Leviticus 11:16-26

16 and the female ostrich and the male ostrich, and the sea-gull, and the hawk, after its kind;

17 and the owl, and the gannet, and the ibis,

18 and the swan, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture,

19 and the stork; the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

20 Every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four shall be an abomination unto you.

21 Yet these shall ye eat of every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four: those which have legs above their feet with which to leap upon the earth.

22 These shall ye eat of them: the arbeh after its kind, and the solam after its kind, and the hargol after its kind, and the hargab after its kind.

23 But every winged crawling thing that hath four feet shall be an abomination unto you.

24 And by these ye shall make yourselves unclean; whoever toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

25 And whoever carrieth [ought] of their carcase shall wash his garments, and be unclean until the even.

26 Every beast that hath cloven hoofs, but not feet quite split open, nor cheweth the cud, shall be unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

Leviticus 11:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 11

This chapter treats of creatures clean and unclean, as fit or not fit to be eaten; and first of beasts, whose signs are given, Le 11:1-8 then of fishes, which are likewise described, Le 11:9-12 after that of fowls, and those that are not to be eaten are particularly named, Le 11:13-19 next of creeping things, which are distinguished into two sorts, as flying creeping things, of which those that are unclean, their carcasses are not even to be touched, as neither the carcasses of unclean beasts, Le 11:20-28 and creeping things on the earth, which defile by touching, as well as eating, and make everything unclean, upon which, being dead, they fall, Le 11:29-43 and these laws are enforced from the holiness and goodness of God, Le 11:44,45 and the chapter is concluded with a recapitulation of them, Le 11:46,47.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'purple hen.' The word is used also for an unclean reptile, 'chameleon,' ver. 30, but the kind is not known with certainty.
• [b]. Four different kinds of locust.
• [c]. Or 'swarming,' 'swarm:' so elsewhere.
• [d]. See ver. 3