying insects.
• that go on all fours (הַהוֹלֵךְ עַל־אַרְבַּע - ha-holekh al-arba):
  • Ha-holekh (הַהוֹלֵךְ): Literally "that walks" or "that goes."
  • Al-arba (עַל־אַרְבַּע): Literally "on four" or "upon four." This phrase is often discussed due to insects generally having six legs.
    • Significance: Biblical scholars and commentators generally understand this not as a strict anatomical description but as a descriptive or phenomenal observation of their primary mode of movement on the ground. Many insects, when not flying or hopping, move with their four front legs acting as the main supports or propellers, while the other two might be used for holding or balancing, or are not primarily involved in forward locomotion on a flat surface. This description contrasts with insects that move primarily by "leaping" with specialized legs, which are the permissible ones in later verses. The text's focus is on perceived motion and habitat, not strict biological classification.
• are detestable to you (שֶׁקֶץ הוּא לָכֶם - sheqets hu lakhem):
  • Sheqets (שֶׁקֶץ): A strong word meaning "abomination," "detestable thing," "polluted," or "vile." It denotes something ritually abhorrent and forbidden. It implies that these creatures are considered offensive to God's standards of purity and holiness, rendering them unfit for His covenant people.
  • Hu lakhem (הוּא לָכֶם): "It is to you" or "for you," directly stating that this detestability applies to the Israelites as part of their covenant obligations.

Leviticus 11 20 Bonus section

• Purity System: This verse fits into an extensive system of ritual purity detailed throughout Leviticus. The categories of clean and unclean applied not just to diet but to birth, skin diseases, bodily discharges, and contact with death. The purpose was to train Israel in a holy way of life, reflecting God's own holiness and preparing them for proper worship in His presence.
• Symbolism of "Detestable": The Hebrew term shaqets (detestable/abomination) is not merely a label of disgust; it implies that these items are antithetical to the order and holiness God intended for His creation and His people. It signifies spiritual contamination.
• Cultural Relevance: While specific dietary laws like Lev 11:20 are not binding for New Testament believers, the underlying principle of God calling His people to be set apart, distinct, and pure in character and conduct remains supremely relevant (2 Cor 6:17, 1 Pet 1:16). The New Covenant focuses on inner spiritual purity over outward ritualistic dietary adherence.
• Understanding Biblical Language: This verse highlights that biblical descriptions often use phenomenal language—describing things as they appear or function in observation, rather than in precise scientific terminology. This does not diminish the divine origin or truth of the scripture, but clarifies its primary purpose as theological instruction.

Leviticus 11 20 Commentary

Leviticus 11:20 lays down a foundational prohibition for a significant category of creatures: flying insects. By declaring that all such creatures that move "on all fours" (meaning, primarily by crawling or walking on the ground) are "detestable," God established a clear boundary for the Israelites' diet. This instruction wasn't about empirical biological exactitude but about establishing observable criteria for purity and holiness. The description "go on all fours" differentiates these common flying insects from the special case of locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers, which are distinctly described as "having jointed legs above their feet with which to leap" in subsequent verses, thereby permitting them. This distinction ensured Israel's ritual purity and physical separation from the customs of surrounding pagan nations who likely consumed a wide range of insects without such discrimination. The emphasis on "detestable" underscored the theological nature of the command—it was not just a culinary preference but a moral and spiritual imperative for a people called to be holy as their God is holy.