Jump to: Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia The grasshopper is a small, leaping insect that appears in several passages of the Bible, often symbolizing insignificance or vulnerability. In the ancient Near East, grasshoppers were a common sight and were known for their swarming behavior, which could lead to devastating plagues affecting agriculture and food supply.Biblical References: 1. Numbers 13:33 : "We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them." In this passage, the Israelite spies sent to Canaan report back to Moses and the congregation, expressing their fear and sense of inadequacy when comparing themselves to the inhabitants of the land. The metaphor of grasshoppers highlights their perceived smallness and vulnerability in the face of formidable opponents. 2. Isaiah 40:22 : "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." Here, the prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of grasshoppers to convey the vastness and majesty of God compared to the insignificance of human beings. This verse emphasizes God's sovereignty and the humility of mankind in the grand scheme of creation. 3. Ecclesiastes 12:5 : "when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets." In this poetic description of old age, the grasshopper is used to symbolize frailty and the burdens of aging. The once energetic and leaping insect is now depicted as dragging itself along, illustrating the decline in vitality that comes with advanced years. Symbolism and Cultural Context: In biblical times, grasshoppers and locusts were often associated with destruction and divine judgment. Swarms of locusts, which are closely related to grasshoppers, could devastate crops and lead to famine, as seen in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 10:12-15). This association with judgment and calamity underscores the grasshopper's role as a symbol of both vulnerability and the potential for widespread impact. The use of grasshoppers in biblical metaphor often serves to remind the faithful of their dependence on God and the need for humility. The imagery of grasshoppers contrasts human frailty with divine power, encouraging believers to trust in God's provision and protection despite their own limitations. Natural History: Grasshoppers belong to the order Orthoptera and are characterized by their long hind legs, which enable them to leap great distances. They are primarily herbivorous and can be found in a variety of habitats, from grasslands to forests. In the context of the Bible, the grasshopper's ability to swarm and consume large quantities of vegetation would have been well-known to ancient agrarian societies, making it a potent symbol in scriptural narratives. Smith's Bible Dictionary Grasshopper[LOCUST] ATS Bible Dictionary GrasshopperA kind of locust, and so called in 2 Chronicles 7:13. It was sometimes used for food, Le 11:22. Individually they are insignificant and timid creatures, Numbers 13:33, and their worthlessness furnishes a striking comparison in Isaiah 40:22; while the feebleness of age is expressed by inability to endure them, Ecclesiastes 12:5. Yet coming in great numbers, they are destructive to all herbage, Am 7:1. See LOCUST. Easton's Bible Dictionary Belongs to the class of neuropterous insects called Gryllidae. This insect is not unknown in Palestine.In Judges 6:5; 7:12; Job 39:30; Jeremiah 46:23, where the Authorized Version has "grasshopper," the Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word (`arbeh) by "locust." This is the case also in Amos 7:1;Nahum 3:17, where the Hebrew word gob is used; and in Leviticus 11:22; Numbers 13:33; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Isaiah 40:22, where hagab is used. In all these instances the proper rendering is probably "locust" (q.v.). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Any jumping, orthopterous insect, of the families Acrididae and Locustidae. The species and genera are very numerous. The former family includes the Western grasshopper or locust (Caloptenus spretus), noted for the great extent of its ravages in the region beyond the Mississippi. In the Eastern United States the red-legged (Caloptenus femurrubrum and C. atlanis) are closely related species, but their ravages are less important. They are closely related to the migratory locusts of the Old World. See Locust.2. (n.) In ordinary square or upright pianos of London make, the escapement lever or jack, so made that it can be taken out and replaced with the key; -- called also the hopper. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia GRASSHOPPERgras'-hop-er. Strong's Hebrew 2284. chagab -- locust, grasshopper... 2283, 2284. chagab. 2285 . locust, grasshopper. Transliteration: chagab Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-gawb') Short Definition: grasshopper. ... /hebrew/2284.htm - 5k 697. arbeh -- (a kind of) locust 2625. chasil -- (a kind of) locust 1462. gob -- locusts Library Exhortation to Abandon the Impious Mysteries of Idolatry for the ... Satan's Banquet Life as a Joy Shadowed by the Judgment The Conclusion of the Matter "The Gentle Steps of Age" The Death of the Christian Two Ways of Seeing A Cultivated Conservative Friend of Mine once Exhibited Great ... The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful The Fallacy of the Young Nation Thesaurus Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)... In Judges 6:5; 7:12; Job 39:30; Jeremiah 46:23, where the Authorized Version has "grasshopper," the Revised Version more correctly renders the Hebrew word ... /g/grasshopper.htm - 12k Caterpillar (6 Occurrences) Swarming (19 Occurrences) Gnawing (4 Occurrences) Stripping (4 Occurrences) Locust (25 Occurrences) Grasshoppers (11 Occurrences) Swarm (26 Occurrences) Creeping (43 Occurrences) Hopper (1 Occurrence) Resources Is it wrong to kill spiders or step on bugs? | GotQuestions.orgGrasshopper: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)Leviticus 11:22 1 Kings 8:37 2 Chronicles 6:28 Job 39:20 Psalms 78:46 Psalms 105:34 Ecclesiastes 12:5 Jeremiah 46:23 Joel 1:4 Joel 2:25 Nahum 3:15 Nahum 3:16 Subtopics Grasshopper: General Scriptures Concerning Related Terms |
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