Limitless Word

Deuteronomy 14:19

“Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.
Deuteronomy 14:19 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten.
  • KJV And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.
  • BSB All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.
  • NASB And all the swarming insects with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
  • NLT “All winged insects that walk along the ground are ceremonially unclean for you and may not be eaten.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

All winged insects are unclean and must not be eaten. Flying swarming creatures are excluded as a class.

Overview

Moses declares the general uncleanness of winged swarming insects, completing the boundaries around what Israel may eat. Such creeping, swarming life was associated with the unclean. These dietary distinctions, marking Israel off from the nations, found their fulfillment and release in the gospel of Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Phil 3:19whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
  • Lev 11:20–23“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Deuteronomy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Deuteronomy 14:19YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on DeuteronomyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).

How Deuteronomy 14:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.