Bible Strands
Leviticus 11:15
any kind of raven,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks to Moses and Aaron in Leviticus 11 to establish dietary boundaries for Israel. This verse sits in a rapid list of prohibited birds between the kite and falcon (v. 14) and the ostrich and hawk (v. 16).
The words — כָּל־ (kol) means "every" and עֹרֵב ('orev) means "raven," combined with לְמִינּוֹ (leminno) to specify "every kind of raven." The particle אֵת ('et) functions as a direct object marker, anchoring the raven to the preceding command to avoid it.
The thread — The raven reappears in Genesis 8:7 flying over the receding floodwaters and in 1 Kings 17:4 provisioning Elijah at the brook. Jesus later cites ravens in Luke 12:24 to demonstrate God's care for creatures that neither sow nor store.
Why it lands — The text requires Israel to recognize and exclude specific avian species from their diet. Readers must enforce categorical boundaries to maintain the prescribed ritual separation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Every raven after his kind;
Cross-references
- Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!
- Genesis 8:7 and sent out a raven. It kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up from the earth.
- 1 Kings 17:4 And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
- 1 Kings 17:6 The ravens would bring him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he would drink from the brook.
- Proverbs 30:17 As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.