“Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.”
In this verse, God is providing the Israelites with instructions regarding what types of creatures they should not eat. This verse specifically addresses “creeping things” that move upon the earth. It distinguishes between animals that go upon their belly, animals that go upon all four (referring to animals that walk on four legs), and animals that have more feet among the creeping creatures.
The underlying principle behind this dietary law is the concept of ritual purity and separation. God set apart the Israelites as a holy people, and He provided them with guidelines to maintain their spiritual and physical purity. The dietary laws found in Leviticus were part of this larger framework.
The verse mentions that these creeping creatures are considered an “abomination.” The term “abomination” refers to something that is detestable or unclean in the sight of God. The precise reason why these specific creatures are labeled as abominations is not explicitly stated in this verse, but the broader context of Leviticus provides some insight.
Throughout the book of Leviticus, God sets forth numerous laws and regulations for the Israelites, including dietary laws, in order to teach them about holiness, separation, and obedience to Him. The categorization of certain animals as unclean or detestable likely served multiple purposes. It could be a test of obedience and a means of separating the Israelites from the surrounding pagan nations. Additionally, it may have had practical health and hygiene reasons, as some of these animals could be carriers of diseases or pose other health risks.
It’s important to note that with the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant, many of the ceremonial and dietary laws outlined in the Old Testament were fulfilled and are no longer binding on Christians. In the New Testament, Jesus declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19), and the apostle Peter received a vision indicating that he should not consider any food unclean (Acts 10:9-16). This signifies that the dietary restrictions mentioned in Leviticus no longer apply to Christians.
However, studying these Old Testament dietary laws can still provide valuable insights into God’s character, His desire for holiness, and the historical and cultural context in which the ancient Israelites lived.
