Leviticus 11:9-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 11:9-19

Here is, 1. A general rule concerning fishes, which were clean and which not. All that had fins and scales they might eat, and only those odd sorts of water-animals that have not were forbidden, Lev. 11:9, 10. The ancients accounted fish the most delicate food (so far were they from allowing it on fasting-days, or making it an instance of mortification to eat fish); therefore God did not lay much restraint upon his people in them; for he is a Master that allows his servants not only for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:9

These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters ,.... In the waters of the sea, or in rivers, pools, and ponds; meaning fishes; for though some persons abstain from eating them entirely, as the Egyptian priests, as Herodotus F13 Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 37. relates; and it was a part of religion and holiness, not with the Egyptians only, but with the Syrians and Greeks, to forbear eating them F14 Plutarch. Sympos. p. 730. ; and Julian F15 Orat. 5. p. 330. gives two... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:10

And all that have not fins nor scales in the seas, and in the rivers ,.... Such as eels, lampreys, &c.; of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters ; the former of these are interpreted by Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom of little fishes that have but a small body, and such as are created out of the waters; and the latter, of such as are produced of a male and female; or, as Maimonides F18 Hilchot Maacolot Asuret, l. 1. c. 2. sect. 12. explains it,... read more

John Gill

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

They shall be even an abomination to you ,.... This is repeated again and again, to deter from the eating of such fishes, lest there should be any desire after them: ye shall not eat of their flesh , here mention is made of the flesh of fishes, as is by the apostle, 1 Corinthians 15:39 . Aben Ezra observes, that their wise men say, this is according to the usage of words in those ages: but you shall have their carcasses in abomination ; not only abstain from eating them and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:12

Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters ,.... Which is repeated that they might take particular notice of this law, and be careful to observe it, this being the only sign given: that shall be an abomination unto you ; the Targum of Jonathan says, that not only the flesh of such fish, but the broth, and pickles made of them, were to be an abomination; which contradicts what Pliny F20 Nat. Hist. l. 31. c. 8. relates, that the Jews made a pickle of fishes that lacked... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:9

Whatsoever hath fins and scales - Because these, of all the fish tribe, are the most nourishing; the others which are without scales, or whose bodies are covered with a thick glutinous matter, being in general very difficult of digestion. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:9

Verse 9 9These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters. Here, also, some who know little of religion, plausibly contend that God is acting the physician’s part, and distinguishing wholesome from unwholesome food. But although their opinion is sufficiently refuted by medical men themselves, yet, even if I should admit what they desire, they reason badly. For the purpose of God was other than to provide for the people’s health; and, because He had to do with a rude people, He chose common... 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 11:9-12

Whatsoever hath fins and scales. The absence of fins and scales, or their apparent absence—for phenomenal language is used, as before—gives to fish a repulsive look, on which is grounded the prohibition to eat them. Eels and shell-fish are thus forbidden, though a long course of experience has now taken away the feeling of repulsion with which they were once looked upon. The flesh of the beasts for, bidden to be eaten is only described as unclean, but that of the prohibited fish, birds,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 11:9

Any fish, either from salt water or fresh, might be eaten if it had both scales and fins. but no other creature that lives in the waters. Shellfish of all kinds, whether mollusks or crustaceans, and cetaceous animals, were therefore prohibited, as well as fish which appear to have no scales, like the eel; probably because they were considered unwholesome, and (under certain circumstances) found to be so. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 11:9-19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:10

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 11:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 11:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 11:1-47

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 11:9-12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 11:9

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