Leviticus 11:19-29

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.

27 Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, is unclean for you; whoever touches its carcass will be unclean until evening;

28 and whoever picks up its carcass is to wash his clothes and be unclean until evening -these are unclean for you.

29 "'The following are unclean for you among the small creatures that swarm on the ground: the weasel, the mouse, the various kinds of lizards,

Leviticus 11:19-29 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.