Leviticus 11:21-22

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 11:21

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

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 11:21

Legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth - The families of the Saltatoria, of which the common cricket, the common grasshopper, and the migratory locust, may be taken as types. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 11:22

In the uncertainty of identifying these four creatures, it has been suggested that some of the names may belong to locusts in an imperfect state of development. Most modern versions have taken a safer course than our translators, by retaining the Hebrew names. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Leviticus 11:20-21

Leviticus 11:20-21. All fowls that creep The original word signifies any animal or moving creature, especially of the reptile or insect kind, (Genesis 1:20; Genesis 7:21,) and ought to be rendered every winged reptile, or, every flying, creeping thing that goeth upon four, as in Leviticus 11:21, upon four legs, or upon more than four, which is all one as to the present purpose. Which have legs above their feet to leap withal This is a description of the locusts, which, besides four... read more

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