Leviticus 11:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consequently, the law states: “Of all the animals that are in the water, eat these: which have fins and scales in the waters, whether in the seas or in the rivers, these ye shall eat; but all that lack fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, of all that swim in the waters, and of all that live in the waters, are unclean unto you; they shall be unclean unto you: You shall not eat their flesh, and you shall loathe their carcasses; all creatures without fins and scales in the water shall be an abomination to you” (Lev. 11:9-12).

Palladius. What distinguishes these in terms of spiritual reflection? Please explain, as I find it somewhat unclear.

Cyril. Allow me to clarify what the law presents through its examples. The aquatic creatures, fashioned by the Creator as fish, skillfully glide through the waters as if they were rowing with fins, moving swiftly to their desired locations. When sunlight warms the water’s surface, they leap almost joyfully from the depths, unwilling to remain submerged; they also adeptly evade the fishermen’s nets. In contrast, those without fins and scales, encased in hard shells, remain hidden in the depths and prefer to hide in the undergrowth. They are sluggish and easily captured, and if spotted, they can be caught with little effort. This serves as a clear and truthful depiction of them.

Let us transition now from comparisons to clearer concepts.

Palladius. You would have excelled had you shared this promptly.

Cyril. The Psalmist vividly portrays the chaos of this life and the unfortunate mingling in it, singing: “This is a great and vast sea: there are creatures there, of which there is no number, both small and great” (Psalms 103:25). The fish can easily represent those who drift aimlessly, gaining only what produces carnal desires and subjects them to futile labors.

Palladius. You speak the truth.

Cyril. The disciple of Christ also reproaches such individuals, stating: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such a city, and spend a year there, and trade and make a profit;’ whereas you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that,’ but now you rejoice in your boastings; all such rejoicing is evil” (James 4:13-16). Thus, we navigate through this vast sea, representing the world, where each individual's life is distinctive. Some may not have fully succumbed to sin; they recognize their moments of weakness, trapped in the flesh’s dominion. They strive to avoid greater sins, mindful of the scripture: “For we all stumble in many things” (James 3:2). They withdraw from outright and shameless sins, unwilling to be persuaded into blatant wrongdoing, and they attempt to conceal their faults, following the principle that “the prudent conceals knowledge” (Proverbs 12:16). This represents having scales instead of mere coverings. They often ascend spiritually, thinking of higher things rather than remaining fixated on the lower, swiftly escaping those who would ensnare them in destruction. This, we might say, reflects the use of mental wings and the vigorous movement of the spirit.

Palladius. You have articulated this well; the imagery aligns with its intended meaning.

Cyril. However, there are those who sin unashamedly, fully surrendering to shameless and overt depravity. Of them, it can aptly be said their “glory is in their shame” (Philippians 3:19); they persistently pursue impurity, living in the most squalid conditions, resembling crawling creatures. They are sluggish and easily ensnared, enslaved to the basest pleasures. Is this not the fate of the lost? For promiscuous women, harlots, and the most disgraceful of those indulging in insatiable carnal desires, who revel in idolatrous impurity, lead lives truly accursed and steeped in shameful defilement. The law regards as pure those who are afflicted by human frailty, yet not wholly debased, for they swim like those breaking the surface, seeking the higher rather than fixating on worldly matters. The unclean are those who perpetually pursue carnal and worldly inclinations, losing all sense of shame and growing accustomed to overt disgrace. It is wise to refrain from fellowship with such individuals, valuing companionship with the righteous instead, for it is written: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). Paul also instructs: “If anyone named a brother is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one do not even eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11).

Palladius. You have spoken well; this is quite persuasive.