Leviticus 11:21-31

21 Yet these may ye eat, of every flying creeping animal that goeth upon [all] four, which have legs above their feet, to leap with upon the earth;

22 [Even] these of them ye may eat; the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the beetle after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.

23 But all [other] flying creeping animals, which have four feet, [shall be] an abomination to you.

24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening.

25 And whoever beareth [aught] of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.

26 [The carcasses] of every beast which divideth the hoof, and [is] not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, [are] unclean to you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

27 And whatever goeth upon its paws, among all manner of beasts that go on [all] four, those [are] unclean to you: whoever toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.

28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: they [are] unclean to you.

29 These also [shall be] unclean to you among the creeping animals that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise, after its kind,

30 And the ferret and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

31 These [are] unclean to you among all that creep: whoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.

Leviticus 11:21-31 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.