King James Version

What Does Leviticus 11:21 Mean?

Leviticus 11:21 in the King James Version says “Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap ... — study this verse from Leviticus chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

Leviticus 11:21 · KJV


Context

19

And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

20

All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

21

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

22

Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

23

But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

This verse falls within the section on Clean and Unclean Animals. Dietary laws distinguishing clean from unclean animals, teaching Israel holiness and separation from pagan practices.


What Leviticus portrayed through types and shadows, Christ fulfilled in reality through His incarnation, perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Dietary laws distinguishing clean from unclean animals, teaching Israel holiness and separation from pagan practices. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. Ancient texts like the Code of Hammurabi show that law codes were common in the ancient Near East, but biblical law uniquely grounded ethics in God's character rather than merely social convention.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse point to Christ, and how does that deepen your faith and gratitude?
  2. In what ways does this verse challenge contemporary cultural values or your personal attitudes?
  3. How does this verse help you understand both God's justice and His mercy in salvation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
אַ֤ךְ1 of 19
H389

a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) only

אֶת2 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

זֶה֙3 of 19
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

תֹּֽאכְל֔וּ4 of 19

Yet these may ye eat

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

מִכֹּל֙5 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

שֶׁ֣רֶץ6 of 19

creeping

H8318

a swarm, i.e., active mass of minute animals

הָע֔וֹף7 of 19

of every flying

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַֽהֹלֵ֖ךְ8 of 19

thing that goeth

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

עַל9 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אַרְבַּ֑ע10 of 19

upon all four

H702

four

אֲשֶׁר11 of 19
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹא12 of 19
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

כְרָעַ֙יִם֙13 of 19

which have legs

H3767

the leg (from the knee to the ankle) of men or locusts (only in the dual)

מִמַּ֣עַל14 of 19

above

H4605

properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc

לְרַגְלָ֔יו15 of 19

their feet

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

לְנַתֵּ֥ר16 of 19

to leap

H5425

to jump, i.e., be violently agitated; causatively, to terrify, shake off, untie

בָּהֵ֖ן17 of 19

withal

H2004

they (only used when emphatic)

עַל18 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָאָֽרֶץ׃19 of 19

upon the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Leviticus. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Leviticus 11:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study