Deuteronomy 14:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But these [are they] of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Complete Jewish Bible:

but these you are not to eat: eagles, vultures, ospreys,

Berean Standard Bible:

but these you may not eat: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,

American Standard Version:

But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But these are they of which ye shall not eat{H398}: the eagle{H5404}, and the ossifrage{H6538}, and the ospray{H5822},

Cross-References (KJV):

Leviticus 11:13

  • And these [are they which] ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they [are] an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Leviticus 11:19

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

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for Deuteronomy 14:12

1. **Themes:**
- **Purity and Holiness:** Deuteronomy 14:12 is part of a larger section that outlines dietary laws for the Israelites. These laws were meant to set Israel apart from other nations, emphasizing their distinct identity as a holy people consecrated to God.
- **Divine Distinctions:** The verse reflects the idea that God has established clear boundaries between clean and unclean animals, which the Israelites were to observe meticulously.
- **Obedience:** The dietary restrictions served as a test of the Israelites' obedience to God's commandments, reinforcing the importance of adherence to the Law.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Mosaic Law:** The book of Deuteronomy is part of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), traditionally attributed to Moses. It contains a series of speeches delivered by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
- **Covenant Renewal:** Deuteronomy represents a renewal of the covenant between God and Israel. The dietary laws, including those in chapter 14, were given in the context of this covenantal relationship, reinforcing the unique bond between God and His people.
- **Preparation for Settlement:** As the Israelites were about to transition from a nomadic to a sedentary lifestyle in Canaan, these laws would have helped to establish a societal structure and identity that was distinctly Israelite, differentiating them from the surrounding nations and their practices.

In summary, Deuteronomy 14:12 is part of the dietary laws given to the Israelites, which served to maintain their ritual purity and distinctiveness as a people holy to God. These laws were an integral part of the covenant relationship between God and Israel and were meant to be observed as the people prepared to inhabit the Promised Land.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H398
    There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָכַל
    Transliteration: ʼâkal
    Pronunciation: aw-kal'
    Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
  2. Strong's Number: H5404
    There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶשֶׁר
    Transliteration: nesher
    Pronunciation: neh'-sher
    Description: from an unused root meaning to lacerate; the eagle (or other large bird of prey); eagle.
  3. Strong's Number: H6538
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּרֶס
    Transliteration: pereç
    Pronunciation: peh'-res
    Description: from פָּרַס; a claw; also a kind of eagle; claw, ossifrage.
  4. Strong's Number: H5822
    There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עׇזְנִיָּה
    Transliteration: ʻoznîyâh
    Pronunciation: oz-nee-yaw'
    Description: probably feminine of עֹז; probably the sea-eagle (from its strength); ospray.