This includes all animals that slither along on their bellies, as well as those with four legs and those with many feet. All such animals that scurry along the ground are detestable, and you must never eat them.

Commentaries

4

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

AlbertBarnes

18th Century
Presbyterian
18th Century

Whatsoever goeth upon the belly - that is, all footless reptiles, and mollusks, snakes of all kinds, snails, slugs, and worms. “Whatsoever g…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

CharlesEllicott

19th Century
Anglican
19th Century

In explanation of the general statement made in the preceding verse, three classes of creeping things are here presented:

John Gill

John Gill

JohnGill

17th Century
Reformed Baptist
17th Century

Whatsoever goes upon the belly
Jarchi's paraphrase is, "whatsoever goes", as worms and beetles, and the like to them…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

MatthewHenry

17th Century
Presbyterian
17th Century

These laws seem to have been intended,

  1. As a test of the people's obedience, as Adam was forbidden to eat from the tree of knowledge…