Leviticus 11:12

12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, 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 the seas and in the rivers, of any reptile in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you;

11 they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

13 And these ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they shall be an abomination: the eagle, the ossifrage, the ospray,

14 the vulture, and the kite according to his species,