H2284 H2284
locust, grasshopper; a small non-flying insect species used as a figure of insignificance
One of several Hebrew terms for locust-type insects, this word likely denotes a smaller, non-flying species permitted as food in the Levitical dietary laws (Lev 11:22). Its most memorable use is the Israelite spies' self-deprecating report: 'We were like grasshoppers in our own sight' (Num 13:33). Isaiah employs the same image cosmically -- earth's inhabitants are like grasshoppers before God (Isa 40:22). Spanish uses both 'langosta' (locust) and 'saltamontes' (grasshopper), reflecting the term's range between pest and small creature.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A small locust or grasshopper, probably a non-flying species listed among clean insects in Lev 11:22. Frequently used figuratively for insignificance or smallness, as in the spies' lament at Num 13:33 and God's cosmic perspective in Isa 40:22. Spanish alternates between 'langosta' and 'saltamontes,' suggesting the creature sits between a true locust and a common grasshopper. In 2 Chr 7:13 it functions as an instrument of divine agricultural judgment. 5×
AR["الْجَرَادِ", "الْجُنْدُبَ", "كَ-الْجَرَادِ", "كَالجَرَادِ", "هِ-حَجَب"]·ben["-ঝিঁঝিঁ", "পঙ্গপালকে", "পতঙ্গ", "পতঙ্গের-মতো", "ফড়িঙের-মতো"]·DE["[החגב]", "[חגב]", "[כחגבים]", "der-Heuschrecke", "wie-Heuschrecken"]·EN["are-like-grasshoppers", "like-grasshoppers", "the-grasshopper", "the-locust"]·FR["[חגב]", "[כחגבים]", "comme-grasshoppers", "le-grasshopper", "le-החגב"]·heb["ה-חגב", "חגב", "כ-ה-כחגבים", "כ-חגבים"]·HI["अपनी जाति के अनुसार", "जैसे-टिड्डे", "टिड्डा", "टिड्डी-पर"]·ID["belalang", "belalang-hagab", "seperti-belalang"]·IT["[חגב]", "[כחגבים]", "come-grasshoppers", "il-grasshopper", "il-il-grasshopper"]·jav["kados-walang", "walang"]·KO["같으니라-메뚜기", "그-방아깨비를", "메뚜기", "메뚜기-그", "메뚜기들-같이"]·PT["como-gafanhotos", "gafanhoto", "o-gafanhoto", "o-hagav"]·RU["как-саранча", "кузнечик,", "кузнечика", "саранчу"]·ES["como-langostas", "el-saltamontes", "la-langosta", "langosta"]·SW["kama-panzi", "nzige", "panzi"]·TR["-e-benzer-çekirgeler", "cekirge", "cekirgeler-gibi", "çekirge", "çekirgeyi"]·urd["-ٹڈی", "ٹِڈّی", "ٹڈا", "ٹڈڈوں-کی-طرح", "ٹڈیوں-کی-طرح-ہیں"]
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
† I. חָגָב n.m. Ec 12:5 locust, grasshopper (NH id.; cf. 𝔗), prob. a non-flying species, v. Kn in Di Lv 11:22; הֶחָגָב allowed as food Lv 11:22 (P; ‖ אַרְבֶּה, סָלְעָם, חַרְגֹּל), כַּחֲגָבִים Nu 13:33 (JE; sim. of insignificance), so Is 40:22; as agent of Yahweh’s wrath חָגָב לֶאֱכוֹל חארץ 2 Ch 7:13; וְיִסְתַּבֵּל הֶחָגָב Ec 12:5 and the grasshopper shall be a burden; better shall stuff itself,…