In biblical terms, the concept of "pest" often refers to destructive creatures or plagues that serve as instruments of divine judgment or as symbols of sin and corruption. The term can encompass a range of entities, from locusts and other insects to more generalized plagues and diseases.

Old Testament References

The most notable mention of pests in the Bible is found in the context of the plagues of Egypt. In Exodus 10:4-5 , God warns Pharaoh through Moses: "If you refuse to let My people go, I will bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. They will cover the face of the land so that no one will be able to see the ground." Here, locusts are used as a divine tool to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage.

In Deuteronomy 28, as part of the blessings and curses pronounced upon Israel, pests are mentioned as a consequence of disobedience. Deuteronomy 28:38 states, "You will sow much seed in the field but harvest little, because locusts will consume it." This passage underscores the role of pests as a form of divine retribution for failing to adhere to God's commandments.

Prophetic Literature

The book of Joel vividly describes a locust plague as both a literal and metaphorical event. Joel 1:4 says, "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 imagery serves as a call to repentance, urging the people to return to God to avert further disaster.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not focus extensively on pests in the same manner as the Old Testament, the concept of pestilence is present in the eschatological teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 24:7 , Jesus warns of future tribulations: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places." Although not explicitly mentioning pests, the context of widespread calamity includes the idea of pestilence as part of the signs of the end times.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

Pests in the Bible often symbolize the consequences of sin and the need for repentance. They serve as reminders of human frailty and the sovereignty of God over creation. The presence of pests as divine instruments highlights the biblical theme of God's justice and mercy, as they are often accompanied by calls to repentance and promises of restoration for those who turn back to God.

Practical and Spiritual Lessons

From a practical standpoint, the biblical references to pests emphasize the importance of obedience to God's laws and the recognition of His authority over nature. Spiritually, they remind believers of the need for vigilance against sin and the importance of maintaining a right relationship with God to avoid the destructive consequences symbolized by pests.1. (n.) A fatal epidemic disease; a pestilence; specif., the plague.

2. (n.) Anything which resembles a pest; one who, or that which, is troublesome, noxious, mischievous, or destructive; a nuisance.

3061. loimos -- pestilence, a pest
... pestilence, a pest. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: loimos Phonetic
Spelling: (loy'-mos) Short Definition: a pestilence Definition: (a) a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3061.htm - 6k

Dawn in the Hills
... "A pest on an eye that only half sleeps!" Julian said to himself. ... "A pest
on the waxen-hearted satyr!" he said to himself finally. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter vi dawn in the.htm

Matt. xxvi. 26-28.
... by threatening, and by honor. But none of these things withdrew him from
that grievous pest. Wherefore thenceforth He leaves him ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxii matt xxvi 26-28.htm

Matt. xxiii. 14
... leads. But these things He said, by all intimating their mad desire of glory,
and their exceeding frenzy concerning this pest. For ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxiii matt xxiii 14.htm

Peaceable Principles and True: Or, a Brief Answer to Mr. D'Anver's ...
... What I said about baptism's being a PEST, take my words as they lie, and I stand
still thereto: 'Knowing that Satan can make any of God's ordinances a PEST and ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/peaceable principles and true or.htm

Moses.
... He also brought locusts and other insects to be a pest to the people, and caused
many of the useful animals which belonged to the Egyptians to grow sick and die ...
//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/wee ones bible stories/moses.htm

On the Advisableness of Improving Natural Knowledge.
... rate had sunk to nearly its ordinary amount; a case of plague occurred only here
and there, and the richer citizens who had flown from the pest had returned to ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/i on the advisableness of.htm

Book ii. --Of the Harmony of the Old and New Laws.
... Of the foe's breathing renegades, [1394] and sworn. With wiles the hidden pest
[1395] emerged; with lies. Self-prompted, scornful of the Deity. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book ii of the harmony of.htm

Book v. --General Reply to Sundry of Marcion's Heresies.
... Thereafter any scion of your [1639] kith. Been born, or spread a new pest [1640]
o'er the orb. Or (since at that time [1641] none of all these things. ...
/.../book v general reply to sundry.htm

Appendices
... 3. Ab-en-Ra I., 2 years, 1 month, 1 day. 4. ...1 year, 8 days. 5. Ab-en-Ra II.
6. Hanti. 7. Pest-sat-en-Sopd. 8. Pait-Kheps. 9. Serhlinib. ... ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

Acts XXIV
... (5) For we have found this man a pest, exciting sedition among all the Jews throughout
the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiv.htm

Pest (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Anything which resembles a pest; one who, or that which, is troublesome,
noxious, mischievous, or destructive; a nuisance. ...Pest (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/pest.htm - 6k

Perverts (7 Occurrences)

/p/perverts.htm - 8k

Plagues (28 Occurrences)
... 3. The Plague of Lice: It is impossible to determine what particular troublesome
insect pest of Egypt is meant by the 3rd plague, whether body-lice or ...
/p/plagues.htm - 44k

Nazaraeans (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 24:5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews
throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans; (DBY). ...
/n/nazaraeans.htm - 6k

Fly (33 Occurrences)
... Hebrews zebub, (Ecclesiastes 10:1; Isaiah 7:18). This fly was so grievous a pest
that the Phoenicians invoked against it the aid of their god Baal-zebub (qv). ...
/f/fly.htm - 26k

Tempest (30 Occurrences)
... tem'-pest (ce`-arah, or se`-arah, "a whirlwind," zerem, "overflowing rain"; cheimon,
thuella): Heavy storms of wind and rain are common in Palestine and the ...
/t/tempest.htm - 17k

Rabbit (3 Occurrences)
... It is remarkably prolific, and has become a pest in some parts of Australia and
New Zealand. Multi-Version Concordance Rabbit (3 Occurrences). ...
/r/rabbit.htm - 7k

Moving (117 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Acts 24:5 For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the
Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans; (DBY YLT) ...
/m/moving.htm - 37k

Pester (2 Occurrences)

/p/pester.htm - 7k

Bat (2 Occurrences)
... The fruit bats are a pest to horticulturists and often strip apricot and other
trees before the fruit has ripened enough to be picked. ...
/b/bat.htm - 10k

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