Leviticus 11:10-20

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;

15 every raven after its kind;

16 and the female ostrich and the male ostrich, and the sea-gull, and the hawk, after its kind;

17 and the owl, and the gannet, and the ibis,

18 and the swan, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,

19 and the stork; the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 Every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four shall be an abomination unto you.

Leviticus 11:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 11

This chapter treats of creatures clean and unclean, as fit or not fit to be eaten; and first of beasts, whose signs are given, Le 11:1-8 then of fishes, which are likewise described, Le 11:9-12 after that of fowls, and those that are not to be eaten are particularly named, Le 11:13-19 next of creeping things, which are distinguished into two sorts, as flying creeping things, of which those that are unclean, their carcasses are not even to be touched, as neither the carcasses of unclean beasts, Le 11:20-28 and creeping things on the earth, which defile by touching, as well as eating, and make everything unclean, upon which, being dead, they fall, Le 11:29-43 and these laws are enforced from the holiness and goodness of God, Le 11:44,45 and the chapter is concluded with a recapitulation of them, Le 11:46,47.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'griffin vulture.'
• [b]. Or 'purple hen.' The word is used also for an unclean reptile, 'chameleon,' ver. 30, but the kind is not known with certainty.