Leviticus 11:20

20 Every flying insect that creeps, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Leviticus 11:20 In-Context

18 the swan, the pelican, the gier eagle,

19 the stork, the heron according to her species, the lapwing, and the bat.

20 Every flying insect that creeps, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying insect that goes upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap with them upon the earth;

22 these of them ye may eat: the locust according to his species and the bald locust according to his species and the beetle according to his species and the grasshopper according to his species.