Leviticus 11 42

Leviticus 11:42 kjv

Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

Leviticus 11:42 nkjv

Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth?these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination.

Leviticus 11:42 niv

You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Leviticus 11:42 esv

Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable.

Leviticus 11:42 nlt

This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them.

Leviticus 11 verses

Leviticus 11 42 Meaning

Leviticus 11:42 dictates that specific categories of creeping or swarming creatures are forbidden for consumption by the Israelites, labeling them as "detestable." This prohibition extends to animals that move on their bellies (like snakes), those that move on all fours but are classified among "swarming things" (not large clean animals), and those with multiple feet (like centipedes or millipedes). The core purpose is to maintain Israel's ritual purity and distinction, embodying God's call to holiness.

Leviticus 11 42 Context

Leviticus chapter 11 establishes a comprehensive list of clean and unclean animals for the Israelites, primarily as a covenantal means to set them apart as God's holy people. This chapter categorizes animals by their physical characteristics (e.g., cloven hooves and chewing cud for land animals; fins and scales for water creatures). Verses 41-43, including verse 42, serve as a summary and conclusion regarding "swarming things" (Hebrew: sherets), broadly forbidding them. This framework of dietary laws, or Kashrut, was essential for the Israelite identity, ritual purity, and separation from surrounding pagan cultures that might have consumed such creatures or even associated them with deities. The historical context positions these laws as a divine mandate given at Mount Sinai, forming a crucial part of the Mosaic Covenant that governed the lives of ancient Israel, reflecting God's order and their call to holiness.

Leviticus 11 42 Word analysis

• Whatever goes: From Hebrew verb hālak (הָלַךְ), meaning "to walk," "to go." Here, it signifies the primary mode of movement of the creature. It implies the act of moving or traversing a surface.
• on its belly: From Hebrew noun gāḥōn (גָּח֜וֹן), referring specifically to the belly or abdomen. This directly points to creatures that slither or crawl, like snakes or some reptiles, without distinct limbs to lift them from the ground. It contrasts with upright or four-footed locomotion.
• and whatever goes on all fours: From Hebrew phrase kol hōlēḵ ʿal-ʾarbaʿ (כָּל־הוֹלֵךְ עַל־אַרְבַּ֣ע), literally "all walking upon four." While some land animals in Lev 11 are clean with four legs (if they chew cud and have cloven hooves), here this phrase refers to the "swarming things" that have four legs but lack the characteristics of clean mammals, or refers to amphibians/reptiles that move on all fours but are categorized with low-lying creatures.
• or whatever has many feet: From Hebrew phrase kol marbeh-raḡlayim (כָּל־מַרְבֵּה־רַגְלַ֔יִם), meaning "all that multiplies feet" or "all that has many feet." This points to multi-legged invertebrates like centipedes, millipedes, and similar creatures, which are often found low to the ground.
• among all the swarming things: From Hebrew baššereṣ (בַּשֶּׁ֗רֶץ), the word sherets (שֶׁרֶץ) meaning "swarming thing," "creeping thing," or "horde." This is a crucial categorizing term in Leviticus 11, encompassing a wide array of small, often rapidly reproducing creatures. These creatures are generally low to the ground and are often perceived as unclean or impure due to their habits, habitats (damp, dark places), or general perceived ambiguity in violating natural categories of movement.
• that swarm: From Hebrew verb shāratz (שֹׁרֵץ֙), which means "to swarm," "to teem," "to creep abundantly." This verb reinforces the characteristic of the sherets, indicating prolific multiplication and movement often close to the earth's surface.
• on the earth: From Hebrew ʿal-hāʾāreṣ (עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ), indicating their habitat and reinforcing their "low-lying" nature in contrast to birds of the air or fish of the sea.
• these you shall not eat: A clear and absolute prohibition, from Hebrew lōʾ tōḵlūm (לֹא֙ תֹאכְל֣וּם), "you shall not eat them." This direct command underscores the binding nature of the dietary law.
• for they are detestable: From Hebrew kī-šeqeṣ hēm (כִּי־שֶׁ֥קֶץ הֵֽם), meaning "for they are an abomination" or "for they are detestable." The noun sheqets (שֶׁקֶץ) denotes something abhorrent, repulsive, or abominable, extending beyond mere uncleanness to convey a strong negative theological and ethical valuation. It often correlates with spiritual idolatry or moral defilement, signifying what is utterly contrary to God's nature and thus an offense to His holiness.

• Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet: This phrase groups three categories of movement, focusing on creatures that lack the distinct characteristics of permitted animals. This emphasizes the liminal nature of these creatures in Israelite thought, often being perceived as disorderly or anomalous within God's creation by virtue of their strange modes of locomotion (slithering, crawling, multiplicity of limbs).
• among all the swarming things that swarm on the earth: This clarifies the encompassing category to which the forbidden creatures belong. It sets a clear boundary—any creature fitting the descriptions of movement (belly, all fours for "swarming things", many feet) is prohibited if it is one of the sherets that populate the earth. The repeated verb "swarm" highlights their proliferation and potentially pervasive nature.
• these you shall not eat, for they are detestable: This phrase unequivocally states the prohibition and provides the underlying rationale. The designation "detestable" (sheqets) elevates the prohibition from mere hygienic advice to a matter of fundamental ritual purity and divine revulsion. It frames the act of consumption as defiling, disrupting the Israelite's ability to maintain holiness and communion with God.

Leviticus 11 42 Bonus section

The classification of certain animals as "detestable" or "abomination" (sheqets) likely went beyond mere ritual impurity, reflecting a deeper theological aversion. In other scriptural contexts, sheqets is used to describe idols and idolatrous practices (e.g., Isa 66:17, Ezek 8:10), suggesting that consuming these creatures carried a connotation of partaking in something spiritually abhorrent to God. Some scholars suggest these "detestable" creatures represented disorder or an inversion of God's created order in a symbolic way (e.g., land creatures that burrow or slither like fish, or flying creatures with four feet like mammals). The repeated emphasis on their "swarming" nature also could allude to uncontrolled proliferation or a lack of clear boundaries, traits counter to divine order and distinctness. Thus, the dietary laws served as a constant, tangible reminder of the Israelites' holy status and their separation from practices that blurred the lines of purity and holiness, fostering a deep consciousness of their unique identity as God's chosen people.

Leviticus 11 42 Commentary

Leviticus 11:42 provides specific examples of "swarming things" that are declared detestable and therefore forbidden for consumption. This prohibition reinforces Israel's distinctiveness as a holy nation set apart by God. The categories of creatures — those moving on their bellies, on all fours (within the "swarming" category), or with multiple feet — represent beings that were often perceived as ambiguous, low-lying, or disorderly in their movement according to Israelite thought, contrasting with the distinct and orderly classifications of clean animals. The explicit reason given, "for they are detestable" (sheqets), signifies a profound spiritual and ritual aversion, rather than merely a hygienic concern. This term links these forbidden foods with practices considered an abomination to God, thus underscoring the spiritual significance of these dietary laws. These distinctions served to daily remind the Israelites of their covenantal relationship and their call to reflect God's holiness in all aspects of life, ensuring a symbolic separation from pagan idolatry and practices prevalent in surrounding cultures. While the New Covenant abolishes these specific food regulations (Mark 7, Acts 10), the underlying principle of God desiring His people to be distinct, pure, and consecrated to Him remains eternally relevant. Believers are now called to spiritual holiness, maintaining a pure heart and separating themselves from the detestable ways of the world (2 Cor 6:17).