“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
Parallel translations
- KJV All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
- BSB All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to 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 1:10But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason.
- Deut 14:19All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten.
- Lev 11:23But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you.
- Lev 11:27Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
- 2 Kgs 17:28–41So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh.
- 2 Tim 4:10for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
- Jude 1:19These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.
- Ps 17:14from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
- Phil 3:18–19For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,
- Matt 6:24“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
- 1 Jn 2:15–17Don’t love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.