Leviticus 11:20
““‘All flying insects that walk on all fours are an abomination to you.”
What does Leviticus 11:20 mean?
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel specific dietary laws to help them live as a set-apart people. This verse is part of that framework, declaring certain insects unclean for eating. The description "flying insects that walk on all fours" refers to creatures like most beetles and flies, which were considered unfit for their diet. These rules weren't arbitrary: they reinforced Israel's identity and taught them that obedience in small, daily matters like eating reflected their commitment to God. Today, Christians aren't bound by these food laws (Jesus declared all foods clean in Mark 7), but the principle still speaks: we're invited to make intentional choices about what we consume, knowing that caring for our bodies and being mindful of what we take in matters spiritually.