Leviticus 11:11
They shalbe euen an abomination vnto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, but you shall haue their carcases in abomination. Leviticus 11:11 (KJV)
Leviticus is part of the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. It primarily focuses on the laws and regulations given to the Israelites as a covenant between God and His chosen people.
Leviticus 11 contains various dietary laws and regulations given to the Israelites by God through Moses. These laws distinguished between clean and unclean animals, specifying which animals could be consumed and which were considered unclean and forbidden to eat.
In Leviticus 11:11 the verse lists the birds that are to be regarded as an abomination: “the eagle, the ossifrage, the ospray, the vulture, the kite after its kind, every raven after its kind, the owl after its kind, the little owl after its kind, the cormorant after its kind, the stork after its kind, the heron after its kind, the lapwing after its kind, the bat after its kind.”
The Hebrew term “abomination” denotes something detestable, loathsome, or repugnant in the eyes of God, emphasizing the seriousness of the prohibition against eating unclean animals.
Leviticus 11:11 specifically instructs the Israelites not to eat the flesh of these unclean birds, and the verse calls the listed birds an abomination, indicating that they were to be avoided entirely, including their carcasses.
The dietary laws in Leviticus carry both practical and symbolic significance. While the specific reasons behind the classification of animals as clean or unclean are not always explicitly mentioned, they often reflect principles of purity, holiness, and separation for the Israelites. These laws served to teach obedience, discipline, and reverence for God’s commandments.
Christians generally do not adhere to the dietary laws outlined in Leviticus, as the New Testament indicates that the dietary restrictions of the Old Testament were fulfilled and are no longer binding under the new covenant in Christ. In Acts 10:9‑16 Peter receives a vision in which God declares that all foods are clean, signifying the inclusion of the Gentiles and the abolition of the Old Testament dietary restrictions. Nevertheless, principles such as maintaining purity, discernment, and avoiding practices that dishonor God can still be applied. The New Testament encourages believers to honor God with their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20) and to make wise choices that promote physical and spiritual well‑being.
In conclusion, Leviticus 11:11 is part of the dietary laws given to the Israelites, listing birds that were to be regarded as abominable and avoided completely. While these specific regulations are not binding on Christians today, the underlying principles of purity and honoring God remain applicable to the life of the believer.
