Leviticus 11:9 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.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 11 > Verse 9

◄ Leviticus 11:9 ►

New International Version
“’Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.

New Living Translation
“Of all the marine animals, these are ones you may use for food. You may eat anything from the water if it has both fins and scales, whether taken from salt water or from streams.

English Standard Version
“These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, 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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
‘These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers—that you may eat.

New American Standard Bible
‘These you may eat, of whatever is in the water: everything that has fins and scales, in the water, in the seas, or in the rivers, you may eat.

NASB 1995
‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.

NASB 1977
‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: all that have fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas, or in the rivers, you may eat.

Amplified Bible
‘These you may eat, whatever is in the water: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, these you may eat;

Christian Standard Bible
“This is what you may eat from all that is in the water: You may eat everything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or streams.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This is what you may eat from all that is in the water: You may eat everything in the water that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or streams.

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.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Here are the kinds of creatures that live in the water which you may eat-anything in the seas and streams that has fins and scales.

Good News Translation
You may eat any kind of fish that has fins and scales,

International Standard Version
"You may eat anything that lives in the water—that is, you may eat anything that has fins and scales either from the seas or from the rivers.

Majority 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.

NET Bible
"'These you can eat from all creatures that are in the water: Any creatures in the water that have both fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams, you may eat.

New Heart English Bible
"'These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.

Webster's Bible Translation
These shall ye eat, of all that are in the waters: whatever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

World English Bible
“‘You may eat of all these that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that you may eat.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
This you eat of all which [are] in the waters: anything that has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the brooks, them you eat;

Young's Literal Translation
This ye do eat of all which are in the waters; any one that hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the brooks, them ye do eat;

Smith's Literal Translation
And this shall ye eat from all which are in the water: all which to it is a fin and scale in the water, in the seas, and in the rivers, ye shall eat them.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is lawful to eat. All that hath fins, and scales, as well in the sea, as in the rivers, and the pools, you shall eat.

Catholic Public Domain Version
These are the things that breed in the waters, and which it is lawful to eat. All that has little fins and scales, as much in the sea, as in the rivers and ponds, you shall eat.

New American Bible
Of the various creatures that live in the water, you may eat the following: whatever in the seas or in river waters that has both fins and scales you may eat.

New Revised Standard Version
These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams—such you may eat.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
These shall you eat of all that are in the waters; whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, you shall eat.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And these things you will eat from everything that is in water: eat anything that has fins and scales in the water, in the seas and in rivers.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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, them may ye eat.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And these are what ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all things that have fins and scales in the waters, and in the seas, and in the brooks, these ye shall eat.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Clean and Unclean Animals
…8You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you. 9 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. 10But the following among all the teeming life and creatures in the water are detestable to you: everything in the seas or streams that does not have fins and scales.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 14:9-10
Of all the creatures that live in the water, you may eat anything with fins and scales, / but you may not eat anything that does not have fins and scales; it is unclean for you.

Genesis 1:21
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 7:2
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;

Genesis 9:2-3
The fear and dread of you will fall on every living creature on the earth, every bird of the air, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are delivered into your hand. / Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.

Ezekiel 47:9-10
Wherever the river flows, there will be swarms of living creatures and a great number of fish, because it flows there and makes the waters fresh; so wherever the river flows, everything will flourish. / Fishermen will stand by the shore; from En-gedi to En-eglaim they will spread their nets to catch fish of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea.

Isaiah 11:9
They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.

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.

Matthew 13:47-48
Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. / When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away.

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.” ...

Acts 11:6-10
I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. / Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’ / ‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ...

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 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

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.

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.)

Luke 5:4-6
When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” / “Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” / When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.

Treasury of Scripture

These shall you eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall you eat.

Deuteronomy 14:9,10
These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: …

Acts 20:21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Jump to Previous

Brooks Creatures Fins Food Formed Parts Plates Rivers Scales Seas Skin Special Streams Swimming Thin Used Water Waters Whatever Whatsoever Whether

Jump to Next

Brooks Creatures Fins Food Formed Parts Plates Rivers Scales Seas Skin Special Streams Swimming Thin Used Water Waters 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

Berean Study Bible

Of all the creatures that live in the water
This phrase introduces the category of aquatic life, emphasizing the breadth of God's creation. The Hebrew word for "creatures" is "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh), often translated as "soul" or "living being," indicating that these are living entities with a God-given life force. The phrase underscores the diversity and abundance of life in aquatic environments, reflecting God's creativity and provision.

whether in the seas or streams
This phrase specifies the habitats of the creatures, covering both saltwater and freshwater environments. The Hebrew words "יַם" (yam) for "seas" and "נַחַל" (nachal) for "streams" highlight the comprehensive nature of God's creation. Historically, the Israelites would have been familiar with both the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, making this command relevant to their daily lives and dietary practices.

you may eat
This phrase indicates permission and divine approval, setting boundaries for what is considered clean and acceptable. The Hebrew verb "אָכַל" (akal) means "to eat" or "to consume," and it is used here to delineate dietary laws that distinguish the Israelites from other nations. This command reflects God's concern for the health and holiness of His people, as well as their obedience to His statutes.

anything that has fins and scales
This phrase provides the criteria for clean aquatic animals. The Hebrew words "סְנַפִּיר" (snapir) for "fins" and "קַשְׂקֶשֶׂת" (qaskeset) for "scales" are specific anatomical features that serve as identifiers of permissible food. These criteria are not arbitrary but are believed to have health and symbolic implications. Fins and scales may represent a form of natural protection and mobility, symbolizing spiritual discernment and the ability to navigate life's challenges while remaining pure and undefiled.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) These shall ye eat.--The water animals, which, as we have seen, constitute the second division of the animal kingdom, now follow the land animals. They are discussed in Leviticus 11:9-12. Like the clean quadrupeds, the salt-water and the fresh-water fish must comply with two conditions to bring them within the class of clean. They must have both scales and fins. It will be seen that in the case of the quadrupeds, not only are two criteria given by which the clean animals may be distinguished from the unclean, but that the law is illustrated by adducing ten land animals of the former kind (see Leviticus 11:2), and four of the latter (see Leviticus 11:4-7). In the case before us, however, not a single typical fish is given by name, and the law itself is expressed in the briefest and most generic manner possible. It was evidently left to those upon whom the administration of the law devolved to define it more minutely in order that it may be observed in practical life. Hence the following expanded definitions obtained during the second Temple:--(1) All fishes with scales have invariably also fins, but fishes which have fins have not always scales. Any fish, therefore, or even a piece of one exposed by itself for sale in the market, which exhibits scales may be eaten, for it is to be taken for granted that it had fins, or that the fins cannot be seen because of their extraordinary smallness. But, on the other hand, a fish with fins may exist without scales, and hence is unclean; (2) Clean fishes have a complete vertebral column, but the unclean have simply single joints, united by a gelatinous cord. To the former class belong, (a) "the soft fins," or the salmon and trout, the capellan and grayling, the herring, the anchovy and the sardine, the pike and carp families, the cod, the hake and the haddock, the sole, the turbot, and the plaice; (b) "the spiny fins," as the perch, the mackerel, and the tunny. To the latter class belong the shark tribe, the sturgeons with their caviare, the lamprey, and the nine-eyed eel; (3) The head of clean fishes is more or less broad, whilst that of the unclean kinds is more or less pointed at the end, as the eel, the mammalian species, &c.; (4) The swimming bladder of clean fishes is rounded at one end, and pointed at the other, whilst that of the unclean fishes is either rounded or pointed at both extremities alike. It is in allusion to this law that we are told in the parable of the fisherman, which is taken from Jewish life, that when they drew to shore the net with every kind of fishes, the fishermen sat down (i.e., to examine the clean and the unclean), and gathered the good (i.e., the clean), into the vessels, but cast the bad (i.e., the unclean) away (Matthew 13:48). The orthodox Jews to this day strictly observe these regulations, and abhor eating those fishes which are enumerated under the four above-named criteria of not clean. It is moreover to be remarked that fishes without scales are also still regarded in Egypt as unwholesome, and that the Romans would not permit them to be offered in sacrifice.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 9-12. - Whatsoever hath fins and scales. The absence of fins and scales, or their apparent absence - for phenomenal language is used, as before - gives to fish a repulsive look, on which is grounded the prohibition to eat them. Eels and shell-fish are thus forbidden, though a long course of experience has now taken away the feeling of repulsion with which they were once looked upon. The flesh of the beasts for, bidden to be eaten is only described as unclean, but that of the prohibited fish, birds, insects, and vermin, is designated as an abomination unto you.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Of all [the creatures]
מִכֹּ֖ל (mik·kōl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that [live]
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

in the water,
בַּמָּ֑יִם (bam·mā·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

whether salt water
בַּיַּמִּ֛ים (bay·yam·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

or fresh water,
וּבַנְּחָלִ֖ים (ū·ḇan·nə·ḥā·lîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft

you may eat
תֹּֽאכְל֔וּ (tō·ḵə·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

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

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

have fins
סְנַפִּ֨יר (sə·nap·pîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5579: A fin

and scales.
וְקַשְׂקֶ֜שֶׂת (wə·qaś·qe·śeṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7193: A scale, a coat of mail

Links

Leviticus 11:9 NIV
Leviticus 11:9 NLT
Leviticus 11:9 ESV
Leviticus 11:9 NASB
Leviticus 11:9 KJV

Leviticus 11:9 BibleApps.com
Leviticus 11:9 Biblia Paralela
Leviticus 11:9 Chinese Bible
Leviticus 11:9 French Bible
Leviticus 11:9 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Leviticus 11:9 These you may eat of all that (Le Lv Lev.)