Leviticus 11:20

20 " 'Be sure to avoid every flying insect that walks on all fours.

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 They include white owls, desert owls and ospreys.

19 They also include storks, hoopoes, bats and all kinds of herons.

20 " 'Be sure to avoid every flying insect that walks on all fours.

21 But you can eat some creatures that have wings and walk on all fours. Their legs have joints so they can hop on the ground.

22 " 'Here are the insects you can eat. You can eat all kinds of locusts, katydids, crickets and grasshoppers.