Troublesome Topic: Are Animals with Scales Good or Bad?
Lesson 12 of 11Leviticus 11:9
Translation
This you may eat of all that is in the water: all that has fins and scales in the water, whether in the seas or in the streams, that you may eat,
Paraphrase
These are the animals from the water that you may eat: anything that has both fins and scales and lives in a watery home, whether that be in the seas or in the streams, those you may eat,
Leviticus 11:10
Translation
but all [those] in the seas or in the streams that do not have fins and scales, [whether they be among] those teeming [animals] in the water or [among] all [other] living thing which [are] in the water, they shall be unclean.
Paraphrase
but all animals in the seas or in the streams which do not have fins and scales, whether they are the type of animal that swims in schools or whether they are any other type of animal that lives in the water, [if they don’t have both fins and scales] they are to be isolated.
A Watery Home Can Be Any Kind of Water
The fact that the text says “seas and streams” each time helps the reader know with certainty that this is not a figurative use of the word “sea.” What about lakes? They would be included as well because the phrase “seas and streams” is intended to cover all types of watery homes, be they salt water or fresh water. Thus the type of water the animal lives in makes no difference.
A Paradox Involving Scales
It is noteworthy that scales were required in order for fish to be considered clean. This appears to be a contradiction when compared to other parts of Scripture. In the story of David and Goliath the text tells us that Goliath’s armor looked like scales. The statement seems to indicate to the reader that Goliath was connected to, or similar to, the serpent of the Garden of Eden; he was evil. But in the case of fish, scales are good. What gives?
Scales are for protection, so in that sense scales are good. The text of Genesis chapter 3 never mentions scales, so we do not know if the snake’s scales were present from the moment it was created or if they were part of the changes suffered by the snake after the fall.
The difference between fish and reptiles was their environment. The animals described here live in the water; snakes (and other reptiles) live on land and have a low profile, meaning they are always close to the dust. Therefore, the true problem was the dust!
The Hebrew word for “dust” also meant “debris, rubble, rubbish, and ashes.” All of these things are useless, have no value, and have a slightly negative reputation. All of them are also byproducts left over from destructive processes. It is amazing that even though this entire paragraph (Lev 11:9-12) is talking about animals that live in the water, “dust” is the most important thing to remember even though “dust” is never mentioned. (See my comments on Genesis 2:7 regarding the importance of the words “dust” and “ground” as they pertain to the forming of man.) There are a number of times in the Bible where a very important point is made from silence; context is what helps us understand what is communicated through that silence.
In contrast to the worthlessness of dust, water is very important; it is life-giving, it cleanses, and in certain contexts it represents abundance. We saw above that this passage does not intend to bring to mind the the negative symbolism of danger and death which the sea often represents; only the positive images associated with water are intended here.
Consider the words of Jesus in Lk 11:11 (and also Mt 7:10) when he said, “Which of you is the [kind of] father who, the son asks for a fish, and instead of a fish he will give him a snake?” Here Jesus mentions both types of animals that have scales, one being good and one being bad. The thing that makes the difference between them is the environment they live in; one lives in life-giving water, the other in the post-destruction debris called dust. Jesus expected His audience to understand this difference and catch the reference to Old Testament food laws.
All animals need mobility and certain animals need special protection. The important thing to keep in mind about that protection is not what it looks like, but where it is used. If the animal is in a wholesome, clean, life-giving environment and uses scales for protection, the animal is considered acceptable. However, if the animal is in an environment filled with useless things that are byproducts of destruction, that animal is not acceptable and must be isolated.
Spiritual Lessons
Like those who heard Jesus teach, we must learn to discern between the good and the bad,
Good activities or bad activities
Good relationships, or dangerous ones
Protective habits or enslaving habits
Entertainment that pleases God or entertainment that pleases self.
The points being made here about scales should cause us to ask ourselves,
“Do I stay away from activities that are useless and have no value?
Do I refuse to associate with things related to destruction and harm?
Have I created in my heart and mind the right environment?
– one that has been cleansed from evil influences?
One that is life-giving?
The next lesson in the full series on Covenants is: Lessons from the Fins and Scales of Fish