What is the meaning of Leviticus 11:20? All flying insects Leviticus 11:20 opens with, “All flying insects…”. • The word “all” emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the instruction, covering every kind of winged creature that belongs to the insect category. • Israel had already been told that the heavens teem with birds (Genesis 1:20), yet here God narrows the focus to smaller airborne creatures. • The same breadth appears in Deuteronomy 14:19, confirming that no loopholes were left for any winged bug outside of the specified exceptions that follow in verses 21-23. that walk on all fours “…that walk on all fours…”. • In everyday observation, insects such as beetles, flies, and moths move with four prominent legs while their front pair function differently; the language reflects the common, surface-level perspective of an observer rather than technical entomology. • God communicates in terms people readily understand, just as He did when describing the sun standing still in Joshua 10:13. • The phrase separates this group from insects granted as clean later in the passage—namely, certain locusts that “have jointed legs above their feet, with which to hop on the ground” (Leviticus 11:21-22). are detestable “…are detestable…”. • “Detestable” labels these creatures as ceremonially unclean, not merely unpleasant. Similar vocabulary is used for abominable practices in Leviticus 18:26 and idolatry in Deuteronomy 7:26. • The term carries moral weight because dietary laws were tied to holiness: “You are to be holy to Me, for I, the Lord, am holy” (Leviticus 20:26). • By avoiding what God calls detestable, Israel visibly separated itself from surrounding nations (see Exodus 19:5-6). to you “…to you.”. • The restriction is covenant-specific, aimed at Israel under the Mosaic Law. • Yet the principle of obeying divine instruction remains timeless; Acts 10:14-15 shows Peter initially resisting the idea of eating formerly unclean animals, underscoring how deeply these commands shaped Jewish conscience. • Under the New Covenant, believers are free from ceremonial food laws (Mark 7:18-19; Colossians 2:16-17), but the passage still teaches the importance of responding to God’s revealed will without compromise. summary Leviticus 11:20 uses everyday observation to ban the consumption of winged insects that crawl on four legs. God’s sweeping “all” leaves no ambiguity. By labeling them “detestable,” the verse reinforces Israel’s call to be distinct in diet and devotion. Although the ceremonial aspect no longer binds Christians, the underlying lesson endures: what God declares off-limits must be treated with reverence, for obedience is an essential mark of His holy people. |
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