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Selected Verse: Deuteronomy 14:3 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
De 14:3	King James	Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
WHAT MAY BE EATEN, AND WHAT NOT. (Deu. 14:3-21) Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing--that is, anything forbidden as unclean (see on Lev 11:1).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

WHAT MAY BE EATEN, AND WHAT NOT. (Deu. 14:3-21)

Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing--that is, anything forbidden as unclean (see on Lev 11:1).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Compare Lev. 11. The variations here, whether omissions or additions, are probably to be explained by the time and circumstances of the speaker. Deu 14:5 The "pygarg" is a species of gazelle, and the "wild ox" and "chamois" are swift types of antelope. Deu 14:21 The prohibition is repeated from Lev 22:8. The directions as to the disposal of the carcass are unique to Deuteronomy, and their motive is clear. To have forbidden the people either themselves to eat that which had died, or to allow any others to do so, would have involved loss of property, and consequent temptation to an infraction of the command. The permissions now for the first time granted would have been useless in the wilderness. During the 40 years' wandering there could be but little opportunity of selling such carcasses; while non-Israelites living in the camp would in such a matter be bound by the same rules as the Israelites Lev 17:15; Lev 24:22. Further, it would seem (compare Lev 17:15) that greater stringency is here given to the requirement of abstinence from that which had died of itself. Probably on this, as on so many other points, allowance was made for the circumstances of the people. Flesh meat was no doubt often scarce in the desert. It would therefore have been a hardship to forbid entirely the use of that which had not been killed. However, now that the plenty of the promised land was before them, the modified toleration of this unholy food was withdrawn.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Compare Lev. 11. The variations here, whether omissions or additions, are probably to be explained by the time and circumstances of the speaker.

Deu 14:5

The "pygarg" is a species of gazelle, and the "wild ox" and "chamois" are swift types of antelope.

Deu 14:21

The prohibition is repeated from Lev 22:8. The directions as to the disposal of the carcass are unique to Deuteronomy, and their motive is clear. To have forbidden the people either themselves to eat that which had died, or to allow any others to do so, would have involved loss of property, and consequent temptation to an infraction of the command. The permissions now for the first time granted would have been useless in the wilderness. During the 40 years' wandering there could be but little opportunity of selling such carcasses; while non-Israelites living in the camp would in such a matter be bound by the same rules as the Israelites Lev 17:15; Lev 24:22. Further, it would seem (compare Lev 17:15) that greater stringency is here given to the requirement of abstinence from that which had died of itself. Probably on this, as on so many other points, allowance was made for the circumstances of the people. Flesh meat was no doubt often scarce in the desert. It would therefore have been a hardship to forbid entirely the use of that which had not been killed. However, now that the plenty of the promised land was before them, the modified toleration of this unholy food was withdrawn.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
With reference to food, the Israelites were to eat nothing whatever that was abominable. In explanation of this prohibition, the laws of Lev 11 relating to clean and unclean animals are repeated in all essential points in vv. 4-20 (for the exposition, see at Lev 11); also in Deu 14:21 the prohibition against eating any animal that had fallen down dead (as in Exo 32:30 and Lev 17:15), and against boiling a kid in its mother's milk (as in Exo 23:19).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

With reference to food, the Israelites were to eat nothing whatever that was abominable. In explanation of this prohibition, the laws of Lev 11 relating to clean and unclean animals are repeated in all essential points in vv. 4-20 (for the exposition, see at Lev 11); also in Deu 14:21 the prohibition against eating any animal that had fallen down dead (as in Exo 32:30 and Lev 17:15), and against boiling a kid in its mother's milk (as in Exo 23:19).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Abominable - Unclean and forbidden by me, which therefore should be abominable to you.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Abominable - Unclean and forbidden by me, which therefore should be abominable to you.

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