Deuteronomy 14:19
New International Version
All flying insects are unclean to you; do not eat them.

New Living Translation
“All winged insects that walk along the ground are ceremonially unclean for you and may not be eaten.

English Standard Version
And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.

Berean Standard Bible
All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.

King James Bible
And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.

New King James Version
“Also every creeping thing that flies is unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.

New American Standard Bible
And all the swarming insects with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

NASB 1995
“And all the teeming life with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

NASB 1977
“And all the teeming life with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the teeming life with wings are unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.

Amplified Bible
And all flying insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.

Christian Standard Bible
All winged insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All winged insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.

American Standard Version
And all winged creeping things are unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.

Contemporary English Version
Swarming insects are unclean, so don't eat them.

English Revised Version
And all winged creeping things are unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Every swarming, winged insect is also unclean for you. They must never be eaten.

Good News Translation
"All winged insects are unclean; do not eat them.

International Standard Version
Any winged, swarming insect is unclean to you. They must not be eaten.

Majority Standard Bible
All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.

NET Bible
and any winged thing on the ground are impure to you--they may not be eaten.

New Heart English Bible
All winged crawling creatures are unclean to you: they shall not be eaten.

Webster's Bible Translation
And every creeping animal that flieth is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten.

World English Bible
All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And every teeming thing which is flying—it [is] unclean to you; they are not eaten;

Young's Literal Translation
and every teeming thing which is flying, unclean it is to you; they are not eaten;

Smith's Literal Translation
And every creeping thing flying it is unclean to you; they shall not be eaten.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Every thing that creepeth, and hath little wings, shall be unclean, and shall not be eaten.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And anything which crawls and also has little wings shall be unclean, and shall not be eaten.

New American Bible
All winged insects are also unclean for you and shall not be eaten.

New Revised Standard Version
And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But of all dean birds you shall eat.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And eat every bird that is clean.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And all winged swarming things are unclean unto you; they shall not be eaten.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
All winged animals that creep are unclean to you; ye shall not eat of them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Clean and Unclean Animals
18the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, or the bat. 19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten. 20But you may eat any clean bird.…

Cross References
Leviticus 11:20-23
All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. / However, 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. / Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper. ...

Leviticus 11:41-44
Every creature that moves along the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten. / 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. / Do not defile yourselves by any crawling creature; do not become unclean or defiled by them. ...

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.” ...

Leviticus 11:13-19
Additionally, you are to detest the following birds, and they must not be eaten because they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, / the kite, any kind of falcon, / any kind of raven, ...

Genesis 7:14
they and every kind of wild animal, livestock, crawling creature, bird, and winged creature.

Leviticus 11:29-30
The following creatures that move along the ground are unclean for you: the mole, the mouse, any kind of great lizard, / the gecko, the monitor lizard, the common lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

Acts 11:6-9
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.’ ...

Leviticus 11:10-12
But 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. / They shall be an abomination to you; you must not eat their meat, and you must detest their carcasses. / Everything in the water that does not have fins and scales shall be detestable to you.

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.

Leviticus 11:46-47
This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground. / You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between animals that may be eaten and those that may not.’”

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.)

Leviticus 20:25
You are therefore to distinguish between clean and unclean animals and birds. Do not become contaminated by any animal or bird, or by anything that crawls on the ground; I have set these apart as unclean for you.

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 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.

Ezekiel 4:14
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”


Treasury of Scripture

And every creeping thing that flies is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten.

Leviticus 11:20-23
All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you…

Philippians 3:19
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

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Animal Crawling Creeping Earth Eat Eaten Insects Life Swarm Swarming Teeming Unclean Used Winged Wings
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Deuteronomy 14
1. God's children are not to disfigure themselves in mourning
3. What may and may not be eaten
4. of animals
9. of fishes
11. of fowls
21. That which dies of itself may not be eaten
22. Tithes of Divine Service
23. Tithes and firstborns to be eaten before the Lord
28. The third year's tithe of alms and charity














All flying insects are unclean for you;
In the context of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are given dietary laws that distinguish between clean and unclean animals. The term "unclean" is significant in the Hebrew context, as it denotes ritual impurity rather than hygiene. The classification of flying insects as unclean aligns with the broader Levitical laws found in Leviticus 11, which also outlines clean and unclean animals. This distinction served to set the Israelites apart from surrounding nations, emphasizing their unique covenant relationship with God. The prohibition against consuming certain animals, including flying insects, was part of maintaining holiness and obedience to God's commands.

they may not be eaten.
The prohibition against eating unclean animals, including flying insects, is a direct command from God, reflecting His authority and the importance of obedience. This command is part of the broader Mosaic Law, which was given to guide the Israelites in their daily lives and worship. The dietary laws served as a constant reminder of their identity as God's chosen people and their call to be holy. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfills the law, and the dietary restrictions are lifted for Christians, as seen in Acts 10:9-16, where Peter is shown a vision declaring all foods clean. This shift highlights the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, where the focus is on spiritual purity rather than ritualistic observance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Deuteronomy, who is delivering God's laws to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The chosen people of God, receiving the laws and commandments as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

3. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

4. Wilderness
The setting where Moses delivers these laws, as the Israelites are on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

5. God's Covenant
The overarching event of God establishing His covenant with Israel, which includes dietary laws as part of their holiness code.
Teaching Points
Holiness and Distinction
The dietary laws, including the prohibition against eating certain insects, were given to set Israel apart as a holy nation. As Christians, we are called to live distinct lives that reflect God's holiness.

Obedience to God's Commands
The Israelites were to obey God's laws as an act of worship and trust. Similarly, we are called to obey God's Word, trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty.

Understanding Context
While the specific dietary laws are not binding on Christians today, understanding their purpose helps us appreciate the continuity and fulfillment of God's law in Christ.

Spiritual Cleanliness
The focus on clean and unclean foods points to a deeper spiritual truth about purity. We are called to examine our hearts and lives for spiritual cleanliness.

Freedom in Christ
The New Testament teaches that in Christ, we have freedom from the ceremonial laws, including dietary restrictions. This freedom should lead us to gratitude and responsible living.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
וְכֹל֙ (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

winged insects
הָע֔וֹף (hā·‘ō·wp̄)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5775: Flying creatures

that swarm
שֶׁ֣רֶץ (še·reṣ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8318: A swarm, active mass of minute animals

are unclean for you;
טָמֵ֥א (ṭā·mê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

they may not
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be eaten.
יֵאָכֵֽלוּ׃ (yê·’ā·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 14:19 All winged creeping things are unclean (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 14:18
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