Leviticus 11:12

12 Be sure to avoid everything that lives in the water that does not have fins and scales.

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 be sure to avoid all of the creatures in the oceans or streams that do not have fins and scales. That includes all of those that move together in groups and all of those that do not.

11 Be sure to avoid them. Do not eat their meat. Do not even touch their dead bodies.

12 Be sure to avoid everything that lives in the water that does not have fins and scales.

13 " 'Here are the birds you must be sure to avoid. Do not eat them. Be sure to avoid them. " 'They include eagles, vultures and black vultures.

14 They include red kites and all kinds of black kites.