Leviticus 11:12

12 All that have not fins and scales, in the waters, shall be unclean.

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 whatsoever hath not fins and scales, of those things that move and live in the waters, shall be an abomination to you,

11 And detestable. Their flesh you shall not eat: and their carcasses you shall avoid.

12 All that have not fins and scales, in the waters, shall be unclean.

13 Of birds these are they which you must not eat, and which are to be avoided by you: The eagle, and the griffon, and the osprey.

14 And the kite, and the vulture, according to their kind.