Topical Encyclopedia The grasshopper, a small, winged insect known for its ability to leap great distances, is mentioned several times in the Bible. It often serves as a symbol of insignificance or overwhelming numbers, depending on the context. The grasshopper's presence in Scripture provides insight into the natural world and its metaphorical use in illustrating spiritual truths.Symbol of Insignificance and Frailty In the book of Numbers, the Israelites, upon spying out the Promised Land, describe themselves as grasshoppers in comparison to the inhabitants of the land. This imagery conveys a sense of smallness and vulnerability. Numbers 13:33 states, "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." Similarly, in Isaiah, the grasshopper is used to depict the insignificance of humanity in comparison to the majesty and power of God. Isaiah 40:22 declares, "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." Symbol of Overwhelming Numbers The book of Judges uses the imagery of grasshoppers to describe the vast numbers of the Midianite army. Judges 6:5 notes, "For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a swarm of locusts. They and their camels were too numerous to count, and they entered the land to lay waste to it." Here, the grasshopper represents an overwhelming force, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the Israelites. Symbol of Destruction In the prophetic literature, grasshoppers are often associated with destruction and judgment. The prophet Joel speaks of a locust plague that devastates the land, a calamity that includes grasshoppers as part of the swarm. Joel 1:4 states, "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." This passage highlights the destructive power of these insects, serving as a metaphor for divine judgment. Symbol of Transience The grasshopper is also used to illustrate the fleeting nature of life. In Ecclesiastes, the grasshopper is mentioned in the context of old age and the brevity of human existence. Ecclesiastes 12:5 says, "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." This imagery underscores the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. In summary, the grasshopper in Scripture serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing insignificance, overwhelming numbers, destruction, and the transience of life. Its presence in the biblical text provides a rich tapestry of meaning, reflecting both the natural world and deeper spiritual truths. Nave's Topical Index Numbers 13:33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Nave's Topical Index Ecclesiastes 12:5 Isaiah 40:22 Nahum 3:17 Library On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ... Introduction The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful The Second Theological Oration. Tit. 2:06 Thoughts for Young Men Letter xxii. To Eustochium. The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment: The Desire of the Righteous Granted; The Holy War, An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... 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 |
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