All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.
Parallel translations
- WEB “‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
- KJV All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
- ESV “All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you.
- NKJV ‘All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.
- NASB ‘All the winged insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.
- NLT “You must not eat winged insects that walk along the ground; they are detestable to you.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to Israel. Most winged insects are excluded from the diet.
Overview
The general rule forbids winged, crawling insects, again drawing a clear boundary for daily life. The phrase 'walk on all fours' reflects ordinary observation rather than precise entomology. This kept the discipline of clean and unclean ever-present, training Israel in holiness that touched even the smallest creatures, and pointing to the comprehensive holiness God desires.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Jude 1:10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
- Deut 14:19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.
- Lev 11:23All other flying insects that have four legs are detestable to you.
- Lev 11:27All the four-footed animals that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean until evening,
- 2 Kgs 17:28–41Thus one of the priests they had carried away came and lived in Bethel, and he began to teach them how they should worship the LORD.
- 2 Tim 4:10because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Jude 1:19These are the ones who cause divisions, who are worldly and devoid of the Spirit.
- Ps 17:14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
- Phil 3:18–19For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
- Matt 6:24No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
- 1 Jn 2:15–17Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 11:20 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.