Leviticus 11:13-18

¹³ And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, ¹⁴ And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; ¹⁵ Every raven after his kind; ¹⁶ And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, ¹⁷ And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, ¹⁸ And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

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Other Translations of Leviticus 11:13-18

New International Version

¹³ " 'These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle,The precise identification of some of the birds, insects and animals in this chapter is uncertain. 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,

English Standard Version

¹³ "And these you shall detest among the birds;Or things that fly; compare Genesis 1:20 they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle,The identity of many of these birds is uncertain the bearded vulture, the black vulture, ¹⁴ the kite, the falcon of any kind, ¹⁵ every raven of any kind, ¹⁶ the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, ¹⁷ the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, ¹⁸ the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture,

The Message

¹³ "These are the birds you are to detest. Don't eat them. They are detestable: eagle, vulture, osprey, ¹⁴ kite, all falcons, ¹⁵ all ravens, ¹⁶ ostrich, nighthawk, sea gull, all hawks, ¹⁷ owl, cormorant, ibis, ¹⁸ water hen, pelican, Egyptian vulture,

New King James Version

¹³ 'And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the buzzard, ¹⁴ the kite, and the falcon after its kind; ¹⁵ every raven after its kind, ¹⁶ the ostrich, the short-eared owl, the sea gull, and the hawk after its kind; ¹⁷ the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; ¹⁸ the white owl, the jackdaw, and the carrion vulture;

New Living Translation

¹³ "These are the birds that are detestable to you. You must never eat them: the griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, ¹⁴ the kite, falcons of all kinds, ¹⁵ ravens of all kinds, ¹⁶ the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds, ¹⁷ the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, ¹⁸ the barn owl, the desert owl, the Egyptian vulture,

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 11:13-18

Chapter Contents

What animals were clean and unclean.

These laws seem to have been intended, 1. As a test of the people's obedience, as Adam was forbidden to eat of the tree of knowledge; and to teach them self-denial, and the government of their appetites. 2. To keep the Israelites distinct from other nations. Many also of these forbidden animals were objects of superstition and idolatry to the heathen. 3. The people were taught to make distinctions between the holy and unholy in their companions and intimate connexions. 4. The law forbad, not only the eating of the unclean beasts, but the touching of them. Those who would be kept from any sin, must be careful to avoid all temptations to it, or coming near it. The exceptions are very minute, and all were designed to call forth constant care and exactness in their obedience; and to teach us to obey. Whilst we enjoy our Christian liberty, and are free from such burdensome observances, we must be careful not to abuse our liberty. For the Lord hath redeemed and called his people, that they may be holy, even as he is holy. We must come out, and be separate from the world; we must leave the company of the ungodly, and all needless connexions with those who are dead in sin; we must be zealous of good works devoted followers of God, and companions of his people.