Swarming is a term used in the Bible to describe the rapid and often overwhelming multiplication or gathering of creatures, particularly insects or animals. This phenomenon is frequently associated with divine judgment, natural abundance, or the manifestation of God's power and provision. The concept of swarming is primarily found in the Old Testament, where it serves as a vivid illustration of both blessing and curse.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 8:3 : "The Nile will teem with frogs. They will come up into your palace and your bedroom and onto your bed, into the houses of your officials and your people, and into your ovens and kneading bowls." In this passage, the swarming of frogs is one of the plagues that God sends upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. The overwhelming presence of frogs serves as a sign of God's power and a judgment against the Egyptians.

2. Exodus 8:21 : "But if you will not let My people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they stand." Here, the swarming of flies is another plague that demonstrates God's authority and the consequences of Pharaoh's hardened heart.

3. Leviticus 11:20-23 : "All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. However, you may eat the following kinds of winged creatures that walk on all fours: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper. But all other winged creatures that have four legs are detestable to you." This passage outlines the dietary laws concerning swarming insects, distinguishing between clean and unclean creatures. The swarming insects that are permissible to eat are seen as a provision from God.

4. 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." The prophet Joel uses the imagery of swarming locusts to describe a devastating plague that serves as a warning of the coming Day of the Lord. The locusts symbolize both a literal and metaphorical judgment upon the land.

5. Genesis 1:20-21 : "And God said, 'Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.' So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed, according to their kinds, and every bird of flight after its kind. And God saw that it was good." In the creation account, the swarming of living creatures in the waters is depicted as part of God's creative order and abundance. It reflects the richness and diversity of life that God has brought into existence.

Theological Significance:

Swarming in the Bible often serves as a metaphor for the overwhelming and uncontrollable aspects of life that are under God's sovereign control. Whether as a form of judgment or a sign of provision, swarming illustrates the power and majesty of God. It reminds believers of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of rebellion. Additionally, the distinction between clean and unclean swarming creatures in the dietary laws underscores the call to holiness and separation from that which is deemed impure.

In summary, swarming in the biblical context is a multifaceted concept that conveys both the blessings of God's creation and the severity of His judgments. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's omnipotence and the need for humanity to align with His will.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Swarm.8318. sherets -- swarmers, swarming things
... 8317, 8318. sherets. 8319 . swarmers, swarming things. Transliteration: sherets
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-rets) Short Definition: things. ...
/hebrew/8318.htm - 6k

697. arbeh -- (a kind of) locust
... Word Origin from rabah Definition (a kind of) locust NASB Word Usage locust
(8), locusts (11), swarming locust (5). grasshopper, locust. ...
/hebrew/697.htm - 6k

6157. arob -- probably a swarm
... divers sorts of flies, swarm. From arab; a mosquito (from its swarming) -- divers
sorts of flies, swarm. see HEBREW arab. 6156, 6157. arob. 6158 . ...
/hebrew/6157.htm - 6k

The Right to Privacy
... Crowds of children, and older people too, are swarming in at the open gateway
through which has just passed the gaily decorated sedan chair. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 5 the right to.htm

A Short-Lived Peace
... These were the magicians, diviners, fortune-tellers, all the servants of idolatry
who had risen up at Julian's bidding and were swarming in Alexandria as ...
/.../forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 9 a short-lived peace.htm

'the Angel Adjutant'
... In these streets on a summer evening you find the flight of steps occupied by the
lodgers, and the pavements and road-ways swarming with their children. ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/x the angel adjutant.htm

Casting Blame.
... out about So and so. What a running about from house to house! the village
is like a hive of bees swarming. Do you mean to tell ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlv casting blame.htm

Your Own Salvation
... Chase away the swarming vanities which buzz around you, and let each man think for
himself upon his "own salvation." O may the Spirit of God set each one of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/your own salvation.htm

Courageous Volunteers.
... They were spread out as thick as the grasshoppers of Egypt had been years before.
Everywhere you looked there they were swarming. Gideon spoke to his men. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/courageous volunteers.htm

Among the Fishermen.
... There were villages clustered around the lake then and all Galilee was swarming
with busy life, but now there are few inhabitants, and Capernaum is only a heap ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xiv among the fishermen.htm

To J. Jackson, Esq.
... to England, as all the provinces are disturbed in consequence of the Constitution
of 1812 having been proclaimed, and the roads are swarming with robbers and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/to j jackson esq.htm

Book of Job.
... copies than correct ones; but he boasts that "the blessed Job, who, as far as the
Latins are concerned, was till now lying amidst filth and swarming with the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book of job.htm

Behold I am Vile!
... With such a load of sin? Is this polluted heart. A dwelling fit for thee? Swarming,
alas! I in every part,. What evils do I see! If I attempt to pray,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 7 behold i am.htm

Swarming (19 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Swarm. Multi-Version Concordance Swarming (19 Occurrences). ... (See JPS).
Joel 1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. ...
/s/swarming.htm - 12k

Swarm (26 Occurrences)
... Genesis 7:21 And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle,
and beast, and every swarming thing that swarmeth upon the earth, and ...
/s/swarm.htm - 15k

Swarms (18 Occurrences)
... Genesis 7:21 And all flesh perished that moved upon the earth, both fowl, and cattle,
and beast, and every swarming thing that swarmeth upon the earth, and ...
/s/swarms.htm - 12k

Gnawing (4 Occurrences)
... Joel 1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten.
What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. ...
/g/gnawing.htm - 7k

Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)
... (Root in KJV WBS YLT). Joel 1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust
has eaten. What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. ...
/g/grasshopper.htm - 12k

Caterpillar (6 Occurrences)
... Men will leap on it as locusts leap. (WEB JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Joel
1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. ...
/c/caterpillar.htm - 10k

Stripping (4 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Joel 1:4 What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten.
What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. ...
/s/stripping.htm - 7k

Locust (25 Occurrences)
... These references, together with the fact that it is the most used word, occurring
24 times, warrant us in assuming it to be one of the swarming species, ie ...
/l/locust.htm - 34k

Creeping (43 Occurrences)
... down safely. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Joel 1:4 What the swarming
locust has left, the great locust has eaten. What the ...
/c/creeping.htm - 21k

Gardens (14 Occurrences)
... 9 "I struck you with blight and mildew many times in your gardens and your vineyards;
and your fig trees and your olive trees have the swarming locust devoured ...
/g/gardens.htm - 12k

Is Joel 1:4 referring to literal locusts? When was this prophecy fulfilled? | GotQuestions.org

How does God restore the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25)? | GotQuestions.org

Does salvation affect more than just the afterlife? | GotQuestions.org

Swarming: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus