Critics of the Bible often attempt to discredit God’s word by claiming that it contains scientific inaccuracies and so could not have been written by an all-knowing God. One such criticism is leveled against Leviticus 11:23, which states, “But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you” (NKJV).
In our time of scientific enlightenment, most of us have been taught that insects are partially classified by the fact that they have six legs. Such a simple fact that most children probably are aware of.
So what are we to do with this Bible verse which states that some insects have four legs? Do we seek to rebuke God for not knowing the design of His own handiwork, or do we acknowledge that there are some insects which get around in a quadrupedal motion.
The scriptures state that the Jew was allowed to eat flying insects only if two of their six legs were jumping legs (i.e., grasshoppers, locusts, crickets). Otherwise, the flying insects which creep upon four legs were to be considered unclean.
Does not the fly use its foremost legs as arms, washing its face and manipulating objects, making its middle and rear legs its primary means of locomotion?
For a visual example, take a look at this picture of a mantis. Upon how many feet is it standing?
God was perfectly accurate when He had Moses pen that portion of the Law, and only those who want to find an error with the Bible will see an error with this verse. Those who honestly consider the scriptures, however, will find no contradition between Leviticus 11:20-23.
All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you. Yet these you may eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs abvoe their feet with which to leap on the earth. These you may eat: the lcoust after its kind, the destroying locust after its kind, the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. But all other flying insects which have four feet shall be an abomination to you. NKJV