What insects are considered clean according to Leviticus 11:22? Setting the scene Leviticus 11 is God’s detailed instruction on which animals His covenant people could eat while journeying toward the Promised Land. He distinguishes between “clean” (permitted) and “unclean” (forbidden) creatures to set Israel apart in daily life and worship (Leviticus 11:1–8; 19, 43–45). Leviticus 11:22 in context “Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.” Immediately before and after this verse, the Lord forbids all other winged insects that “walk on all fours” unless they have jointed legs for hopping (vv. 20–23). Only the four listed here qualify as edible. The clean insects identified • Locust • Katydid • Cricket • Grasshopper All four belong to the same broad group of hopping insects (Orthoptera) characterized by strong rear legs that enable them to “leap on the earth” (v. 21). Observations on each insect • Locust – Known for swarming in vast numbers (Joel 2:25). John the Baptist lived on locusts in the wilderness, underscoring their acceptability (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6). • Katydid – A leaf-like hopper; its Hebrew term likely includes various bush crickets. • Cricket – Smaller relatives of locusts, valued as food in many cultures. • Grasshopper – Common field insect, abundant and nutritionally rich. Why these insects? Scriptural reasoning • They possess a distinct locomotion: “jointed legs above their feet with which to hop on the ground” (Leviticus 11:21). • Their plant-based diet and clear anatomical feature set them apart from other crawling things that share decay or filth. • The distinction reinforces God’s call for Israel to discern and obey, even in everyday eating (Leviticus 11:44–45). Echoes across Scripture • Destructive power: Exodus 10:12–15 and Joel 1–2 portray locust plagues as divine judgment, proving God rules even over creatures deemed edible. • Order in creation: Proverbs 30:27 notes, “The locusts have no king, yet all of them go out in ranks,” highlighting God-given instinct. • Fulfillment in Christ: Peter’s vision in Acts 10:13–15 expands dietary freedom for Gentile believers, yet the original distinctions still teach holiness. Takeaway principles • God’s laws were practical, protecting health and reinforcing spiritual separation. • He cares about the smallest details of His people’s lives, encouraging wholehearted obedience. • Even permitted food points to deeper truths: creation’s order, God’s provision, and the ultimate cleansing found in Christ (Hebrews 9:13–14). |
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