The Meaning of Leviticus 11:13 Explained

Leviticus 11:13

KJV: And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

YLT: And these ye do abominate of the fowl; they are not eaten, an abomination they are: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

Darby: And these shall ye have in abomination of the fowls; they shall not be eaten; an abomination shall they be: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the sea-eagle,

ASV: And these ye shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And these [are they which] ye shall have in abomination  among  the fowls;  they shall not be eaten,  they [are] an abomination:  the eagle,  and the ossifrage,  and the ospray, 

What does Leviticus 11:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 11:1-23 - 41-47, The Distinction Between Clean And Unclean
There were good and sufficient reasons for excluding certain animals from Israel's dietary. Devout medical men insist that this is the finest sanitary code in existence, and that many of the diseases of modern life would disappear if it were universally adopted. God made these distinctions matters of religion, that the well-being of His people might be doubly assured. These restrictions were also imposed to erect strong barriers between the chosen people and the heathen. So long as they obeyed, it was clearly impossible to participate in the heathen festivals, where many of these animals were partaken of.
We are not now bound by these enactments. Our Lord made all meats clean, Mark 7:19, r.v. Peter was bidden to kill and eat all manner of creeping things, and his protest was overborne by the assurance that God had cleansed all. See Acts 10:11-16. Religion consists not in outward rites, but in the inward temper. See Hebrews 9:10. Note that touching was forbidden, because the least contact with evil hurts the soul. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 11

1  What animals may be eaten
4  and what may not be eaten
9  What fishes
13  What fowls
29  The creeping things which are unclean

What do the individual words in Leviticus 11:13 mean?

And these you shall regard as an abomination among the birds not they shall be eaten [are] an abomination they - the eagle the vulture and the buzzard
וְאֶת־ אֵ֙לֶּה֙ תְּשַׁקְּצ֣וּ מִן־ הָע֔וֹף לֹ֥א יֵאָכְל֖וּ שֶׁ֣קֶץ הֵ֑ם : אֶת־ הַנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ הַפֶּ֔רֶס וְאֵ֖ת הָעָזְנִיָּֽה

אֵ֙לֶּה֙  these 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
תְּשַׁקְּצ֣וּ  you  shall  regard  as  an  abomination 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁקַץ  
Sense: (Piel) to detest, make abominable, count filthy, make detestable.
הָע֔וֹף  the  birds 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹוף  
Sense: flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds.
יֵאָכְל֖וּ  they  shall  be  eaten 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
שֶׁ֣קֶץ  [are]  an  abomination 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶץ  
Sense: detestable thing or idol, an unclean thing, an abomination, detestation.
: אֶת־    - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙  the  eagle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֶשֶׁר  
Sense: eagle, vulture, griffon-vulture.
הַפֶּ֔רֶס  the  vulture 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶס  
Sense: bird of prey.
הָעָזְנִיָּֽה  the  buzzard 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עָזְנִיָּה  
Sense: an unclean bird of prey.