דברים, פרק י״ד, פסוק כ׳

The conclusion of the biblical list detailing permitted and forbidden flying creatures carries subtle distinctions regarding animal categories and the rules for their consumption. While earlier instructions refer narrowly to small birds that wake early to chirp in the morning [הכתב והקבלה], the conclusion shifts to a much broader category encompassing any creature that flies, whether it glides low to the ground or soars high in the sky [העמק דבר]. Ultimately, any flying creature absent from the forbidden list is permitted for food [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This wider categorization serves a specific practical purpose. The primary approach among commentators is that it explicitly permits certain pure species of flying insects, such as locusts. Because insects do not fit the narrow definition of a small morning bird, and since other instructions broadly prohibit all swarming winged insects, a more inclusive category is necessary. This ensures that pure locusts with leaping legs remain acceptable for consumption [ביאור יש״ר].

Beyond defining which species are allowed, the positive instruction that one may eat these pure creatures carries significant legal weight. By explicitly stating what may be eaten, a hidden warning is established against eating what is impure. Consequently, consuming a forbidden flying creature violates both a direct prohibition and a positive instruction [רש״י]. Furthermore, the permission to eat a pure flying creature depends entirely on proper preparation. The creature must be processed according to the required legal procedures, such as proper slaughter. If the creature dies naturally on its own, eating it is strictly forbidden [בכור שור].