Leviticus 11:20

20 All fowls that creep, going upon [all] four, [shall be] an abomination to 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 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier-eagle,

19 And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

20 All fowls that creep, going upon [all] four, [shall be] an abomination to you.

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.