Leviticus 11:13-23
God commands His people to distinguish clean and unclean among flying creatures so their daily practices reflect covenant holiness.
13 “ ‘You shall detest these among the birds; they shall not be eaten because they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,
14 the red kite, any kind of black kite,
15 any kind of raven,
16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,
17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,
18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,
19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat.
20 “ ‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
21 Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth.
22 Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.
23 But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.
God commands His people to distinguish clean and unclean among flying creatures so their daily practices reflect covenant holiness.
This passage identifies birds and flying creatures that Israel must regard as unclean and therefore not eat, while also clarifying the limited category of winged insects that are permitted. The section continues the dietary laws by expanding Israel's discernment of clean and unclean categories in the realm of creatures that fly.
Leviticus 11:13-23 follows the clean/unclean criteria for land animals and water creatures. The instruction now turns to flying creatures, first listing birds and a bat that Israel must not eat, then distinguishing forbidden flying insects from permitted hopping insects.
Leviticus 11:13-23 is set at Sinai within the larger clean/unclean instruction following the inauguration of the priesthood and the priestly mandate to distinguish clean from unclean. Israel is being formed as the LORD's holy covenant people, with even ordinary food choices brought under divine instruction. The passage concerns ordinary eating, but it is connected to Israel's worship life because clean and unclean status shapes life near the tabernacle and participation in holy things. The instruction is given through Moses and Aaron to the Israelites. The priests must teach these distinctions to the covenant community. Flying creatures are classified by forbidden lists and permitted exceptions. Birds and bat-like flying creatures are listed as detestable, while certain hopping locust-family insects are permitted. This passage continues the food-law section that trains Israel in holiness and prepares later biblical developments concerning purity, food, Gentile inclusion, and Christ's fulfillment.
Clean and Unclean Creatures: Holiness in Daily Life
The holy LORD trains His redeemed people to distinguish clean from unclean in daily life so that their ordinary existence reflects His holy claim upon them.