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Biblical Symbolism Of Locusts

Locusts, a well-known insect belonging to the grasshopper family, are frequently mentioned in the Bible, often symbolizing destruction, judgment, and overwhelming numbers [2, 3]. There are ten distinct Hebrew words used in Scripture to refer to locusts [1]. These insects are noted for their voracious appetites and rapid movement, capable of causing terrible devastation to vegetation [2, 3].

In the Old Testament, locusts are consistently depicted as agents of destruction. One of the most prominent instances is their role as one of the plagues inflicted upon Egypt (Exodus 10:4-15) [3]. This plague demonstrated their immense numbers and destructive power, as they covered the land and consumed all vegetation [3]. Deuteronomy 28:42 warns that locusts will consume all trees and fruit as a punishment for sin [3, 6]. Similarly, 1 Kings 8:37-38 records a prayer deprecating the plague of locusts, indicating their destructive impact on agricultural societies [3]. The prophet Joel describes a severe locust plague, portraying it as a "great army" sent by God, which consumes the land [8]. This imagery is so vivid that the locusts are described as a "day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness," suggesting the way their swarms can obscure the sun [12, 14].

The destructive capacity of locusts is often used metaphorically to represent invading armies or overwhelming forces. The prophet Nahum, for instance, uses the imagery of locusts and cankerworms to describe the successive armies and destructive influences that would come against Nineveh [13]. Tyndale House notes that the Old Testament frequently employs locusts as a metaphor for armies, citing Joel 2:1-11 as an example [9, 10]. The sheer multitude and organized movement of locusts, which fly in bands, make them a fitting symbol for military might [3]. Joel 2:4 even likens their appearance to "horses prepared for battle," an image echoed in the New Testament [3, 7].

Beyond their destructive symbolism, locusts also appear in other contexts. Under Mosaic law, certain species of locusts were considered "clean" and fit for consumption [1, 3]. This is notably illustrated in the New Testament, where John the Baptist is described as eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6) [1]. This detail highlights that while locusts were often a symbol of famine and destruction, they could also serve as a food source in arid regions.

The Hebrew words translated as "locust" or related destructive insects include hasil and yelek. Hasil, often translated as "caterpillar" or "consumer," refers to a devouring insect, possibly a species of locust or a locust in its larval state [4, 5]. Yelek is another term, sometimes rendered as "cankerworm," which also denotes a destructive insect, likely a type of locust [4, 5]. Joel 1:4 and 2:25 use these terms to describe different stages or types of locusts, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the devastation [4, 8].

In the book of Revelation, locusts appear in a highly symbolic vision (Revelation 9:3, 7). These apocalyptic locusts are described as emerging from the bottomless pit, distinct from natural locusts [1, 11]. Their appearance is terrifying: "The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces" [7]. Tyndale House interprets their golden crowns as indicating their dominion over much of the earth, and their description is intended to evoke revulsion and terror [11]. While some modern interpretations have attempted to link these symbolic locusts to contemporary military technology, scholarly interpretation emphasizes their supernatural origin and symbolic nature as agents of divine judgment [11].

The biblical symbolism of locusts thus encompasses a range of meanings, primarily centered on their capacity for overwhelming destruction and their role as instruments of divine judgment or as metaphors for powerful, numerous armies. However, their mention as a permissible food source for John the Baptist also grounds them in the practical realities of ancient life [1].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Locust — There are ten Hebrew words used in Scripture to signify locust. In the New Testament locusts are mentioned as forming part of the food of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4; Mark 1:6). By the Mosaic law they were reckoned "clean," so that he could lawfully eat them. The name also occurs in Rev. 9:3, 7, in allusion to this Oriental devastating insect. Locusts belong to the class of Orthoptera, i.e., straight-winged. They are of many species. The ordinary Syrian locust resembles the grasshopper, but is larger and more destructive. "The legs and thighs of these insect”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Locust — a well-known insect, of the grasshopper family, which commits terrible ravages on vegetation in the countries which it visits. "The common brown locust is about three inches in length, and the general form is that of a grasshopper." The most destructive of the locust tribe that occur in the Bible lands are the (Edipoda migratoria and the Acridium peregrinum ; and as both these species occur in Syria and Arabia, etc., it is most probable that one or other is denoted in those passages which speak of the dreadful devastations committed by these insects. Locusts ”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Locust, The — A small insect -- Pr 30:24,27. Clean and fit for food -- Le 11:21,22. Described as Wise. -- Pr 30:24,27. Voracious. -- Ex 10:15. Rapid in movement. -- Isa 33:4. Like to horses prepared for battle. -- Joe 2:4; Re 9:7. Carried every way by the wind -- Ex 10:13,19. Immensely numerous -- Ps 105:34; Na 3:15. Flies in bands and with order -- Pr 30:27. One of the plagues of Egypt -- Ex 10:4-15. The Jews Used as food. -- Mt 3:4. Threatened with, as a punishment for sin. -- De 28:38,42. Deprecated the plague of. -- 1Ki 8:37,38. Often plagued by. -- Joe 1:4; 2:25”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Caterpillar — The consumer. Used in the Old Testament (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chr. 6:28; Ps. 78:46; Isa. 33:4) as the translation of a word (hasil) the root of which means "to devour" or "consume," and which is used also with reference to the locust in Deut. 28:38. It may have been a species of locust, or the name of one of the transformations through which the locust passes, locust-grub. It is also found (Ps. 105:34; Jer. 51:14, 27; R.V., "cankerworm") as the rendering of a different Hebrew word, yelek, a word elsewhere rendered "cankerworm" (q.v.), Joel 1:4; 2:25. (See [1”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Caterpillar — The representative in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word chasil and yelek . + Chasil occurs in (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalms 78:46; Isaiah 33:4; Joel 1:4) and seems to be applied to a locust, perhaps in its larva state. + Yelek. [[349]Locust].”
  6. Deuteronomy “Locusts will consume all of your trees and the fruit of your ground. -- Deuteronomy 28:42”
  7. Revelation “The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces. -- Revelation 9:7”
  8. Joel “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. -- Joel 2:25”
  9. Nahum (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Nahum 3:15: 3:15 The Old Testament often uses locusts as a metaphor for armies (see Joel 2:1-11).”
  10. Nah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Nah 3:15: 3:15 The Old Testament often uses locusts as a metaphor for armies (see Joel 2:1-11).”
  11. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 9:7: 9:7-10 While some see these locusts as symbolic of attack helicopters, missiles, or other modern armaments, they come from the “bottomless pit” rather than from human engineering. The description of these creatures, derived from the physical appearance of locusts, is intended to cause revulsion and terror. • Their gold crowns indicate that their torment dominates much of the earth.”
  12. Joel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Joel 2:2: darkness . . . gloominess . . . clouds . . . thick darkness--accumulation of synonyms, to intensify the picture of calamity (Isa 8:22). Appropriate here, as the swarms of locusts intercepting the sunlight suggested darkness as a fit image of the coming visitation. as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people--Substitute a comma for a colon after mountains: As the morning light spreads itself over the mountains, so a people numerous [MAURER] and strong shall spread themselves. The suddenness of the rising of the morning light, which gilds the”
  13. Nahum (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Nahum 3:15: Make thyself many as the cankerworm - On the locusts, and their operations in their various states, see the notes on Joel 2 (note). The multitudes, successive swarms, and devastation occasioned by locusts, is one of the most expressive similes that could be used to point out the successive armies and all-destroying influences of the enemies of Nineveh. The account of these destroyers from Dr. Shaw, inserted Joel 2, will fully illustrate the verses where allusion is made to locusts.”
  14. Joel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joel 2:2: A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness,.... Alluding to the gloomy and thick darkness caused by the locusts, which sometimes come in prodigious numbers, like thick clouds, and darken the air; so the land of Egypt was darkened by them, Exo 10:15; historians and travellers relate, as Bochart (f) has shown, that these creatures will fly like a cloud, and darken the heavens at noonday, cover the sun, and hinder the rays of it from touching the earth; though all these phrases may be expressive of great afflictions and calamities, which are ”
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