Locusts are frequently depicted in the Bible as forces of destruction and reminders of nature’s power to change human life instantaneously. These insects are often connected with judgments pronounced by God, symbolizing divine intervention in human affairs. This summary delves into how the Bible showcases locusts and their meaning, without referring to exact biblical verses.
What Role Do Locusts Play in the Bible?
In the Bible, locusts represent not merely natural disasters but divine chastisements. They arrive unannounced, in large numbers, and with devastating effects, much like pestilence or natural calamities. Through the unpredictable and chaotic nature of locust invasions, the Bible emphasises the benevolence of Providence and the frailness of human existence. This is reflected in the metaphors and symbolism used around locusts throughout the Bible.
Why Locusts are Seen as God’s Instruments?
Locusts in the Bible are often portrayed as instruments of God’s wrath. They are used to inflict economic and environmental catastrophes, leading people towards repentance. These creatures act as divine tools of punishment, providing explicit examples of how disobedience and faithlessness can lead towards calamitous consequences. In these instances, the Bible utilizes locusts not to induce fear but to convey the profound truth about the effect of human transgressions on the greater cosmic order.
When Do Locusts Appear in the Bible?
Locusts appear in the Bible typically during periods of human disobedience or disregard for divine commands. These appearances coincide with key moments of conflict, transformation, or climax within the biblical narrative. The sudden and often catastrophic arrival of locusts symbolizes a divine response to human actions, bringing critical plot developments and serving as a stark reflection of humanity’s actions. These instances help underline the significance of obedience and humility in human relationships with the divine.
Where are Locusts Mentioned in the Bible?
Locusts are mentioned in several places in the Bible, particularly in texts recounting the history and prophecies of different civilizations. Despite their geographical and contextual variations, these mentions share a common theme – divine intervention. Whether sweeping over Egypt or threatening the crops of Judea, the locusts of the Bible appear where the harmony between humanity and the divine has been disrupted. They serve as a mirror of human actions, reflecting the consequences of disobedience, greed, or pride.
Who are Affected by the Locusts in the Bible?
The locust invasions in the Bible affect whole communities, leaving neither the rich nor the poor spared. Such episodes demonstrate the egalitarian nature of divine judgments, where no social or economic distinction can shield one from the consequences of collective irresponsibility. By portraying locusts as affecting everyone indiscriminately, the Bible underlines the universality and impartiality of divine justice. Locusts serve as a stark reminder that all are accountable for their actions, whatever their status or wealth.
Below is our full list of bible verses on locusts (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Locusts
Revelation 9:3-10
“3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”
2 Chronicles 7:13
“13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;”
Related Themes: Pestilence Repentance Rain
Joel 2:25
“25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”
Related Themes: Restoration Deliverance Regret Trauma
Proverbs 30:27
“27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;”
Joel 1:4-7
“4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.”
Mark 1:6
“6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;”
Leviticus 11:22
“22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.”
Psalm 105:34
“34 He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,”
Revelation 9:4
“4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”
Joel 1:4
“4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.”
Revelation 9:7
“7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.”
Related Themes: Gold
Revelation 9:7-10
“7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”
Related Themes: Gold
Exodus 10:15
“15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.”
Matthew 3:4
“4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”
Revelation 9:3
“3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
1 Kings 8:37
“37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;”
Related Themes: Pestilence
Isaiah 33:4
“4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.”
Jeremiah 46:23
“23 They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.”
Exodus 10:19
“19 And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.”
Exodus 10:12
“12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.”
Exodus 10:4
“4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:”
Exodus 10:14
“14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.”
Exodus 10:13
“13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”
Deuteronomy 28:38
“38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.”
Judges 6:5
“5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.”
Judges 7:12
“12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.”
Revelation 9:11
“11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”
Related Themes: Satan
Psalm 78:46
“46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.”
Revelation 9:5
“5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-15
“13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”
Related Themes: Pestilence Repentance Rain
