Leviticus 11:20-23 · Bible study
Leviticus 11:20-23 Commentary: Why Locusts Are Permitted Among Flying Insects
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore why flying insects that creep are forbidden but locusts with hopping legs are clean. Hebrew terms, cultural context, and theological meaning.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Flying insects that creep on four feet are unclean, but those with jointed hopping legs (locusts) are permitted as food.
- Key words: sherets (swarming thing); sheqets (detestable thing); khera'ayim (leaping legs); four Hebrew locust names: arbeh, sol'am, chargol, chagav.
- Main debate: Whether the four named locusts represent distinct species or growth stages; also, why hopping (vs. creeping) was the criterion.
- Theological theme: Holy living requires discernment between clean and unclean, order and mixture; God provides for his people even within boundaries.
- Best use: Teaching on biblical holiness, dietary laws as identity markers, and the consistency of God’s instruction across Scripture.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
20All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you.
21However, you may eat the following kinds of flying insects that walk on all fours: those having jointed legs above their feet for hopping on the ground.
22Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper.
23All other flying insects that have four legs are detestable to you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
20“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
21Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have long, jointed legs for hopping on the earth.
22Even of these you may eat: any kind of locust, any kind of katydid, any kind of cricket, and any kind of grasshopper.
23But all winged creeping things which have four feet are an abomination to you.
KJV King James Version 1769
20All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
21Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.
23But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
20All winged creeping things that go upon all fours are an abomination unto you.
21Yet these may ye eat of all winged creeping things that go upon all fours, which have legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the earth;
22even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.
23But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination unto you.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
20`Every teeming creature which is flying, which is going on four--an abomination it is to you.
21`Only--this ye do eat of any teeming thing which is flying, which is going on four, which hath legs above its feet, to move with them on the earth;
22these of them ye do eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the beetle after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind;
23and every teeming thing which is flying, which hath four feet--an abomination it is to you.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
20Every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four shall be an abomination unto you.
21Yet these shall ye eat of every winged crawling thing that goeth upon all four: those which have legs above their feet with which to leap upon the earth.
22These shall ye eat of them: the arbeh after its kind, and the solam after its kind, and the hargol after its kind, and the hargab after its kind.
23But every winged crawling thing that hath four feet shall be an abomination unto you.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
20Of things that fly, whatsoever goeth upon four feet, shall be abominable to you.
21But whatsoever walketh upon four feet, but hath the legs behind longer, wherewith it hoppeth upon the earth,
22That you shall eat: as the bruchus in its kind, the attacus, and ophimachus, and the locust, every, one according to their kind.
23But of flying things whatsoever hath four feet only, shall be an abomination to you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 11:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the basic structure of these verses: they carve out a narrow exception to the general prohibition of winged crawling things. The key distinction is mode of locomotion. Insects that walk or creep on all fours (or more) are unclean. But those equipped with specially jointed hind legs for leaping, the khera'ayim or “shank-feet” above their feet, are edible. The four named varieties, arbeh, sol'am, chargol, and chagav, are all types of locust or grasshopper.
Barnes and Keil & Delitzsch note that the underlying Hebrew noun sherets means not just “creeping things” but teeming swarms, vermin that multiply to annoyance. The restriction, therefore, deals with small flying creatures that typically infest crops and homes. Adam Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown observe that locusts have been a common food in the East since antiquity. The law singles out creatures with “legs above their feet” for hopping; this anatomical feature, as Gill and Matthew Henry point out, lifts them out of the category of creeping pests and into the category of clean food.
There is some debate over whether “four feet” is meant literally, many insects have six. Most commentators think the phrasing refers to the four walking feet, with the hind legs counted separately for hopping. The Cambridge Bible suggests the list here overlaps closely with Deuteronomy 14:19-20, where the same exception is stated more briefly. All sources agree that the permitted animals are the jumping orthopterans, not all winged insects.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal taxonomic view: The passage gives a straightforward biological rule: insects with jumping hind legs (Saltatoria) are clean; those that only crawl are not. The four names refer to distinct edible orthopterans.
- Symbolic/moral view: The mode of locomotion reflects spiritual character: creeping things represent those who are earthbound and mixed in allegiance; hopping creatures represent those who rise above the world (Matthew Henry, Wesley).
- Developmental view: Some Jewish interpreters (cited by Gill) focus on the textual variant: locusts in early stages lack legs, so the permission applies only to the fully developed, leaping adult form.
What is clear: It is not in dispute that the text permits eating locusts and similar leaping insects as an exception to the general ban on winged creeping things, and that the criterion is the presence of jointed legs above the feet for hopping.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the four Hebrew locust words | All traditions agree they are types of locusts or grasshoppers, part of the orthopteran family. | The exact species mapped to each term (arbeh, sol'am, chargol, chagav) is uncertain. Some see them as different species; others suggest they represent different growth stages. |
| Why hopping makes a creature clean | The presence of jointed hind legs for leaping distinguishes these insects from those that merely crawl. This is the defining feature. | Some (e.g., Matthew Henry) read this symbolically: hopping represents a higher, more distinct way of life. Others (e.g., Cambridge, Keil) see it as a practical taxonomic marker. A few ancient traditions (reflected in Gill's note on the textual reading) debated whether locusts were born without legs and later developed them. |
| Literal four feet vs. classification language | The term “four feet” is used broadly to mean the walking feet, not a precise count. | Some commentators (e.g., Wesley) take “all four” to include more than four legs; others (e.g., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) see it as a description of normal walking motion. The point is to contrast with the leaping legs. |
| Application for Christians today | The New Testament (Mark 7, Acts 10) declares all foods clean; the ceremonial law is not binding. | Some Christians see the dietary laws as purely cultural and obsolete; others find abiding principles of holiness and distinction; a few groups (e.g., Messianic Jews) continue to observe kashrut. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Israel’s dietary laws set them apart from the surrounding nations. In Egypt and Canaan, certain insects were objects of worship or were used in pagan rituals; the Cambridge Bible notes that one principle behind clean/unclean distinctions may have been to avoid animals venerated by heathen neighbours. Locusts, however, were a familiar and practical food source. Travelers and commentators from antiquity report that locusts were dried, salted, fried, or ground into meal. The Arabs still eat them, as do many communities in Africa and the Middle East.
Locust plagues were a recurring threat in the ancient Near East. The Hebrew names for locusts often reflect their behaviour: arbeh comes from a root meaning “to multiply,” because of their massive swarms; sol'am may mean “devourer” (Keil & Delitzsch). The law thus regulates a creature that could be a source of both devastation and nutrition. Permitting some kinds of locusts gave the poor a cheap protein source while still maintaining the overall boundary between clean and unclean.
The literary context also matters. Leviticus 11 is part of a larger holiness code (chapters 11, 15) governing purity in everyday life. The list of forbidden birds (vv. 13, 19) ends with bats and winged creatures that do not fly cleanly. Then comes the category of “winged creeping things” (v. 20). By specifying that hopping insects are an exception, the law creates a consistent classification system: animals with a clear, orderly form of movement (split hooves, fins and scales, hopping legs) are clean; those that blur categories or move in a mixed way (swarming, creeping, crawling) are not. This reflects the priestly concern for order and distinction that runs through Leviticus.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note one significant textual issue in verse 21. The Masoretic text has a ketiv (written form) that reads “which have not legs” (lo with an aleph?), while the qere (read form) is “which have legs” (lo with a vav). This is a classic example of a ketiv/qere where the consonants are identical but the vocalization changes the meaning. Gill explains that both readings were regarded as written by Moses: one pointing to the fact that locusts are born without legs, the other to their adult state. Most translations adopt the qere (“which have legs”) as the intended sense. Otherwise, the text of these verses is stable across Hebrew manuscripts and ancient versions.
Reception History
Jewish tradition, from the Mishnah onward, codified which locusts are kosher based on these verses. The four Hebrew names were interpreted using anatomical features (the presence of four walking legs and four wings, and the leaping legs). John the Baptist’s diet of locusts (Matthew 3:4) confirms that this permission was practiced in the first century. Early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria and Origen treated the dietary laws allegorically, seeing in the clean/unclean distinction a symbol of moral purity. During the Reformation, commentators like Matthew Henry and John Wesley drew moral lessons from the passage, especially the idea that “mongrel” creatures (part flying, part creeping) represent hypocrisy or spiritual instability. Modern scholarship focuses on the literary structure and the taxonomic principles underlying the laws.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God draws boundaries for his people. Not every creature is fit for the table. The laws teach Israel to discern between holy and common, clean and unclean.
- The exception reveals God’s provision. Even within restrictions, God permits what nourishes. Locusts, a plentiful pest, become a gift of food.
- Movement matters. The contrast between creeping and hopping points to a deeper order: God’s people are called to move differently from the world, not crawling in the dust but leaping in freedom.
Five-point outline
- The general prohibition (v. 20): all winged creeping things are an abomination.
- The exception announced (v. 21): those with leaping legs may be eaten.
- The named kinds (v. 22): four types of locusts are listed as examples.
- The repeated ban (v. 23): any other four-footed flying thing remains detestable.
- The rationale: God’s people learn to live by distinct categories that shape their identity as holy.
Illustration hooks
- Pest or protein? A gardener who battles grasshoppers all summer learns that in another culture, those same insects are a delicacy. The law invited Israel to see some pests as permitted food.
- The one that got away. A child catches a cricket but is told to release it because his family doesn’t eat bugs. Later he learns that locusts are actually biblical food, same group, different rules.
- Supermarket categories. Grocery aisles sort foods differently across cultures. In Israel’s diet, the sorting principle was not just taste or nutrition but divine instruction.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean Christians should eat locusts today, or is the law no longer binding?
- What does “abomination” mean in a biblical context, is it about moral sin or ceremonial purity?
- Why does it matter which insects you eat? Isn't this just ancient hygiene?
Leading a Discussion
This short passage raises big questions about how God’s people live differently. It seems odd to modern ears, but the principles behind it, distinction, holiness, and trust in God’s instructions, still shape our walk with Christ.
Discussion questions
- What stands out to you about the way God classifies animals here? Why do you think the mode of movement makes something clean or unclean?
- Read Deuteronomy 14:19-20 alongside this passage. How are the two lists similar? Why do you think one is more detailed?
- The word “abomination” (sheqets) is strong. What does it tell you about how seriously God takes these boundaries? Does that surprise you?
- Locusts were eaten by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4) and were considered clean. How does the New Testament’s approach to dietary laws differ from the Old? (Consider Mark 7:18-19 and Acts 10:9-16.)
- What kinds of “creeping things” in our own lives, habits, influences, compromises, might we need to reject because they are not clean for us?
- How does this passage help you think about the difference between God’s holy people and the surrounding culture?
- In what ways does God’s provision (like allowing locusts) meet you even within restrictions?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 11:27 | Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. |
| Deuteronomy 14:19 | All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten. |
| II Kings 17:28 | So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear Yahweh. |
| II Kings 17:41 | So these nations feared Yahweh, and also served their engraved images. Their children did likewise, and so did their children’s children. They do as their fathers did to this day. |
| Psalms 17:14 | from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. |
| Matthew 6:24 | “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon. |
| Philippians 3:18 | For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, |
| Philippians 3:19 | whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that while scholars debate which insects these names describe, the locust was certainly eaten in ancient times and still was in his own day. He emphasizes that the Hebrew terms point to the locust's swarming nature and leaping ability, not to any repulsive quality.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the Hebrew word for "creeping things" originally describes creatures that teem and multiply, often to humanity's annoyance. He observes uncertainty in identifying the four named creatures and suggests some may refer to locusts in an immature stage, which is why modern versions often keep the Hebrew names.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes that the phrase "all fowls that creep" in the King James Version obscures the fact that these are flying insects. The description of these insects as going on "all four" is popular, not scientific, since they actually have six feet.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes draw a sharp line between insects that crawl on four legs and those that also have hind legs built for leaping. Only the leaping kinds, such as locusts in their varieties, are clean for food. All other four-footed flying insects that merely creep are an abomination.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws careful attention to the Hebrew textual variant in which locusts are born without legs but later grow them, so both readings are true. He then identifies the four permitted kinds of locusts by their Hebrew names and physical marks, noting that such insects were commonly eaten by many ancient peoples.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies that "going upon all fours" in this passage is not a strict limit to four feet, since many creeping things have more. The main focus is on locusts, which were lawful food for Israelites and were prepared by the Arabs in olive oil, tasting like red herrings when salted and fried.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch carefully identifies the four kinds of locusts the law allowed, distinguishing them from other flying insects by their springing hind legs. They argue that the practice of eating locusts continued, noting John the Baptist as evidence, and reject the claim that Deuteronomy later prohibited it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that these ceremonial distinctions taught Israel a constant awareness of holiness in the smallest daily matters. Every creature they touched or ate either drew them toward God or marked them as separate from impurity, making obedience a moment-by-moment practice.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets the prohibition on certain flying insects as carrying spiritual meaning: creatures that creep instead of fly picture religious apostates and those of mixed loyalty, whom God finds detestable. He notes that locusts are allowed because they hop with special legs, unlike other creeping insects.