Leviticus - 11:23



23 But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Leviticus 11:23.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
But of dying things whatsoever hath four feet only, shall be an abomination to you:
But every winged crawling thing that hath four feet shall be an abomination unto you.
But all other flying creeping animals, which have four feet, shall be an abomination to you.
and every teeming thing which is flying, which hath four feet, an abomination it is to you.
But all other winged four-footed things which go on the earth are disgusting to you.
But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, are a detestable thing unto you.
But among flying things, whatever has only four feet shall be detestable to you.
Omne autem reliquum reptile alatum cui sunt quatuor pedes, abominatio erit vobis.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

But all other flying creeping things,.... Excepting the four sorts before mentioned, wherefore we rightly supply the word "other":
which have four feet; or more; the Vulgate Latin version adds, "only", but wrongly; for those that have more are unclean, and forbidden to be eaten, excepting those in the preceding verse; and most creeping things that fly have six feet, as the locusts themselves, reckoning their leaping legs into the number; though it may be observed, that those creatures that have six feet have but four equal ones, on which they walk or creep; and the two foremost, which are longer, are as hands to them to wipe their eyes with, and protect them from anything that may fall into them and hurt them; they not being able to see clearly because of the hardness of their eyes, as Aristotle (a) observes, and particularly it may be remarked of the fly, as it is by Lucian (b), that though it has six feet it only goes on four, using the other two foremost as hands; and therefore you may see it walking on four feet, with something eatable in its hands, lifting them up on high, just after the manner of men: now all such creatures that have four feet or more, excepting the above:
shall be an abomination unto you; abhorred as food, and abstained from.
(a) Ut supra. (Hist. Animal. l. 9. c. 6.) (b) De Musca.

All other - That is, which have not those legs above and besides their feet mentioned, Leviticus 11:21.

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