סׇלְעָם
a kind of locust (from its destructiveness)
Definition
The Hebrew word סלעם (çolʻâm) refers to a specific type of locust or grasshopper, identified as the 'bald locust' in the KJV. It appears only in the dietary laws of Leviticus 11:22, where it is listed among the clean, edible insects. The term likely describes a locust species notable for its destructive, consuming behavior, possibly distinguished by a smooth or hairless appearance. This classification is part of the Mosaic law's detailed instructions on what may be eaten.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Leviticus 11:22. Its usage is strictly taxonomic, appearing in a list of permitted insects within the legal context of the Torah's purity laws. There are no patterns of usage across different books or literary forms.
Etymology
The word סלעם (çolʻâm) is apparently derived from the same root as סֶלַע (selaʻ, H5553), meaning 'rock' or 'cliff.' The connection is through the sense of 'crushing' or 'pounding,' as with a rock, metaphorically describing the insect's devastating, consuming nature as it swarms and destroys vegetation.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple noun, its theological significance lies in its context within the Levitical holiness code. It underscores the principle that God's care and law extend to the minutest details of life, including diet. Understanding this specific term enriches the reading of Leviticus by highlighting the intentionality behind the classifications of clean and unclean, which taught Israel about distinction, obedience, and living as a holy people set apart for God.
In its original cultural setting, this word was part of a practical food guide. Locusts were a known, sometimes necessary, food source in the ancient Near East during times of scarcity or as a common protein. The specific identification of 'bald locust' reflects careful observation of the natural world and an attempt to provide clear, distinguishable categories for applying the law in everyday life.
אַרְבֶּה (ʼarbeh, H697) — the general term for 'locust' or 'grasshopper,' often used for destructive swarms. חָגָב (chăgâb, H2284) — another general term for a locust or grasshopper, also listed as clean in Leviticus 11:22.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →