Leviticus 11:16-26

16 the ostrich, the screech-owl, the seagull, the various kinds of hawks,

17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

18 the horned owl, the pelican, the barn owl,

19 the stork, the various kinds of herons, the hoopoe and the bat.

20 "'All winged swarming creatures that go on all fours are a detestable thing for you;

21 except that of all winged swarming creatures that go on all fours, you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, enabling them to jump off the ground.

22 Specifically, of these you may eat the various kinds of locusts, grasshoppers, katydids and crickets.

23 But other than that, all winged swarming creatures having four feet are a detestable thing for you.

24 "'The following will make you unclean; whoever touches the carcass of them will be unclean until evening,

25 and whoever picks up any part of their carcass is to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening:

26 every animal that has a separate but incompletely divided hoof or that doesn't chew the cud is unclean for you; anyone who touches them will become unclean.

Leviticus 11:16-26 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.