ἀκρίς

a locust

Definition

The Greek word ἀκρίς (akris) specifically means a locust, a type of winged insect known for swarming and consuming vegetation. In the New Testament, it is used literally to describe the food of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6), which consisted of 'locusts and wild honey.' In the Book of Revelation, it takes on a symbolic, apocalyptic meaning, describing a plague of demonic locusts that torment people during the end times (Revelation 9:3, 9:7). These locusts are given power like scorpions and are led by a king, representing a fearsome instrument of divine judgment.

Biblical Usage

The word is used four times in the New Testament across two distinct contexts. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, it is used in a straightforward, historical sense to describe the ascetic diet of John the Baptist. In the apocalyptic literature of Revelation, the word is used symbolically to describe a terrifying plague of supernatural creatures that emerge from the Abyss to torment those without God's seal. This shift from a literal food source to a metaphorical agent of judgment is the key pattern in its usage.

Etymology

The word ἀκρίς is of uncertain origin, but it is a native Greek term for the insect. Some older etymologies suggest a connection to the root *ak- meaning 'pointed' or 'sharp,' possibly referring to the insect's form, but this is not definitive. It is not derived from the prefix ἀ- (meaning 'not') as sometimes mistakenly thought. The word is directly equivalent to the Hebrew 'arbeh' used in the Old Testament.

Semantic Range

The word is theologically significant in its symbolic use in Revelation, where locusts represent a form of divine judgment that is tormenting but not ultimately lethal (Revelation 9:5-6). This connects to Old Testament imagery where locust plagues symbolize God's disciplinary action (e.g., Exodus 10:4-15, Joel 1:4). Understanding that the same word can describe simple sustenance for a prophet and a complex instrument of apocalyptic wrath enriches the reading by highlighting the breadth of biblical symbolism, from historical humility to eschatological horror.

In the ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman world, locusts were a common food source, especially for those living in wilderness or desert regions, and were considered clean according to Jewish dietary law (Leviticus 11:22). They were typically dried, salted, or roasted. Their appearance in swarms was also universally feared as a catastrophic agricultural disaster. This dual reality—as a permissible food and a symbol of devastating plague—perfectly informs its two distinct biblical uses.

There are no direct synonyms for 'locust' in the New Testament. The word is used uniquely. However, the related concept of a 'plague' or 'scourge' in Revelation 9 is conveyed by the description of the locusts' actions, not by a different word for the insect itself.

Word Details

Scripture References