Leviticus 11:20

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

Leviticus 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 11:20

All fowls that creep
Or rather "every creeping thing that flies"; for what are designed are not properly fowls, but, as the Jewish writers interpret them, flies, fleas, bees, wasps, hornets, locusts so the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Maimonides ^F25:

going upon [all] four;
that is, upon their four feet, when they walk or creep:

[these shall be] an abomination to you;
not used as food, but detested as such.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F25 Maacolot Asurot, c. 2. l. 5.

Leviticus 11:20 In-Context

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.