Leviticus 11:20-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 11:20-42

Here is the law, 1. Concerning flying insects, as flies, wasps, bees, etc.; these they might not eat (Lev. 11:20), nor indeed are they fit to be eaten; but there were several sorts of locusts which in those countries were very good meat, and much used: John Baptist lived upon them in the desert, and they are here allowed them, Lev. 11:21, 22. 2. Concerning the creeping things on the earth; these were all forbidden (Lev. 11:29, 30, and again, Lev. 11:41, 42); for it was the curse of the serpent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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, &c.; so the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Maimonides F25 Maacolot Asurot, c. 2. l. 5. : 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. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:21

Yet these may ye eat ,.... Which are after described and named: of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four ; even though it is a creeping thing that flies and goes upon four feet, provided they be such: which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth ; there is a double reading of this clause; the textual reading is, "which have not legs", and is followed by several interpreters and translators; and the marginal reading, which we follow, is, "which have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:22

Even these of them ye may eat , &c.; The four following ones, which seem to be no other than four sorts of locusts: the locust after his kind ; this is the common locust, called by the name of Arbeh, from the great multiplication and vast multitudes of them; the phrase, "after his kind", and which also is used in all the following instances, signifies the whole entire species of them, which might be eaten: and the bald locust after his kind ; which in the Hebrew text is Soleam,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:23

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:20

All fowls that creep - Such as the bat, already mentioned, which has claws attached to its leathern wings, and which serve in place of feet to crawl by, the feet and legs not being distinct; but this may also include all the different kinds of insects, with the exceptions in the following verse. Going upon all four - May signify no more than walking regularly or progressively, foot after foot as quadrupeds do; for it cannot be applied to insects literally, as they have in general six... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:21

Which have legs above their feet - This appears to refer to the different kinds of locusts and grasshoppers, which have very remarkable hind legs, long, and with high joints, projecting above their backs, by which they are enabled to spring up from the ground, and leap high and far. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:22

The locust - ארבה arbeh , either from ארב arab , to lie in wait or in ambush, because often immense flights of them suddenly alight upon the fields, vineyards, etc., and destroy all the produce of the earth; or from רבה rabah , he multiplied, because of their prodigious swarms. See a particular account of these insects in the notes on Exodus 10:4 ; (note). The bald locust - סלעם solam , compounded, says Mr. Parkhurst, from סלע sala , to cut, break, and עם am ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 11:1-47

PART III UNCLEANNESS , CEREMONIAL AND MORAL : ITS REMOVAL OR ITS PUNISHMENT SECTION I The second section deals with the uncleanness contracted every year by the whole congregation, to be annually atoned for on the great Day of Atonement ( Leviticus 16:1-34 ), followed by a parenthetical chapter as to the place in which sacrifice is to be offered—sacrifice being the means by which purification from uncleanness is to be effected ( Leviticus 17:1-16 ). The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 11:20-23

All fowls that creep should rather be rendered all winged creeping things, that is, all flying insects. None are allowed except the Saltatoria, or locust family. The word translated beetle signifies a sort of locust, like the other three words. That the locust was a regular article of food in Palestine is amply proved. "It is well known that locusts were eaten by many of the nations of antiquity, both in Asia and Africa, and even the ancient Greek thought the cicadas very agreeable in... read more

Group of Brands