Locust
Locusts in the Natural World
Locusts are large grasshoppers belonging to the family Acrididae that can form massive migratory swarms capable of devastating enormous areas of vegetation. The species most relevant to biblical lands is the desert locust, which breeds in arid regions and, under certain conditions, transforms from a solitary phase into a gregarious swarming phase. A single swarm can contain billions of insects, cover hundreds of square miles, and consume their own body weight in food daily.
The Bible uses multiple Hebrew words for locusts, likely referring to different species or developmental stages. The four terms in Joel 1:4 — the cutting locust, the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the destroying locust — may describe successive waves of destruction or different stages of locust development, from nymph to adult. The sheer variety of vocabulary reflects how deeply embedded the locust was in the experience of ancient Israelites.
For an agricultural society dependent on rainfall and seasonal harvests, a locust swarm represented one of the most terrifying natural disasters imaginable. Unlike drought, which developed gradually, locusts could appear suddenly and strip fields bare in hours. The book of Joel captures this horror vividly: "What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten" (Joel 1:4).
The Eighth Plague of Egypt
The most dramatic biblical episode involving locusts is the eighth plague God brought upon Egypt (Exodus 10:1-20). Moses warned Pharaoh that locusts would "cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen" and would devour everything the hail had left (Exodus 10:5). When Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites, God brought an east wind that carried locusts into Egypt in unprecedented numbers: "Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again" (Exodus 10:14).
The plague was devastating. The locusts consumed every remaining plant and fruit in the land (Exodus 10:15). Even Pharaoh's own officials had warned him beforehand, asking, "Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?" (Exodus 10:7). The plague demonstrated God's power over the natural world and His authority over the Egyptian gods — including the agricultural deity Min, protector of harvests.
Locusts as Instruments of Judgment
Beyond the Exodus narrative, locusts appear throughout Scripture as instruments of divine judgment. Deuteronomy 28:38-42 lists locust infestation among the curses for covenant disobedience: "You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it." Solomon's prayer at the Temple dedication acknowledged locusts as a potential national affliction and asked God to hear from heaven when the people repented (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28).
God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 directly connects locust plagues with the call to repentance: "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray... then I will hear from heaven... and will heal their land."
The prophet Joel used a devastating locust invasion as the occasion for his entire prophetic message, describing the swarm as an invading army (Joel 2:1-11) and calling the nation to repentance. God's response to repentance included the promise: "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25) — one of Scripture's most beloved promises of restoration.
Locusts as Symbols and Metaphors
Biblical writers frequently used locusts as metaphors for overwhelming numbers and relentless destruction. The Midianite raiders who oppressed Israel came "like swarms of locusts" with innumerable camels (Judges 6:5; 7:12). Jeremiah compared the Babylonian army to locusts (Jeremiah 46:23). Nahum used locust imagery to describe the fall of Nineveh and the scattering of the Assyrian forces (Nahum 3:15-17).
Conversely, locusts could symbolize insignificance and weakness. The Israelite spies reported feeling like grasshoppers (a related term) before the giants of Canaan (Numbers 13:33). Isaiah declared that God "sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers" (Isaiah 40:22), emphasizing human smallness before divine majesty.
In the book of Proverbs, the locust appears as an example of collective wisdom: "Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks" (Proverbs 30:27), illustrating how orderly cooperation can achieve impressive results even without centralized leadership.
Locusts as Food and in Revelation
The Mosaic law permitted the eating of certain insects, including locusts: "Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper" (Leviticus 11:22). Locusts were a source of protein in the ancient Near East, eaten roasted, dried, or ground into flour. John the Baptist famously subsisted on "locusts and wild honey" in the wilderness (Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6), a diet consistent with his austere prophetic lifestyle and with the dietary laws of the Old Testament.
In the book of Revelation, locusts appear in terrifying apocalyptic form. When the fifth trumpet sounds, locusts emerge from the abyss with the power of scorpions, wearing what looked like crowns of gold and having faces like human faces (Revelation 9:1-11). These supernatural creatures are commanded to torment only those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Their king is named Abaddon in Hebrew and Apollyon in Greek, meaning "Destroyer." This apocalyptic imagery draws on the Old Testament association of locusts with divine judgment while transforming it into something beyond the natural world.
Significance for Bible Readers
Locusts in Scripture consistently point to God's sovereign authority over creation. He commands them as instruments of judgment (Exodus 10:13; Joel 2:25), and He removes them as a sign of mercy (Exodus 10:19; Joel 2:25). The locust serves as a bridge between the natural and the spiritual — a creature of this world that becomes a symbol of divine action, a literal plague that becomes a metaphor for armies and apocalyptic forces. For Bible readers, the locust is a vivid reminder that God uses all of creation to accomplish His purposes.
Biblical Context
Locusts appear prominently in the eighth plague of Egypt (Exodus 10:1-20), the covenant curses of Deuteronomy (28:38-42), Solomon's Temple prayer (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28), God's promise of restoration (2 Chronicles 7:13-14), the prophetic message of Joel (Joel 1-2), the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation (9:1-11), and as permitted food (Leviticus 11:22; Matthew 3:4). They serve as metaphors throughout the Psalms, Prophets, and Wisdom literature (Judges 6:5; Proverbs 30:27; Nahum 3:15-17).
Theological Significance
Locusts demonstrate God's sovereignty over creation and His use of natural phenomena as instruments of both judgment and instruction. The locust plagues teach that God holds nations accountable and calls them to repentance. Joel's promise that God will 'repay the years the locusts have eaten' reveals divine compassion and the possibility of restoration after devastating loss. The progression from literal locusts in Exodus to apocalyptic locusts in Revelation shows how biblical imagery deepens in theological significance across the canon.
Historical Background
Locust plagues are extensively documented in ancient Near Eastern records. Egyptian texts describe devastating swarms, and Assyrian annals record locust invasions that destroyed crops across Mesopotamia. The desert locust remains a threat in the same regions today, with modern swarms affecting Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Archaeological evidence of stored locusts as food has been found at various ancient sites. The phenomenon of phase change in locusts — from solitary to swarming — was only scientifically understood in the 20th century, but ancient peoples were well acquainted with the devastating results.