Leviticus 11:12

12 Whatever in the waters hath no fins and scales, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Leviticus 11:12 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 11:12

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters
Which is repeated that they might take particular notice of this law, and be careful to observe it, this being the only sign given:

that [shall be] an abomination unto you;
the Targum of Jonathan says, that not only the flesh of such fish, but the broth, and pickles made of them, were to be an abomination; which contradicts what Pliny

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 relates, that the Jews made a pickle of fishes that lacked scales; so Grotius understands him: this law of the Jews is taken notice of by Porphyry ^F21, who says, it is forbidden all the Jews to eat horse flesh, or fishes that lack scales, or any animal that has but one hoof: and Pliny ^F23, from an ancient author, Cassius Hemina, makes mention of a law of Numa, forbidding the use of fish that had not scales, in feasts made for the gods.

F20 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 8.
F21 De Abstinentia, l. 4. c. 14.
F23 Nat. Hist. l. 32. c. 2.

Leviticus 11:12 In-Context

10 but all that have not fins and scales in seas and in rivers, of all that swarm in the waters, and of every living soul which is in the waters -- they shall be an abomination unto you.

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you: of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase ye shall have in abomination.

12 Whatever in the waters hath no fins and scales, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these shall ye have in abomination of the fowls; they shall not be eaten; an abomination shall they be: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the sea-eagle,

14 and the falcon, and the kite, after its kind;