What is the meaning of Exodus 10:14? The locusts swarmed across the land - “The locusts swarmed across the land” (Exodus 10:14) pictures an overwhelming, living storm. Scripture records that “they covered the surface of the ground” (Exodus 10:5), moving with military precision (cf. Proverbs 30:27; Joel 2:4–5). - The Lord is showing His power over creation; the insects go where He sends them (Psalm 105:34–35). - For Israel, the sight confirmed the reliability of God’s warning through Moses (Exodus 7:1–2). For Egypt, it revealed the impotence of their gods who were thought to protect crops and fertility (Isaiah 19:1). settled over the entire territory of Egypt - The swarm did not stop at one border or another; it “settled over the entire territory of Egypt,” leaving no safe pocket (Exodus 10:6). - This total coverage underscores that Pharaoh’s rebellion affected every citizen, echoing earlier judgments that were also nationwide (Exodus 8:6; 9:6). - Similar language appears in Revelation 9:3–4, where locust-like creatures are released in a judgment that also has worldwide scope. Never before had there been so many locusts - The verse is deliberate: no past plague matched this one. Moses could look back on Joseph’s famine years (Genesis 41) or on seasonal swarms (Deuteronomy 28:38) and still say nothing compared. - Joel later calls people to “tell your children” about a locust invasion so vast it defies memory (Joel 1:2–4), echoing the uniqueness of Exodus 10. - This emphasis affirms the historical accuracy of the plague, inviting readers to see it as a singular act of divine judgment rather than embellishment. and never again will there be - The final phrase sets the plague apart forever, much like the coming death of the firstborn is described as unparalleled (Exodus 11:6). - By promising that no future swarm would equal it, God marks the event as an unrepeatable demonstration of His supremacy (Nahum 1:9). - Jesus employs similar absolute language when describing the Great Tribulation—“such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and never will be” (Matthew 24:21), showing that God reserves the right to punctuate history with singular, decisive acts. summary Exodus 10:14 records a literal, once-in-history locust plague that blanketed every corner of Egypt. The unparalleled swarm revealed God’s total command over nature, judged Pharaoh’s pride, and strengthened Israel’s faith in their Redeemer. Cross-references throughout Scripture echo its scale and finality, reminding believers that the Lord’s words are precise, His judgments just, and His promises unfailing. |
    |