Leviticus 11:41

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth [shall be] an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"'Any creature that swarms on the ground is a detestable thing; it is not to be eaten -

Berean Standard Bible:

Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten.

American Standard Version:

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And every creeping thing{H8318} that creepeth{H8317} upon the earth{H776} shall be an abomination{H8263}; it shall not be eaten{H398}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Leviticus 11:29

  • These also [shall be] unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

Leviticus 11:23

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

Leviticus 11:20

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

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Commentary for Leviticus 11:41

Leviticus 11:41 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the dietary laws given to the Israelites by God through Moses. This verse specifically addresses the prohibition against eating any creature that crawls upon the earth, classifying them as ritually impure and therefore an "abomination" in the context of dietary practices.

**Themes:**
1. **Holiness and Purity:** The dietary laws in Leviticus are closely tied to the theme of holiness. The Israelites are called to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45), and these laws are part of maintaining that holiness by avoiding ritual impurity.
2. **Distinctiveness:** These dietary restrictions served to distinguish the Israelites from other nations and their practices, reinforcing the unique covenant relationship between God and Israel.
3. **Divine Order:** The categorization of clean and unclean animals reflects a broader theme of order and structure established by God in the created world.

**Historical Context:**
- **Post-Exodus:** The book of Leviticus is set after the Exodus from Egypt, during the time when the Israelites are encamped at Mount Sinai.
- **Mosaic Law:** Leviticus is part of the Torah, the Law of Moses, which provided the legal and religious framework for Israelite society.
- **Cultic Purity:** The laws in Leviticus, including dietary regulations, were integral to maintaining cultic purity, which was necessary for approaching God in worship and sacrifice.

In summary, Leviticus 11:41 reflects the broader themes of holiness, distinctiveness, and divine order within the context of Israelite religious and cultural life, as they sought to live according to God's commandments following their deliverance from Egypt.

*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: H8318
    There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁרֶץ
    Transliteration: sherets
    Pronunciation: sheh'-rets
    Description: from שָׁרַץ; a swarm, i.e. active mass of minute animals; creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature).
  2. Strong's Number: H8317
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁרַץ
    Transliteration: shârats
    Pronunciation: shaw-rats'
    Description: a primitive root; to wriggle, i.e. (by implication) swarm or abound; breed (bring forth, increase) abundantly (in abundance), creep, move.
  3. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
  4. Strong's Number: H8263
    There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁקֶץ
    Transliteration: sheqets
    Pronunciation: sheh'-kets
    Description: from שָׁקַץ; filth, i.e. (figuratively and specifically) an idolatrous object; abominable(-tion).
  5. 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.