Deuteronomy 14:20
Deuteronomy 14:20 in Multiple Translations
But you may eat any clean bird.
But of all clean fowls ye may eat.
Of all clean birds ye may eat.
But all clean birds you may take.
But you are allowed to eat any clean animal that has wings.
But of all cleane foules ye may eate.
any clean fowl ye do eat.
Of all clean birds you may eat.
But of all clean fowls ye may eat.
All that is clean, you shall eat.
But other insects with wings and which hop along the ground are acceptable to eat.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 14:20
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 14:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
ע֥וֹף
טָה֖וֹר
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
bird
N-ms
טָה֖וֹר
ṭâhôwr
H2889
pure
Adj
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 14:20
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
ע֥וֹף
ʻôwph
H5775
"bird"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word simply means a bird, like the ones that fly in the sky. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Psalms, often symbolizing freedom.
Definition: 1) flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds 1a) fowl, birds 1b) winged insects Aramaic equivalent: oph (עוֹף "bird" H5776)
Usage: Occurs in 70 OT verses. KJV: bird, that flieth, flying, fowl. See also: Genesis 1:20; 1 Samuel 17:46; Psalms 50:11.
טָה֖וֹר
ṭâhôwr
H2889
"pure"
Adj
Tahor means pure or clean, and can refer to physical, moral, or ceremonial purity. In the Bible, it describes clean animals and morally upright people. It is often used to describe something as fair or pure.
Definition: 1) pure, clean 1a) clean (ceremonially-of animals) 1b) pure (physically) 1c) pure, clean (morally, ethically)
Usage: Occurs in 86 OT verses. KJV: clean, fair, pure(-ness). See also: Genesis 7:2; Leviticus 13:40; Psalms 12:7.
תֹּאכֵֽלוּ
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 14:20
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Clean and Unclean Animals
18the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, or the bat.
19All flying insects are unclean for you; they may not be eaten.
20But you may eat any clean bird.
21You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. 22You must be sure to set aside a tenth of all the produce brought forth each year from your fields.Deuteronomy 14:20 Summary
In Deuteronomy 14:20, God tells the Israelites that they can eat any clean bird, which means birds that are not listed as unclean in the preceding verses. This is part of a larger instruction to live a life that is separate and holy, as seen in Leviticus 11:44-45. Just like the Israelites had to be careful about what they ate, we need to be careful about what we allow into our hearts and minds, as encouraged in Philippians 4:8-9. By following God's instructions and living a life that is pleasing to Him, we can live a life that is holy and set apart for His purposes, as stated in 1 Peter 1:15-16.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for a bird to be considered 'clean' in Deuteronomy 14:20?
In the context of Deuteronomy 14:20, a clean bird refers to those birds that are permissible for the Israelites to eat, as opposed to those listed as unclean in the preceding verses, such as the stork and bat, as seen in Deuteronomy 14:18. This distinction is based on God's instructions for the Israelites to separate themselves from unclean things, as stated in Leviticus 11:44-45.
Why did God give the Israelites specific instructions about which birds they could and couldn't eat?
God gave the Israelites these instructions to teach them about the importance of separation and holiness, as seen in Deuteronomy 14:21, where they are reminded that they are a holy people belonging to the Lord their God. This is also reflected in Leviticus 20:26, where God instructs the Israelites to be holy because He is holy.
Can we still apply the principles of clean and unclean animals to our lives today?
While the specific dietary laws of the Old Testament are not directly applicable to New Testament believers, the underlying principles of separation and holiness are still relevant, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, where believers are instructed to separate themselves from unbelievers and be holy. We can apply these principles by seeking to live lives that are pleasing to God and separate from the world's sinful influences, as encouraged in Romans 12:2.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Deuteronomy?
This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy that emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, where the Israelites are instructed to obey God's commands and reject false prophets. By following God's instructions about which animals to eat, the Israelites were demonstrating their commitment to obeying God's commands and living as a holy people, as stated in Deuteronomy 14:21.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can apply the principle of separation and holiness to my own life, in areas beyond just food or physical things?
- How can I balance the desire to fit in with the world around me with the need to live a life that is separate and holy, as seen in 1 Peter 1:15-16?
- In what ways do I need to 'cleanse' my own heart and mind in order to live a life that is pleasing to God, as encouraged in Psalm 51:10-12?
- What are some 'unclean' influences or habits in my life that I need to avoid or get rid of, in order to live a life that is more holy and pleasing to God, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:7?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 14:20
But of all clean fowls ye may eat. Even of all fowls, but those before excepted; Aben Ezra instances in the locust, as being a clean fowl, that might be eaten; and so the Targum of Jonathan is "every
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 14:20
But of all clean fowls ye may eat. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 14:20
20. Of all clean winged things ye may eat] R.V. fowl is misleading; the term winged covers both birds and flying insects and here probably refers only to the latter. Arabs and other eastern peoples eat locusts not only in time of famine; fried or made into cakes they are considered a delicacy (Burton, Pilgrimage, etc., ii. 117; Doughty, i. 472, ii. 245 f., 323; Musil, Ethn. Ber. 151). Nothing is said of reptiles (frogs may be supposed to fall under the class of unclean fishes, Deuteronomy 14:10). Leviticus 11:29 ff. counts as unclean, the weasel, mouse, lizards, chameleon and Leviticus 11:41 serpents. Arabs eat lizards, ‘very sweet meat,’ though some abhor them as serpents (Doughty, i. 70, 326, ii. 533: cp. for ancient Arabia, G. Jacob, 24, 95); and even one species of serpent is eaten (Musil, Ethn. Ber. 151). And mice are eaten both by some Arabs and in N.
Syria (Tristram).