H0697 H0697
Locust -- the swarming migratory grasshopper, devastating crop-destroyer and figure for invading armies
The common swarming locust, a migratory grasshopper species that appears in immense clouds capable of stripping entire landscapes bare. Closely associated with the Egyptian plagues (Exod 10:4-19), where God sends and then removes the swarm by a mighty east wind, this word denotes both literal agricultural devastation and serves as a vivid simile for innumerable invading armies (Judg 6:5; 7:12). Joel 1:4 places it in a four-species sequence depicting total crop destruction. Leviticus 11:22 lists it among clean insects permitted for food. German Heuschrecke, Spanish langosta, and French sauterelle all converge on the same well-known insect.
Senses
1. locust (swarming insect) — The swarming locust, a migratory grasshopper appearing in devastating multitudes. Primarily associated with the Egyptian plague narrative (Exod 10:4-19), where it functions as an instrument of divine judgment. Listed among clean insects permitted for food (Lev 11:22). Frequently deployed in simile for overwhelming multitudes -- the Midianite hordes are 'like locusts for number' (Judg 6:5; 7:12). Joel 1:4 places it in a sequence with three other locust species to depict total agricultural devastation. Multilingual evidence is uniform: Spanish langosta, German Heuschrecke, French sauterelle all point to the same well-recognized insect. 24×
AR["الجَرادُ-الطَّيّارُ", "الجَرادِ-الطَّيّارِ", "الْ-جَرَادَ", "الْ-جَرَادُ", "الْجَرَادُ", "جَراد", "جَرادٍ", "جَرَادًا", "جَرَادٌ", "جَرَادَةٌ", "كَالجَراد", "كَالْجَرَادِ", "كَـ-الـ-جَرَاد"]·ben["-পঙ্গপাল", "-পঙ্গপালের-মতো", "পঙ্গপাল", "পঙ্গপালের", "পঙ্গপালের-মত", "পঙ্গপালের-মতো"]·DE["Heuschrecke", "Heuschrecken", "[ארבה]", "der-Heuschrecke", "der-locust", "die-Heuschrecke", "locust", "locusts", "wie-Heuschrecke", "wie-der-locusts", "wie-ein-Heuschrecke"]·EN["are-like-the-swarming-locust", "like-a-locust", "like-the-locust", "like-the-locusts", "like-the-swarming-locust", "locust", "locusts", "the-locust", "the-swarming-locust"]·FR["[ארבה]", "comme-le-locusts", "comme-sauterelle", "le-sauterelle", "locust", "locusts", "sauterelle", "כארבה"]·heb["ארבה", "ה-אַרבּה", "ה-ארבה", "כ-ארבה"]·HI["अपनी जाति के अनुसार", "जैसे-टिड्डियाँ", "जैसे-टिड्डियों-के-झुंड", "टिड्डियाँ", "टिड्डियों", "टिड्डी", "टिड्डी-का", "टिड्डी-की-तरह", "टिड्डी-ने", "टिड्डी।"]·ID["belalang", "belalang-pindahan", "belalang-pindahan,", "seperti-belalang", "seperti-belalang-pindahan,", "seperti-belalang-pindahan."]·IT["[ארבה]", "come-il-like-il-locust", "come-il-locusts", "come-locusta", "il-locust", "il-locusta", "la-locusta", "locusta", "locusts"]·jav["kados-walang", "kados-walang-kedhèpèn", "kadosdene-walang", "walang", "walang-kacang"]·KO["같이-메뚜기", "그-메두기가", "그-메두기를", "그-메뚜기-가", "그-메뚜기-의", "그-메뚜기가", "그-메뚜기를", "메두기가", "메두기를", "메뚜기", "메뚜기-가", "메뚜기-같이", "메뚜기가", "메뚜기처럼", "처럼-메뚜기처럼"]·PT["como-gafanhoto", "como-gafanhoto?", "como-gafanhotos", "como-o-gafanhoto", "gafanhoto", "gafanhotos", "o-gafanhoto", "são-como-gafanhotos"]·RU["как-саранча", "саранча", "саранчи", "саранчу"]·ES["como-langosta", "como-langosta!", "como-langostas", "la-langosta", "langosta", "langostas"]·SW["akimzuia", "kama-nzige", "kuteka", "kwao", "na-akasema", "ni-nani", "nzige", "nzige-waondoao"]·TR["de-çekirgeler-gibi", "çekirge", "çekirge-gibi", "çekirgelerin", "çekirgenin", "çekirgeyi"]·urd["جیسا-ٹڈیاں", "ٹڈّی-دَل-کی-طرح", "ٹڈّیاں", "ٹڈی", "ٹڈی-کی-طرح", "ٹڈیاں", "ٹڈیوں", "ٹڈیوں-نے", "ٹڈیوں-کا", "ٹڈیوں-کی-طرح"]
Exod 10:4, Exod 10:12, Exod 10:13, Exod 10:14, Exod 10:14, Exod 10:19, Exod 10:19, Lev 11:22, Deut 28:38, Judg 6:5, Judg 7:12, 1 Kgs 8:37 (+12 more)
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַרְבֶּה n.m. Ex 10:19 a kind of locust (usually interp. as the multitudinous, but DlHWB 126 as = Assyrian âribu, êribu, êribû, locust-swarm, from ארב devastate);—always abs. (הָ)א׳;—usually coll. locust-swarm, in sim. of swarm of invaders Ju 6:5; 7:12; often appar. the common species (‖ other species, cf. לְמִינוֹ Lv 11:22): Je 46:23; Na 3:15 (sim. of multitude; ‖ יֶלֶק); as destructive Ex…