Leviticus 11:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prohibited covenant fowl list continues with the vulture and the kite after his kind. This compact line clearly extends Israel's food boundary beyond the opening three names and signals that the named kite represents a wider related kind within the list.
The vulture and the kite after its kind are specifically added to the fowls Israel was prohibited from eating under the covenant law.
The Context of Leviticus 11:14
Verse 13 introduces the fowl section by declaring that the listed creatures shall not be eaten, then names the eagle, ossifrage, and ospray. Verse 14 adds the vulture and the kite after his kind. The list continues through verse 19 with ravens and several other traditional English animal names. Verse 20 begins a new section concerning flying creeping things. Deuteronomy 14 presents a parallel bird list; its corresponding line includes the glede as well as the kite and vulture after his kind. The end of Leviticus 11 places every animal category under Israel's calling to distinguish clean from unclean before the LORD who delivered the people.
What Does Leviticus 11:14 Mean?
Although the sentence is short, it inherits the command and classification of verse 13. The vulture and kite belong to the fowls Israel shall not eat. Reading the line with its opening sentence prevents a fragmentary page from leaving the action unexplained. The phrase after his kind also matters. The food boundary is not limited to one isolated bird bearing a single narrow label. At the same time, the text does not provide a modern biological chart, so an interpreter should avoid claiming a species-level precision the verse itself does not supply.
Vulture and kite are familiar English words, yet common names and scientific groupings can vary across eras and regions. Deuteronomy's parallel list also places the glede in the corresponding sequence. These observations invite careful comparison without permission to rewrite either passage. The secure claims are straightforward: this verse continues a prohibited list, names the vulture, and extends the kite designation after its kind. Any tighter identification should be presented with evidence and a visible uncertainty label, free from invented feeding habits, habitats, symbolic meanings, or unsupported claims about why God chose each creature.
Genesis calls God's winged creation good, and Jesus directs anxious people to observe the Father's care for the fowls of the air. A creature's exclusion from Israel's table therefore does not place it outside God's sustaining attention. Christian readers can receive the discipline of careful distinction while following Jesus into trust and generous neighbor love. The verse offers no basis for calling people vultures as a way to deny their dignity, especially people who are poor, grieving, displaced, or doing necessary cleanup work. Holiness guards speech as well as food practice.
Bible Verses Related to Leviticus 11:14
“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, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.”
- Leviticus 11:13-19
“Of all clean birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.”
- Deuteronomy 14:11-18
“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.”
- Genesis 1:20-23
“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
- Matthew 6:26
Where Leviticus 11:14 Echoes in Scripture
Deuteronomy 14:13 places the glede, kite, and vulture together and closes with the same phrase after his kind. The parallel confirms the larger prohibited grouping while also warning readers to compare the exact wording of each passage instead of silently merging their lists.
How to Apply Leviticus 11:14 Today
Read short list verses with the sentence that introduces their command. When comparing Leviticus and Deuteronomy, record both similarities and wording differences without forcing a premature harmonization. Use reliable animal references if a modern identification matters, and distinguish confidence levels. Avoid using vulture as a dehumanizing label for people in distress, journalists, workers, or anyone you judge opportunistic. Address harmful conduct with accurate words and evidence. Make dietary accommodations without ridicule, and support responsible wildlife practices that recognize even prohibited food animals as creatures living under God's providential care.
Reflection & Prayer
Are our labels accurate enough to protect both truth and a neighbor's God-given dignity? We might pray: 'Father who feeds the fowls, discipline our words, humble our guesses, teach us faithful distinctions, and form in us the attentive mercy and courage of Jesus.'