Leviticus 11:20

20 "'Don't eat insects that have wings and walk on all four feet; they also are to be hated.

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 white owls, desert owls, ospreys,

19 storks, any kind of heron, hoopoes, or bats.

20 "'Don't eat insects that have wings and walk on all four feet; they also are to be hated.

21 "'But you may eat certain insects that have wings and walk on four feet. You may eat those that have legs with joints above their feet so they can jump.

22 These are the insects you may eat: all kinds of locusts, winged locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers.