The term "palmer-worm" appears in the Bible as part of a description of devastating locust plagues that serve as instruments of divine judgment. The palmer-worm is mentioned specifically in the book of Joel, a prophetic text that vividly portrays the consequences of Israel's disobedience and the call to repentance.

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."

In this passage, the palmer-worm is understood to be one of the stages or types of locusts involved in a sequential devastation of the land. The Hebrew word translated as "palmer-worm" is "gazam," which is often interpreted as a type of locust or caterpillar. The verse describes a complete and successive destruction of crops, emphasizing the totality of the judgment.

Theological Significance:

The palmer-worm, along with other locusts, symbolizes the severe consequences of turning away from God. The locust plague in Joel serves as a metaphor for the spiritual desolation that results from sin and rebellion. It is a call to the people of Israel to recognize their need for repentance and to return to the Lord with sincere hearts.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near East, locust plagues were a well-known and feared natural disaster. They could decimate crops and lead to famine, threatening the survival of entire communities. The imagery of locusts, including the palmer-worm, would have resonated deeply with the original audience of the book of Joel, who understood the dire implications of such an event.

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions:

The book of Joel not only addresses the immediate context of Israel's sin and the resulting judgment but also points to future events. The locust plague is a precursor to the "Day of the LORD," a time of ultimate judgment and restoration. The palmer-worm, as part of this imagery, underscores the urgency of repentance and the hope of divine mercy and restoration.

Application for Believers:

For contemporary readers, the mention of the palmer-worm in Joel serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God. It encourages believers to examine their lives, seek forgiveness, and trust in God's provision and protection. The passage also offers hope, as it ultimately points to God's promise of restoration and blessing for those who turn back to Him.Palmer-Worm

This old English term, meaning pilgrim-worm, is used in Jeremiah 1:4 2:25 Am 4:9, like "canker-worm" and "caterpillar," for the locust in one of another of its various species or transitions. These insects are very destructive even before they reach the winged state. See LOCUST.

(Hebrews gazam). 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 (Joel 1:4; 2:25), the wingless locusts, or the migratory locust in its larva state. PALMER-WORM

pam'-er-wurm (gazam; Septuagint kampe (Amos 4:9 Joel 1:4; Joel 2:25)): "Palmer-worm" means "caterpillar," but the insect meant is probably a kind of locust.

See INSECTS; LOCUST.

1501. gazam -- locusts
... palmer-worm. From an unused root meaning to devour; a kind of locust --
palmer-worm. 1500, 1501. gazam. 1502 . Strong's Numbers.
/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 Answer that Without God's Help not Only Perfect Chastity but ...
... there come to him, as Scripture says, "a heaven of brass and an earth of iron,"
and "the cankerworm eat what the locust hath left, and the palmerworm eat what ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter iii the answer that.htm

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

The Locust-Swarms
... What the palmer worm had left, the locust had eaten; what the locust had left, the
cankerworm had eaten; and what the cankerworm had left, the caterpillar had ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xx the locust-swarms.htm

Smitten in Vain
... smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens, and your vineyards, and
your fig-trees, and your olive-trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/smitten in vain.htm

Of Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra, and Asterius the Sophist.
... extant, in which he commended the dogmas of Arius; asserting that Christ is the
power of God, in the same sense as the locust and the palmer-worm are said by ...
/.../chapter xxxvi of marcellus bishop of.htm

The Last Farewell in the Presence of the one Hundred and Fifty ...
... Alas! how rich we were in misfortunes, for the fire consumed the beauties of the
world. [4303] That which the palmerworm left did the locust eat, and that ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xlii the last farewell.htm

Sovereignty of God in Administration
... have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards
and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter three sovereignty of god.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... [1466] Joel the son of Pethuel describes the land of the twelve tribes as spoiled
and devastated by the palmerworm, the canker-worm, the locust, and the blight ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
... fasting, and weeping, and mourning, "I will restore you the years which locust hath
eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 27 upon our lords.htm

Palmerworm (2 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:25)): "Palmer-worm" means "caterpillar," but the insect meant is probably
a kind of locust. See INSECTS; LOCUST. Multi-Version Concordance Palmerworm (2 ...
/p/palmerworm.htm - 8k

Palmer-worm (2 Occurrences)
Palmer-worm. Palmerworm, Palmer-worm. Palms . Easton's Bible Dictionary ... (See
JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). Palmerworm, Palmer-worm. Palms . Reference Bible.
/p/palmer-worm.htm - 7k

Insects (17 Occurrences)
... grasshopper, honey, hornet, locust, louse, (lice), moth, palmer-worm, sandfly, scarlet ...
Bald locust, beetle, canker-worm, cricket, and palmerworm probably all ...
/i/insects.htm - 14k

Cankerworm (7 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Joel 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that
which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the ...
/c/cankerworm.htm - 10k

Canker-worm (7 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:4 That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which
the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker ...
/c/canker-worm.htm - 9k

Caterpiller (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Joel 1:4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that
which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the ...
/c/caterpiller.htm - 7k

Locust (25 Occurrences)
... "Palmerworm" and "canker-worm" are both Old English terms for caterpillars, which ...
If, therefore, all four words refer to the locust, "palmer-worm," "canker-worm ...
/l/locust.htm - 34k

Locusts (33 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:4 What is left of the palmer-worm, eaten hath the locust, And what is left
of the locust, Eaten hath the cankerworm, And what is left of the cankerworm ...
/l/locusts.htm - 16k

Palms (20 Occurrences)

/p/palms.htm - 12k

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