Leviticus 11:15
New International Version
any kind of raven,

New Living Translation
ravens of all kinds,

English Standard Version
every raven of any kind,

Berean Standard Bible
any kind of raven,

King James Bible
Every raven after his kind;

New King James Version
every raven after its kind,

New American Standard Bible
every raven in its kind,

NASB 1995
every raven in its kind,

NASB 1977
every raven in its kind,

Legacy Standard Bible
every raven in its kind,

Amplified Bible
every kind of raven,

Christian Standard Bible
every kind of raven,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
every kind of raven,

American Standard Version
every raven after its kind,

English Revised Version
every raven after its kind;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
all types of crows,

International Standard Version
every kind of raven,

NET Bible
every kind of crow,

New Heart English Bible
any kind of raven,

Webster's Bible Translation
Every raven after his kind;
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
any kind of raven,

World English Bible
any kind of raven,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
every raven after its kind,

Young's Literal Translation
every raven after its kind,

Smith's Literal Translation
Every raven according to its kind;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and all that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness,

New American Bible
the various species of crows,

New Revised Standard Version
every raven of any kind;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the ostrich and the night hawk after its kind;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the ostrich and the hawk with its kinds,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
every raven after its kinds;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and the sparrow, and the owl, and the sea-mew, and the like to it:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
14the kite, any kind of falcon, 15 any kind of raven, 16the ostrich, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:14
any kind of raven,

Genesis 1:21
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 7:14
they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature.

Genesis 8:19
Every living creature, every creeping thing, and every bird—everything that moves upon the earth—came out of the ark, kind by kind.

Job 39:26-30
Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread his wings toward the south? / Does the eagle soar at your command and make his nest on high? / He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag. ...

Isaiah 34:11-15
The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. / No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing. / Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. ...

Jeremiah 12:9
Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her.

Ezekiel 39:17-20
And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Call out to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field: ‘Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great feast on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood. / You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all the fattened animals of Bashan. / At the sacrifice I am preparing, you will eat fat until you are gorged and drink blood until you are drunk. ...

Hosea 9:11
Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.

Zephaniah 2:14
Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

Acts 10:12-14
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. / Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

Romans 1:23
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.


Treasury of Scripture

Every raven after his kind;

Genesis 8:7
And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.

1 Kings 17:4,6
And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there…

Proverbs 30:17
The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

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Birds Kind Kinds Raven Sort
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Leviticus 11
1. What animals may be eaten
4. and what may not be eaten
9. What fishes
13. What fowls
29. The creeping things which are unclean














any kind of raven,
The mention of "any kind of raven" in Leviticus 11:15 refers to the classification of birds that are considered unclean according to the dietary laws given to the Israelites. Ravens are scavengers, often associated with death and decay, which aligns with the broader biblical theme of distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. In the ancient Near Eastern context, ravens were common in the region and known for their adaptability and intelligence.

Ravens are also mentioned in other parts of the Bible, such as in Genesis 8:7, where Noah sends out a raven after the flood, and in 1 Kings 17:4-6, where God uses ravens to provide for Elijah. These instances highlight the sovereignty of God over creation, using even unclean animals to fulfill His purposes.

The prohibition against eating ravens and similar birds underscores the call for the Israelites to be set apart, maintaining purity in their dietary practices as a reflection of their covenant relationship with God. This distinction between clean and unclean can be seen as a type pointing to the holiness required by God, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who makes all things clean through His sacrifice (Acts 10:15).
Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God to instruct the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the dietary laws were given as part of their covenant relationship with Him.

3. Mount Sinai
The location where God delivered the laws to Moses, including the dietary laws found in Leviticus.

4. Raven
A type of bird mentioned in the dietary laws as unclean, symbolizing certain spiritual truths.
Teaching Points
Understanding Holiness
The dietary laws, including the prohibition of eating ravens, teach the Israelites about holiness and separation from the practices of surrounding nations.

Symbolism of the Raven
Ravens, often associated with death and decay, remind believers of the need to avoid spiritual impurity and to seek purity in their lives.

God's Provision
Despite being unclean, ravens are cared for by God, reminding us of His provision and care for all creation, encouraging trust in His provision for our needs.

Obedience to God's Commands
The dietary laws call for obedience, reflecting a heart committed to following God's will, which is applicable to all areas of life.

Spiritual Discernment
Just as the Israelites were to discern between clean and unclean, believers today are called to discern between what is spiritually beneficial and harmful.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Leviticus 11:15?

2. How does Leviticus 11:15 guide us in distinguishing clean and unclean animals?

3. What spiritual principle can we learn from the dietary laws in Leviticus 11?

4. How does Leviticus 11:15 connect to Peter's vision in Acts 10:9-16?

5. Why is obedience to God's commands in Leviticus important for believers today?

6. How can we apply the concept of holiness from Leviticus 11 in daily life?

7. Why does Leviticus 11:15 classify certain birds as unclean?

8. How does Leviticus 11:15 reflect ancient dietary laws?

9. What is the significance of unclean animals in Leviticus 11:15?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 11?

11. What teachings does the Bible provide?

12. If Leviticus 11 is God's eternal command, why does Acts 10:9-16 appear to contradict these dietary laws?

13. Leviticus 15:19-24 - Why does a woman's normal menstrual cycle incur such extended impurity and social restrictions?

14. Why does biblical morality resemble ancient tribal law rather than universal ethics?
What Does Leviticus 11:15 Mean
Any

– The command in Leviticus 11:15 reads, “every kind of raven”. That word “every” (rendered here as “any”) tells Israel the Lord’s prohibition is comprehensive, leaving no room for exceptions.

– From the ark account in Genesis 8:7—where Noah released “a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up”—we learn ravens were already plentiful and hardy. The same God who preserved them in the flood now forbids His covenant people from eating them.

Psalm 147:9 reminds us the Lord “gives food to the animals, and to the young ravens when they call,” so Israel could trust that God’s care for ravens did not require them to use the birds as food.

– By stressing “any,” the Lord protects His people from the human tendency to make loopholes. If it bore the traits of a raven, it was off-limits—no matter the region, color, or size.


Kind

– “Kind” underscores diversity within the raven family—crows, rooks, jackdaws, choughs, and other corvids. The entire group is bundled together under one ruling.

Leviticus 11:13–19 lists multiple birds of prey and scavengers. This principle of grouping appears again in Deuteronomy 14:14 and serves to simplify obedience.

– Grouping also removed guesswork. God was not setting up Israel to stumble; He was setting clear boundaries (1 John 5:3).

– The variety within the raven kind illustrates the Creator’s orderly classification long before modern taxonomy.


Of

– The small preposition “of” ties the raven clan back to the earlier phrase “these you shall detest among the birds” (Leviticus 11:13).

– “Of” signals belonging: ravens are part of the broader category to be avoided. They share traits—scavenging habits, diet of carrion—that make them ritually unsuitable.

Ezekiel 44:23 explains that priests were to “teach My people the difference between the holy and the common.” The word “of” reminds Israel that holiness involves recognizing what belongs in which camp.


Raven

– Ravens are intelligent, opportunistic scavengers. Their diet often includes dead animals, which Leviticus 22:8 forbids Israel even to touch for food.

– In 1 Kings 17:4–6 God uses ravens to feed Elijah, showing He can employ unclean creatures for His purposes without endorsing them as food for His people.

Job 38:41 asks, “Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God?” Even unclean creatures depend on the Lord’s providence—a humbling lesson for Israel.

Luke 12:24 carries this forward: “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap… yet God feeds them.” Jesus points to ravens to illustrate reliance on the Father, not to overturn their unclean status under the Law.

– By forbidding raven consumption, God shields Israel from disease risk, reinforces a lifestyle of discernment, and distinguishes them from surrounding nations who might have eaten such birds.


summary

Leviticus 11:15’s simple phrase “every kind of raven” delivers a thorough prohibition. “Any” eliminates loopholes, “kind” gathers the whole corvid family, “of” links ravens to the larger unclean list, and “raven” identifies a scavenger unfit for Israelite tables. The command showcases God’s care for holiness, health, and clear moral boundaries while reminding His people that even creatures they may not eat still testify to His sustaining goodness.

(15) And every raven.--The raven or the black bird (Song of Solomon 5:11), the bird of the night, as its name denotes in Heb., like the eagle, occurs frequently in the Bible. It preys upon putrid corpses (Proverbs 30:17), and is especially eager to pick out the eyes of the dead, and sometimes even attacks the eyes of the living. So great is its gluttony that it fills the air with its wild shrieks when searching for food (Psalm 147:9; Job 38:41). Its rapacity makes the raven expel its own offspring from their nest and from the surrounding places as soon as they are able to fly, and before they are quite able to procure their own food. Indeed, the ancients believed that it forsook its young immediately after they were hatched. It was in consequence of their excessive greed and known aversion to part with anything, even for their own offspring, that the ravens were chosen to carry food to the prophet (1Kings 17:4; 1Kings 17:6), thus to make the miracle all the more striking. The phrase, "every raven after his kind," clearly shows that the whole genus of ravens is intended, with all the raven-like birds, such as the rook, the crow, the jackdaw, the jay, &c, which abound in Syria and Palestine. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

kind
לְמִינֽוֹ׃ (lə·mî·nōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4327: A sort, species

of raven;
עֹרֵ֖ב (‘ō·rêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6158: A raven


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:15 Any kind of raven (Le Lv Lev.)
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