Leviticus 11:20 says that flying insects which walk on all fours are considered unclean and detestable for the Israelites, so they were not to eat them. The verse is part of God’s instructions to Israel about which animals were clean and which were not, given through Moses to the people of Israel as they were preparing to live as God’s holy nation.
“‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.
Leviticus 11:20 (WEB)
What Leviticus 11:20 Means
The verse begins with the phrase “all flying insects,” which marks the category being addressed. The word “abomination” in the original Hebrew (to’evah) describes something regarded as offensive or repugnant in God’s sight, a thing that does not fit with the holiness God required of his people. The verse is not describing these insects as harmful or dirty in a hygienic sense. It is describing them as set apart in the covenant relationship between God and Israel.
The phrase “that walk on all fours” points to the particular feature being singled out. The verse does not ban all insects, only those that fly and also walk on four legs in the way the text describes. The verse therefore does not promise anything about health, blessing, or reward for obedience. It simply sets a boundary as part of the law that shaped daily life for the people of Israel.
The Context of Leviticus 11:20
Leviticus is the third book of the Torah, traditionally attributed to Moses, and it was written for the Israelites after they received the law at Mount Sinai. Its central concern is how a holy God can dwell among a people who are sinful, and how that people can live in a way that reflects his holiness. Chapter 11 deals with ritual purity and the distinction between clean and unclean animals, covering land animals, sea creatures, birds, and insects.
The verse sits within a list of birds and winged creatures in verses 17 through 23. Immediately after it, verses 21 and 22 permit certain flying insects that hop, namely locusts, katydids, crickets, and grasshoppers, which shows that the rule was specific and not a general ban on insects. Reading the verse alongside these neighboring instructions makes clear that Israel was learning to make careful, deliberate distinctions as a people set apart for God.
Key Phrases in Leviticus 11:20
Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth.
(WEB)
This verse gives the reason behind all the dietary laws in the chapter. God says that his people are to be holy because he is holy, which explains why separation from what is unclean matters so much in the law. Reading it next to Leviticus 11:20 shows that the rule about insects expresses a larger calling to holiness.
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”
(WEB)
Peter takes the call to holiness from Leviticus and applies it to the church. He urges believers to be holy in all their conduct, quoting the same principle that God gave to Israel. This connects the old covenant law to the new life believers now have in Christ.
A Short Prayer From Leviticus 11:20
Lord, you are holy, and you care about how your people live, down to the smallest details of their days. Thank you for showing Israel that your holiness is not distant from ordinary life. Help me to take seriously the lines you have drawn, and to ask in each decision whether it honors you. Where I have treated small choices as unimportant, forgive me. Shape my heart so that I long to reflect your character in everything I do. Amen.
