In the Bible, the term "caterpillar" is often used to describe a destructive force, typically in the context of divine judgment or natural calamity. The Hebrew word "chasil" is sometimes translated as "caterpillar" in English versions of the Bible, though it can also refer to a type of locust or other devouring insect. The caterpillar is mentioned in several passages, primarily in the Old Testament, where it symbolizes devastation and the consequences of disobedience to God.

Biblical References:

1. Joel 1:4 : "What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten." While the Berean Standard Bible does not specifically use the term "caterpillar" in this verse, the progression of locusts described here is often associated with various stages of locust development, including the caterpillar stage. This passage highlights the totality of destruction that can occur when God allows such plagues as a form of judgment.

2. Jeremiah 51:14 : "The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself: 'Surely I will fill you up with men as with locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.'" Although the term "caterpillar" is not directly used in this verse, the imagery of locusts is prevalent. The caterpillar, as a stage in the locust's life cycle, is part of the broader metaphor for overwhelming numbers and destruction.

3. Nahum 3:15-16 : "There the fire will consume you; the sword will cut you down and devour you like a young locust. Multiply yourselves like the young locust; multiply like the swarming locust!" Here, the imagery of locusts, including the caterpillar stage, is used to describe the impending judgment and destruction that will come upon Nineveh. The passage emphasizes the futility of resistance against divine judgment.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, the caterpillar, along with other stages of the locust, serves as a symbol of divine retribution and the consequences of sin. The destructive nature of these insects is a vivid representation of how disobedience to God can lead to ruin and desolation. The use of such imagery would have been particularly poignant to ancient agrarian societies, for whom locust plagues were a real and devastating threat.

The caterpillar's role in these passages underscores the theme of repentance and the need for adherence to God's commandments. The devastation wrought by these creatures serves as a call to return to righteousness and seek God's mercy. The imagery of the caterpillar and locusts is a reminder of the power and sovereignty of God over creation, as well as His ability to use natural phenomena to fulfill His purposes.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, locust plagues were a common and feared occurrence. These swarms could decimate crops and lead to famine, making them a fitting metaphor for divine judgment. The caterpillar, as part of the locust's life cycle, would have been understood as a stage in this destructive process. The biblical authors used this imagery to communicate the severity of God's judgments and the need for His people to remain faithful.

Overall, the caterpillar in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of destruction and a reminder of the importance of obedience to God. Through these vivid images, the biblical text communicates the reality of divine justice and the hope of restoration for those who turn back to God.Caterpillar

The representative in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word chasil and yelek .

1. Chasil occurs in (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalms 78:46; Isaiah 33:4; Joel 1:4) and seems to be applied to a locust, perhaps in its larva state.
2. Yelek. [LOCUST].

Caterpillar

Some locust-like insect, now undistinguishable, De 28:38 1 Kings 8:37 Psalm 78:46 105:34 Isaiah 33:4. See LOCUST.

The consumer. Used in the Old Testament (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalm 78:46; Isaiah 33:4) as the translation of a word (hasil) the root of which means "to devour" or "consume," and which is used also with reference to the locust in Deuteronomy 28:38. It may have been a species of locust, or the name of one of the transformations through which the locust passes, locust-grub. It is also found (Psalm 105:34; Jeremiah 51:14, 27; R.V., "cankerworm") as the rendering of a different Hebrew word, yelek, a word elsewhere rendered "cankerworm" (q.v.), Joel 1:4; 2:25. (see LOCUST.) 1. (n.) The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (n.) A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars.

CATERPILLAR

kat'-er-pil-er (chacil (Psalm 78:46 Joel 1:4, etc.); yeleq (Psalm 105:34 the King James Version, the American Standard Revised Version "grasshopper"; Jeremiah 51:14, 27 the King James Version; elsewhere "canker-worm")): A name given to a larval stage of the LOCUST (which see).

2625. chasil -- (a kind of) locust
... Word Origin from chasal Definition (a kind of) locust NASB Word Usage caterpillar
(1), grasshopper (3), stripping locust (2). caterpillar. ...
/hebrew/2625.htm - 6k

3218. yeleq -- (a kind of) locust
... cankerworm, caterpillar. From an unused root meaning to lick up; a devourer;
specifically, the young locust -- cankerworm, caterpillar. 3217, 3218. ...
/hebrew/3218.htm - 6k

1501. gazam -- locusts
... locust. Word Origin from an unused word Definition locusts NASB Word Usage
caterpillar (1), gnawing locust (2). palmer-worm. From ...
/hebrew/1501.htm - 5k

December 16. "I Will Restore to You the Years that the Locust Hath ...
... DECEMBER 16. "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker
worm and the caterpillar and the palmer worm, my great army, which I sent ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /december 16 i will restore.htm

The Spirituality of the Risen Body.
... present life. When the butterfly was a caterpillar, it devoured green leaves
with pleasure and avidity. They were its very life. But ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter vi the spirituality of.htm

Continues the Same Subject: Explains the Prayer of Union by a ...
... The caterpillar nourishes itself upon the mulberry leaves until, when it has grown
large, people place near it small twigs upon which, of its own accord, it ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ii continues the same 3.htm

Christian Unity.
... The caterpillar at the bottom bites the one above him, gets over his back, and then
exults, 'There is a caterpillar nearer the bottom of the cabbage-stalk than ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xxxvii christian unity.htm

The Evolution of a Mother
... The butterfly places the eggs of its young on the very leaf which the coming
caterpillar likes the most, and on the under side of the leaf, where they will be ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter viii the evolution of.htm

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... left Hath the locust eaten; And that which the locust hath left Hath the cankerworm
eaten; And that which the cankerworm hath left Hath the caterpillar eaten. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

Gherardi Sat for Two or Three Minutes in Absolute Silence. ...
... the tips of his fingers delicately together, "there are grades of intelligence just
as there are grades of creation; you cannot instruct a caterpillar as you ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxi gherardi sat for two.htm

The Council of Nic??a.
... power of God' elicited the whispered explanation that the host of Israel was spoken
of as dunamis kuriou, and that even the locust and caterpillar are called ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 3 -1 the council.htm

Introduction to Proverbs viii. 22 Continued. Contrast Between the ...
... that this is the Christ, but that there are many created powers and wisdoms, of
which one is the Lord whom they go on to compare to the caterpillar and locust? ...
/.../chapter xviii introduction to proverbs viii.htm

Nicodemus.
... The caterpillar has already a life of its own, with which, no doubt, it is well
content, but enclosed in its nature as a creeping thing it has a capacity for ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/vii nicodemus.htm

Caterpillar (6 Occurrences)
... caterpillars. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CATERPILLAR. kat'-er ... see).
Multi-Version Concordance Caterpillar (6 Occurrences). 1 Kings ...
/c/caterpillar.htm - 10k

Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:37 "If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence, if there is
blight, mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in the ...
/g/grasshopper.htm - 12k

Palmer-worm (2 Occurrences)
... The English word may denote either a caterpillar (as rendered by the LXX.), which
wanders like a palmer or pilgrim, or which travels like pilgrims in bands ...
/p/palmer-worm.htm - 7k

Locusts (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:37 If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be
blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the ...
/l/locusts.htm - 16k

Worm (22 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews sas (Isaiah 51:8), denotes the
caterpillar of the clothes-moth. (2.) The manna bred worms ...
/w/worm.htm - 21k

Palmerworm (2 Occurrences)
... The English word may denote either a caterpillar (as rendered by the LXX.), which
wanders like a palmer or pilgrim, or which travels like pilgrims in bands ...
/p/palmerworm.htm - 8k

Silkworm
... butterflies and moths, but it is of great economic importance only in the Chinese
silkworm, Bombyx mori, whose larva, a yellowish-white caterpillar from 2 to 3 ...
/s/silkworm.htm - 9k

Silk (4 Occurrences)
... butterflies and moths, but it is of great economic importance only in the Chinese
silkworm, Bombyx mori, whose larva, a yellowish-white caterpillar from 2 to 3 ...
/s/silk.htm - 12k

Cankerworm (7 Occurrences)
... locust," which licks up the grass of the field; probably the locust at a certain
stage of its growth, just as it emerges from the caterpillar state (Joel 1:4; 2 ...
/c/cankerworm.htm - 10k

Canker-worm (7 Occurrences)
... CANKER-WORM. kan'-ker-wurm (yeleq, (Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25 Nahum 3:15, 16)): The name
given to a larval stage of the LOCUST (which see). See also CATERPILLAR. ...
/c/canker-worm.htm - 9k

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