The term "fourfooted" refers to animals that walk on four legs. In the context of the Bible, these creatures are often mentioned in discussions of dietary laws, idolatry, and the natural order of creation. The term is used to describe a category of animals that are distinct from humans, birds, and creeping things.

Biblical References:

1. Creation and the Natural Order:
In the account of creation, fourfooted animals are part of the living creatures that God created to inhabit the earth. Genesis 1:24-25 states, "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." Here, fourfooted animals are included in the broader category of "livestock" and "wild animals."

2. Dietary Laws:
The Mosaic Law provides specific instructions regarding which fourfooted animals are considered clean and unclean for consumption. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 outline these dietary laws. For example, Leviticus 11:3 states, "You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud." This law distinguishes between clean and unclean fourfooted animals, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commandments.

3. Idolatry:
Fourfooted animals are also mentioned in the context of idolatry. In Romans 1:23 , the Apostle Paul describes the folly of idolatry, stating, "They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." Here, fourfooted animals are included in the list of created beings that people wrongly worship instead of the Creator.

4. Peter's Vision:
In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter receives a vision that challenges the traditional Jewish dietary laws. Acts 10:12 describes the vision: "It contained all kinds of fourfooted animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air." This vision signifies the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith and the removal of dietary restrictions, emphasizing the new covenant in Christ.

Theological Significance:

Fourfooted animals in the Bible serve as a reminder of God's creative power and the order He established in the world. They also highlight the distinction between the Creator and the created, as well as the importance of worshiping God alone. The dietary laws concerning fourfooted animals underscore the call to holiness and obedience, while the vision given to Peter illustrates the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles in the early Church. Through these references, fourfooted animals contribute to the broader biblical narrative of creation, law, and redemption.(a.) Having four feet; quadruped; as, fourfooted beasts.5074. tetrapous -- four-footed
... four-footed animal. From tessares and pous; a quadruped -- fourfooted beast. see
GREEK tessares. see GREEK pous. (tetrapoda) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5074.htm - 6k

What God Hath Cleansed
... 12. Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild
beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.13. And ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/what god hath cleansed.htm

Peter's Apologia
... let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6. Upon the which
when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/peters apologia.htm

That the Excellency of the Christian Religion is Above all the ...
... they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness
of the image of corruptible man, and of birds, and fourfooted beasts, and ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 10 that the excellency of.htm

Acts x. 44, 46
... let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me (v.4, 5): upon the
which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxiv acts x 44.htm

Acts x. 4-Jan
... four corners, a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet,
and let down to the earth: wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxii acts x 4-jan.htm

The Second Theological Oration.
... And before now men have insulted themselves by worshipping monsters, and fourfooted
beasts, and creeping things, [3458] and of the very vilest and most absurd ...
/.../lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxviii the second theological.htm

Inexcusable Irreverence and Ingratitude
... 23, 24. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/inexcusable irreverence and ingratitude.htm

Fourfooted (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Having four feet; quadruped; as, fourfooted
beasts. Multi-Version Concordance Fourfooted (3 Occurrences). ...
/f/fourfooted.htm - 7k

Beasts (241 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and
wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. (KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT). ...
/b/beasts.htm - 40k

Fowls (61 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS YLT). Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth,
and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ...
/f/fowls.htm - 25k

Air (74 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS NAS RSV NIV). Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of
the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ...
/a/air.htm - 34k

Uncorruptible (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like
to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things ...
/u/uncorruptible.htm - 6k

Wherein (208 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV YLT). Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth,
and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. (KJV ASV). ...
/w/wherein.htm - 38k

Fastened (43 Occurrences)
... Acts 11:6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw
fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls ...
/f/fastened.htm - 19k

Four-fold (2 Occurrences)
Four-fold. Fourfold, Four-fold. Fourfooted . Multi-Version Concordance
Four-fold (2 Occurrences). ... (WBS). Fourfold, Four-fold. Fourfooted . Reference
/f/four-fold.htm - 7k

Four-footed (7 Occurrences)
Four-footed. Fourfooted, Four-footed. Fours . Multi-Version Concordance
Four-footed (7 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Fourfooted, Four-footed. Fours . Reference
/f/four-footed.htm - 8k

Creeping (43 Occurrences)
... Creeping (43 Occurrences). Acts 10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts
of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. ...
/c/creeping.htm - 21k

Fourfooted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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