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Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs
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TOPIC: Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs
Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs 2 years, 11 months ago #453
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Re:Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs 2 years, 9 months ago #659
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Re:Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs 2 years, 9 months ago #660
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I was doing some research on this... I know that there have been issues over history in translating what critter is what in the Levitical passages.
Also, the wording is trying to express some technicalities that we really wouldn't speak of in that type of language, since we have classifications that are more exacting today scientifically. (I really don't think Moses was writing a treatise on insect taxonomy hehe) Firstly, the word "fowl" is in the King James Bible. Leviticus 11:20 says "All fowls that creep, going upon all fours" Modern versions often translate the Hebrew "oph" as "insects". Even better, as suggested above, would be "winged creatures". However, in Leviticus 11:20 the "winged creatures" are qualified by the Hebrew "sheretz" meaning creeping things. Hence the reference is to winged creatures that creep i.e. insects. Today we refer to an insects six appendages as "legs". The ancient Israelites had a different convention. They distinguished the front four appendages from the two rear appendages. The front four they called "feet", the two to the rear they called "legs". This distinction probably came about because some insects such as grasshoppers leap the two rear appendages are "leaper legs". "Go on all fours" refers to what the front four feet i.e. front four legs do - they walk. What the rear legs do, whether they contribute to walking or are used for leaping, is excluded from the meaning of "go on all fours". Some skeptics make fun of the phrase "legs above the feet". However, the leaper legs are longer than the front four legs. When the insect is resting on the ground, part of the leaper legs are higher than the "feet" i.e. higher than the front four legs. In that sense the legs are "above the feet". There is no profound biological point in all of this is just a case of semantics. www.adam.com.au/bstett/BBiology95.htm There were other cool things online. If I was at home, I would look into my library for some info, so I apologize for that, but maybe this might get some bug talk rolling. John the Baptist was noted as eating locusts and wild honey... 2 clean foods that he could have as a diet out in the wilderness near the Jordon. He is an example of Leviticus 11 in action As we well know, these were for health reasons more than anything... if I eat a scorpion, I might get ill or die...it just makes sense .... With all of the "pandemic" scare going on in the papers, I think a little ritual washing when we handle things and avoiding of certain foods, like we are told to do in leviticus might not be a bad idea ... well, I won't get that paranoid, but we can see why they were placed as restrictions to keep such things from affecting the Israelites. Following the dietary/health restrictions was spoken of as one of the blessing to keep Israel from the diseases of the neighboring peoples, so these seemingly "silly" laws do make some sense. I know the ostrich is listed as one bird that couldn't be eaten... I wonder if that includes emu. I was joking that I was going to start an emu farm and get rich off of "emu oil" that is touted as some miracle health extract  anyway, this is a fun question... if I get bored one day, I know what I will research hehe *crunches on a chocolate covered locust and sips coffee* |
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Re:Leviticus 11:20 Insect Legs 2 years, 9 months ago #664
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