Leviticus 11:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ These shall ye eat of all that [are] in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"'Of all the things that live in the water, you may eat these: anything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in seas or in rivers -these you may eat.

Berean Standard Bible:

Of all the creatures that live in the water, whether in the seas or in the streams, you may eat anything with fins and scales.

American Standard Version:

These may ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may ye eat.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

These shall ye eat{H398} of all that are in the waters{H4325}: whatsoever hath fins{H5579} and scales{H7193} in the waters{H4325}, in the seas{H3220}, and in the rivers{H5158}, them shall ye eat{H398}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Acts 20:21

  • Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 14:9

  • These ye shall eat of all that [are] in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:

Deuteronomy 14:10

  • And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it [is] unclean unto you.

Galatians 5:6

  • For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

James 2:18

  • Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

1 John 5:2

  • By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:5

  • Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Commentary for Leviticus 11:9

Leviticus 11:9 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 which types of sea creatures are considered clean and fit for consumption according to these laws.

**Themes:**
1. **Holiness and Purity:** The dietary laws are part of a broader theme of holiness and purity. God instructs the Israelites to distinguish between clean and unclean animals, which serves as a metaphor for moral and ritual purity.
2. **Distinctiveness of Israel:** These laws also serve to set Israel apart from other nations, reinforcing their unique covenantal relationship with God.
3. **Health and Hygiene:** Some scholars suggest that these dietary restrictions may have had health benefits, as many of the forbidden animals are known to carry diseases or parasites harmful to humans.
4. **Obedience to God's Commands:** The dietary laws are a test of the Israelites' obedience to God, as they are required to follow these regulations without necessarily understanding the reasons behind them.

**Historical Context:**
The book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It contains laws and regulations given to the Israelites during their time in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt. Leviticus 11:9 would have been given in a context where the Israelites were being formed into a nation and were learning how to live according to God's commandments.

During this period, the Israelites were surrounded by other cultures with different religious practices and dietary habits. The laws in Leviticus, including the dietary restrictions, were meant to preserve the religious identity and moral integrity of the Israelites in a polytheistic world. The prohibition against eating animals without fins and scales would have been a practical way for the Israelites to maintain their distinctiveness and adherence to the covenant with God.

In summary, Leviticus 11:9 is part of the dietary laws that reflect the themes of holiness, purity, and obedience to God. These laws were given to the Israelites in the wilderness as they were establishing their national and religious identity, distinct from the surrounding nations.

*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: H4325
    There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַיִם
    Transliteration: mayim
    Pronunciation: mah'-yim
    Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
  3. Strong's Number: H5579
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סְנַפִּיר
    Transliteration: çᵉnappîyr
    Pronunciation: sen-ap-peer'
    Description: of uncertain derivation; a fin (collectively); fins.
  4. Strong's Number: H7193
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת
    Transliteration: qasqeseth
    Pronunciation: kas-keh'-seth
    Description: by reduplication from an unused root meaning to shale off as bark; a scale (of a fish); hence a coat of mail (as composed of or covered with jointed plates of metal); mail, scale.
  5. Strong's Number: H3220
    There are 339 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָם
    Transliteration: yâm
    Pronunciation: yawm
    Description: from an unused root meaning to roar; a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the Mediterranean Sea; sometimes a large river, or an artifical basin; locally, the west, or (rarely) the south; sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward).
  6. Strong's Number: H5158
    There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נַחַל
    Transliteration: nachal
    Pronunciation: nakh'-al
    Description: or (feminine) נַחְלָה; (Psalm 124:4), or נַחֲלָה; (Ezekiel 47:19; Ezekiel 48:28), from נָחַל in its original sense; a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine); brook, flood, river, stream, valley.