1501. gazam

Lexicon

gazam: Locust, specifically a type of locust or grasshopper.

Original Word: גָּזָם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: gazam
Pronunciation: gah-ZAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-zawm')
Definition: Locust, specifically a type of locust or grasshopper.
Meaning: a kind of locust

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

palmer-worm

From an unused root meaning to devour; a kind of locust -- palmer-worm.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
locusts
NASB Translation
caterpillar (1), gnawing locust (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

גָּזָם noun masculine^{Amos 4:9} locusts (collective) — absolute גָּזָם Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25; Amos 4:9; — always as devouring, devastating, Joel 1:4 ("" אַרְבֶּה, יֶלֶק, חָסִיל) Joel 2:25 ("" id.); Amos 4:9 alone: your gardens and your vineyards, and your fig-tres and your olive-trees יאֹכַל הַגָּזָם.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root גָּזַם (gazam), meaning "to cut off" or "to shear."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There is no direct Greek equivalent for גָּזָם in the Strong's Greek Concordance, as the specific types of locusts mentioned in the Hebrew Bible do not have direct counterparts in the Greek New Testament. However, the general term for locust in Greek is ἀκρίς (akris), Strong's Greek Number 200.

Usage: The term גָּזָם is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a particular type of locust that is part of a sequence of locust plagues. It is often mentioned in contexts of divine judgment and natural disaster.

Context: The Hebrew term גָּזָם (gazam) refers to a specific kind of locust known for its destructive capabilities. In the ancient Near East, locusts were a common and feared threat to agriculture, capable of decimating crops and causing widespread famine. The גָּזָם is mentioned in the context of divine judgment, illustrating the severity of God's wrath through natural calamities.

In the book of Joel, the גָּזָם is part of a sequence of locusts that devastate the land, symbolizing a call to repentance and a warning of the Day of the Lord. Joel 1:4 (BSB) states, "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the crawling locust has eaten; what the crawling locust has left, the consuming locust has eaten." This passage highlights the comprehensive destruction wrought by these locusts, with גָּזָם being one of the stages in this relentless plague.

The גָּזָם is also mentioned in Amos 4:9 (BSB), where it is used as an example of the various calamities sent by God to prompt Israel to return to Him: "I struck you with blight and mildew; the locust devoured your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees, yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD.

The imagery of the גָּזָם serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the need for repentance, as well as the sovereignty of God over creation.

Forms and Transliterations

הַגָּזָ֑ם הַגָּזָם֙ הגזם וְהַגָּזָ֑ם והגזם hag·gā·zām haggaZam haggāzām vehaggaZam wə·hag·gā·zām wəhaggāzām

Englishman's Concordance

Joel 1:4
HEB: יֶ֤תֶר הַגָּזָם֙ אָכַ֣ל הָֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה
NAS: What the gnawing locust has left,
KJV: That which the palmerworm hath left
INT: What the gnawing has eaten the swarming

Joel 2:25
HEB: הַיֶּ֖לֶק וְהֶחָסִ֣יל וְהַגָּזָ֑ם חֵילִי֙ הַגָּד֔וֹל
NAS: the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great
KJV: and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great
INT: the creeping the stripping and the gnawing army my great

Amos 4:9
HEB: וְזֵיתֵיכֶ֖ם יֹאכַ֣ל הַגָּזָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־ שַׁבְתֶּ֥ם
NAS: [wind] and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring
KJV: increased, the palmerworm devoured
INT: and olive was devouring and the caterpillar have not returned

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1501
3 Occurrences

hag·gā·zām — 2 Occ.
wə·hag·gā·zām — 1 Occ.