Ella 
Read the Verse of the Day – Deuteronomy 14:12 To Strengthen Your Spiritual Journey.
Deuteronomy 14:12 is a part of God‘s dietary instructions to the Israelites. These instructions show which animals were considered clean and unclean. Understanding this verse can help us appreciate the spiritual and practical lessons God taught His people in the Old Testament.
The Context of Deuteronomy 14:12 KJV
Deuteronomy and the Law of God
The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Bible. It is part of the Pentateuch, which was written by Moses. Deuteronomy means “second law.” It repeats and explains God’s laws for the new generation of Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land. The older generation had died in the wilderness due to unbelief and disobedience.
Deuteronomy is not just about rules. It is about relationship. God reminds His people of His faithfulness, His love, and His desire for them to live holy and blessed lives. God gave the laws to help Israel live differently from the nations around them. This included dietary laws.
Clean and Unclean Animals
In Deuteronomy 14, God lists which animals the Israelites could eat and which ones they had to avoid. This was not only about health. It was also about holiness. God had set Israel apart from other nations. So He gave them laws that would mark them as different. These dietary laws reminded them daily that they belonged to God.
The chapter begins by listing clean animals (verses 4–6), clean sea creatures (verse 9), and then transitions into unclean ones. Verse 10 addresses unclean sea creatures, and verse 12 begins the list of unclean birds.
These distinctions were serious. To break these food laws was to disobey God. For Israel, obedience meant life and blessing. Disobedience meant separation and judgment.
Deuteronomy 14:12 (KJV)
Let us read the verse:
“But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray.” — Deuteronomy 14:12, KJV
This verse introduces specific birds that are unclean. God commands the Israelites not to eat them.
Now, let us explore the meaning behind each word and phrase to better understand why these birds were forbidden.
Deuteronomy 14:12 Meaning
“But these are they of which ye shall not eat”
This phrase is a clear command. God is giving a list of forbidden birds. He is not suggesting or advising. He is commanding. The word “shall not eat” carries the weight of divine instruction. To ignore this command would be to sin against God.
The list begins with birds that are generally known as birds of prey. These birds eat meat, often from dead animals. This likely contributes to the reason they are called unclean.
“The eagle”
The eagle is a powerful bird. It is a symbol of strength and speed. However, it is a bird of prey. It hunts and eats other animals. Sometimes it also feeds on carrion (dead animals). This diet made it unclean in God’s law.
Though the eagle is praised in other parts of Scripture—like Isaiah 40:31—it was not to be eaten. Just because something is admired does not mean it is suitable for food.
“The ossifrage”
The ossifrage is also known as the bearded vulture or lammergeier. Its name means “bone-breaker.” It drops bones from great heights to crack them open and eat the marrow. Like the eagle, it feeds on carcasses. This behavior made it unclean.
The ossifrage is not just another bird of prey. It is also a scavenger. Scavengers were considered unclean because they ate what had died naturally or was already decaying. This was symbolic of spiritual corruption.
“And the ospray”
The ospray, or osprey, is another bird of prey. It mostly feeds on fish. However, it still qualifies as a predator and was listed as unclean.
The ospray is fast and agile, but like the others, it relies on killing for food. Its nature did not align with the purity God demanded from His people’s food sources.
The Principle Behind the List
While the exact health risks of these birds may be debated, the main point is spiritual. God was training Israel to make distinctions. These laws helped them learn obedience, discipline, and spiritual separation.
Just as these birds fed on death and uncleanness, God’s people were to feed on life and righteousness. The food laws pointed to a greater spiritual reality: the call to holiness.
Deuteronomy 14:12 Application in Life
1. God Calls Us to Be Set Apart
Though we are not under the Mosaic dietary laws today (see Acts 10:9–16 and 1 Timothy 4:4), the principle of separation still applies. As Christians, we are called to be holy.
1 Peter 1:16 says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
We live in a world full of sin and moral decay. God calls us to live in a way that reflects His character. This includes our thoughts, our behavior, and even our choices.
Just as Israel had to be careful about what they consumed, we must be careful about what we allow into our lives—what we watch, read, or listen to.
2. Not Everything Powerful Is Good for Us
The eagle is a majestic and powerful bird. Yet God said not to eat it. In life, there are many things that seem powerful, exciting, or admirable. But not all of them are spiritually healthy.
Some relationships, activities, or ambitions may appear good on the surface but can lead us away from God. We need discernment.
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
We must learn to say no to things that may harm our walk with God.
3. God’s Laws Have Meaning and Purpose
Even though we do not follow the Old Testament food laws today, we still respect them as part of God’s Word. They show us that God is wise, and He has a reason for every command.
When God told the Israelites not to eat certain birds, He was not being random or cruel. He was protecting them—spiritually and physically. Obedience to God brings blessing.
As believers, we must trust that God’s commands—even when we don’t fully understand them—are for our good.
Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
4. Discernment in Daily Life
The Israelites had to examine each bird carefully. They had to know which was clean and which was not. Today, we must also live with spiritual discernment.
This means evaluating:
- What we consume with our eyes and ears
- The people we surround ourselves with
- The choices we make in career, finances, and relationships
God wants us to live with purpose and purity.
Philippians 1:10 says, “That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.”
5. Jesus Fulfilled the Law
As Christians, we understand that Jesus fulfilled the law. He did not abolish it but completed it.
Matthew 5:17 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
The food laws pointed to the need for purity and separation. Jesus now gives us that purity through His sacrifice. In Him, we are clean.
Yet, the moral and spiritual lessons of the law still teach us today. We learn from the shadows that pointed to Christ.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy 14:12 may seem like a simple dietary restriction, but it carries deep spiritual meaning. God told the Israelites not to eat the eagle, the ossifrage, and the ospray. These were birds of prey. They fed on death and uncleanness. God wanted His people to live holy lives, set apart from the nations.
Today, we are no longer bound by the Old Testament dietary laws. But the principles remain. God still calls His people to holiness, discernment, and obedience.
When we read verses like Deuteronomy 14:12, we remember that every part of God’s Word has purpose. Nothing is wasted. Every verse teaches us something about God, about ourselves, and about how we should live.
Let us strive to live lives that are clean in God’s sight—not by following food laws, but by walking in the Spirit, obeying His Word, and trusting in Christ’s righteousness.
Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
May we honor God in all that we do, learning from every word He has given us—even from a list of birds.
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