Leviticus 11:42
New International Version
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

New Living Translation
This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them.

English Standard Version
Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable.

King James Bible
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

New King James Version
Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination.

New American Standard Bible
Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in regard to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, because they are detestable.

NASB 1995
Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable.

NASB 1977
‘Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable.

Legacy Standard Bible
Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, whatever has many feet, in respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable.

Amplified Bible
Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all fours, and whatever has many feet among all things that swarm on the ground, you shall not eat; for they are detestable.

Christian Standard Bible
Do not eat any of the creatures that swarm on the earth, anything that moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet, for they are abhorrent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not eat any of the creatures that swarm on the earth, anything that moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet, for they are detestable.

American Standard Version
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

English Revised Version
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't eat any creature with many legs that goes on its belly or on the ground like a four-legged animal, or any creature that swarms on the ground. Consider them disgusting.

Good News Translation
whether they crawl, or walk on four legs, or have many legs.

International Standard Version
You are not to eat anything that crawls on its belly, anything that walks on four legs, anything that has many legs, or any of the swarming creatures that swarm the land, because they're detestable.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable.

NET Bible
You must not eat anything that crawls on its belly or anything that walks on all fours or on any number of legs of all the swarming things that swarm on the land, because they are detestable.

New Heart English Bible
Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creatures that crawl on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whatever goeth upon the belly, and whatever goeth upon all four, or whatever hath more feet among all creeping animals that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

World English Bible
Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
anything going on the belly, and any going on four, to every multiplier of feet, to every teeming thing which is teeming on the earth—you do not eat them, for they [are] an abomination;

Young's Literal Translation
any thing going on the belly, and any going on four, unto every multiplier of feet, to every teeming thing which is teeming on the earth -- ye do not eat them, for they are an abomination;

Smith's Literal Translation
Every thing going upon the belly, every thing going upon four always, every thing multiplying feet, of all creeping things creeping upon the earth, ye shall not eat them; for they are abomination.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever goeth upon the breast on four feet, or hath many feet, or traileth on the earth, you shall not eat, because it is abominable.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whatever advances by four feet upon the chest, or that has many feet, or that drags across the soil, you shall not eat, because it is abominable.

New American Bible
Whether it crawls on its belly, goes on all fours, or has many legs—any creature that swarms on the earth—you shall not eat them; they are loathsome.

New Revised Standard Version
Whatever moves on its belly, and whatever moves on all fours, or whatever has many feet, all the creatures that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat; for they are detestable.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Whatever goes upon its belly and whatever goes upon all fours or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, you shall not eat of them; for they are unclean.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everything that crawls on its belly and everything that walks on four and every multi legged creature of every creeping thing that creeps on the Earth, you shall not eat of them, because they are defiled.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all swarming things that swarm upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are a detestable thing.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And every animal that creeps on its belly, and every one that goes on four feet continually, which abounds with feet among all the reptiles creeping upon the earth - ye shall not eat it, for it is an abomination to you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
41Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten. 42Do not eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it crawls on its belly or walks on four or more feet; for such creatures are detestable. 43Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 14:3-21
You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ...

Acts 10:12-15
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. / Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” / “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” ...

Mark 7:18-19
“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, / because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Romans 14:14
I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.

1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Genesis 7:2-3
You are to take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate; a pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate; / and seven pairs of every kind of bird of the air, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of all the earth.

Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 8:10
So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:25-27
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, / for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” / If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

Genesis 1:24-25
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, land crawlers, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. / God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that crawls upon the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Acts 15:28-29
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements: / You must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.

Romans 14:20
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.

1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.


Treasury of Scripture

Whatever goes on the belly, and whatever goes on all four, or whatever has more feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

goeth upon the belly

Genesis 3:14,15
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: …

Isaiah 65:25
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Micah 7:17
They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.

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Abomination Belly Crawls Creature Creep Creeping Detestable Earth Eat Feet Four Fours Goes Ground Moves Swarm Swarming Walks Whatever Whatsoever Whether
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Abomination Belly Crawls Creature Creep Creeping Detestable Earth Eat Feet Four Fours Goes Ground Moves Swarm Swarming Walks Whatever Whatsoever Whether
Leviticus 11
1. What animals may be eaten
4. and what may not be eaten
9. What fishes
13. What fowls
29. The creeping things which are unclean














Do not eat
This command is a direct prohibition, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's laws. The Hebrew root for "eat" is "אָכַל" (akal), which not only refers to the physical act of eating but also symbolizes partaking or participating in something. In the context of Leviticus, this command is part of the broader dietary laws given to the Israelites, which were intended to set them apart as a holy people. The act of refraining from eating certain creatures was a tangible expression of their covenant relationship with God.

any creature that moves along the ground
The phrase "moves along the ground" refers to creatures that are not only physically close to the earth but also symbolically represent impurity or uncleanness. The Hebrew word "רֶמֶשׂ" (remes) is used here, which encompasses a variety of small creatures, including insects and reptiles. In the ancient Near Eastern context, these creatures were often associated with chaos and disorder, contrasting with the order and holiness that God desired for His people.

whether it crawls on its belly
This phrase specifically highlights creatures like snakes and other reptiles. The imagery of crawling on the belly is reminiscent of the serpent in Genesis 3, which was cursed to crawl on its belly as a result of the Fall. This connection underscores the symbolic association of such creatures with sin and the consequences of disobedience to God.

or walks on four or more feet
This expands the prohibition to include a broader category of creatures, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the dietary laws. The phrase "four or more feet" indicates animals that are not traditionally considered clean, such as many insects and small mammals. The specificity of this command reflects God's desire for His people to be mindful of their choices and to live in a way that reflects His holiness.

for such creatures are detestable
The term "detestable" is translated from the Hebrew word "שֶׁקֶץ" (sheqets), which conveys a strong sense of revulsion or abomination. This word is often used in the context of idolatry and practices that are abhorrent to God. By labeling these creatures as detestable, God is not only instructing the Israelites on dietary matters but also teaching them about spiritual purity and the importance of distinguishing between the holy and the profane.

(42) Whatsoever goeth upon the belly.--In explanation of the general statement made in the preceding verse, three classes of creeping things are here adduced. (1) Those which move by the aid of the under part of the stomach, here described as "going upon the belly," as serpents (see Genesis 3:14) and serpentine worms.

And whatsoever goeth upon all four.--Those (2) which have four legs and yet move like reptiles, as scorpions, beetles, &c.

Or whatsoever hath more feet.--Better, whatsoever hath many feet, that is (3), those which have a number of such short feet that they cannot easily be discerned by the naked eye, and appear to crawl about upon their stomachs, as caterpillars, centipedes, millipedes, &c.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eat
תֹאכְל֖וּם (ṯō·ḵə·lūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

any
כֹּל֩ (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

creature
הַשֶּׁ֖רֶץ (haš·še·reṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8318: A swarm, active mass of minute animals

that moves
הַשֹּׁרֵ֣ץ (haš·šō·rêṣ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8317: To wriggle, swarm, abound

along
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the ground,
הָאָ֑רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

whether
וְכֹ֣ל ׀ (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

it crawls
הוֹלֵ֨ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

its belly
גָּח֜וֹ‪‬ן (gā·ḥō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1512: The external abdomen, belly

or walks
הוֹלֵ֣ךְ (hō·w·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

four
אַרְבַּ֗ע (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 702: Four

or
עַ֚ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

more
מַרְבֵּ֣ה (mar·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

feet;
רַגְלַ֔יִם (raḡ·la·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

for
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

such [creatures]
הֵֽם׃ (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are detestable.
שֶׁ֥קֶץ (še·qeṣ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8263: Detestation, detestable thing


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OT Law: Leviticus 11:42 Whatever goes on its belly and whatever (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 11:41
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