Leviticus 11:11-21

11 and you detest them. You shall not eat of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.

12 Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you.

13 "'These you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the nesher, and the rakham, and the black rakham,

14 and the red kite, any kind of black kite,

15 any kind of raven,

16 the tanshemet, the screech owl, and the gull, any kind of hawk,

17 the kos, the shalakh, the yanshuf,

18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

19 the khasidah, any kind of heron, the dukifat, and the atalef.

20 "'All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to hop on the eretz.

Leviticus 11:11-21 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.