Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "swarm" is often associated with the movement and gathering of large groups of creatures, typically insects or animals, and is used to convey both natural phenomena and divine intervention. The concept of swarming is significant in various scriptural contexts, illustrating themes of abundance, judgment, and the power of God over creation.
Old Testament ReferencesOne of the most notable occurrences of swarming in the Bible is found in the account of the plagues of Egypt. In
Exodus 8:21-24 , God sends a swarm of flies upon Egypt as the fourth plague: "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." This plague demonstrates God's sovereignty and serves as a judgment against Pharaoh for his refusal to release the Israelites.
The concept of swarming is also present in the description of locusts, which are often depicted as instruments of divine judgment. In
Joel 1:4 , the prophet describes a devastating locust invasion: "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 totality of destruction brought by the locusts, symbolizing the severe consequences of Israel's disobedience.
Symbolism and ThemesSwarming is frequently used symbolically in the Bible to represent overwhelming numbers and the unstoppable force of divine will. In
Deuteronomy 28:42 , as part of the curses for disobedience, it is stated: "Swarms of locusts will consume all your trees and the produce of your land." Here, the swarm signifies the comprehensive nature of God's judgment upon those who turn away from His commandments.
In a more positive light, swarming can also denote abundance and blessing. In
Genesis 1:20-22 , during the creation narrative, God commands the waters to "teem with living creatures" and blesses them to "be fruitful and multiply." This portrayal of swarming life forms underscores the richness and fertility of God's creation.
New Testament ContextWhile the New Testament does not frequently use the term "swarm," the imagery of large gatherings and multitudes can be seen in the accounts of Jesus' ministry. For example, in
Mark 3:9-10 , the crowds that gather around Jesus are described as so numerous that He instructs His disciples to have a boat ready to prevent the crowd from crushing Him. This reflects the intense interest and need of the people for Jesus' teachings and healing.
ConclusionThe biblical use of "swarm" serves as a powerful metaphor for both divine judgment and blessing. It illustrates the might and authority of God over creation, as well as the consequences of human actions in response to His commands. Through the imagery of swarming, the Bible communicates themes of abundance, destruction, and the omnipotence of God in the natural world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To climb a tree, pole, or the like, by embracing it with the arms and legs alternately. See Shin.
2. (n.) A large number or mass of small animals or insects, especially when in motion.
3. (n.) Especially, a great number of honeybees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings under the direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled permanently in a hive.
4. (n.) Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes of inanimate objects; as, a swarm of meteorites.
5. (v. i.) To collect, and depart from a hive by flight in a body; -- said of bees; as, bees swarm in warm, clear days in summer.
6. (v. i.) To appear or collect in a crowd; to throng together; to congregate in a multitude.
7. (v. i.) To be crowded; to be thronged with a multitude of beings in motion.
8. (v. i.) To abound; to be filled (with).
9. (v. i.) To breed multitudes.
10. (v. t.) To crowd or throng.
Strong's Hebrew
6157. arob -- probably aswarm... 6156, 6157. arob. 6158 . probably a
swarm. Transliteration: arob Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-robe') Short Definition: swarms.
... divers sorts of flies,
swarm.
...8317. sharats -- toswarm, teem
... 8316, 8317. sharats. 8318 . toswarm, teem. Transliteration: sharats Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-rats') Short Definition: swarms. Word Origin a prim....
3654. ken -- gnat, gnats, a gnatswarm
... 3653b, 3654. ken. 3655 . gnat, gnats, a gnatswarm. Transliteration:
ken Phonetic Spelling: (kane) Short Definition: gnats. Word...
5712. edah -- congregation
... Word Origin from yaad Definition congregation NASB Word Usage assembly (5), band
(2), company (13), congregation (126), congregation's (1), herd (1),swarm (1...
1373b. gobay -- locusts
... locusts. Transliteration: gobay or gobay Short Definition: locust-swarm. Word Origin
from the same as gebeh Definition locusts NASB Word Usage locust-swarm (1)....
7430. ramas -- to creep, move lightly, move about
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to creep, move lightly, move about NASB Word
Usage creep (1), creeps (7), moved (1), moves (6), prowl about (1),swarm (1)....
8318. sherets -- swarmers, swarming things
... creeping thing, moving creature. From sharats; aswarm, ie Active mass of minute
animals -- creep(-ing thing), move(-ing creature). see HEBREW sharats....
Library
Evil Thoughts.
... They came upon his servants, and the houses of the Egyptians were full of swarms
of flies, "and the land was corrupted by reason of theswarm of flies." The...
The Cost of Being Cruel and Stubborn
... If you refuse to let them go, then I will afflict all your land with frogs; and
the Nile shallswarm with frogs which shall go up and come into your house...
The Acceptance of the Christian Conception of Life Will Emancipate...
... proof of its truth. Men in their present condition are like aswarm of
bees hanging in a cluster to a branch. The position of the...
Christ Teaching by Parables
... This is a point worth dwelling on, and so I will introduce to your notice here:
ASWARM OF BEES WORTH HIVING.... Here is aswarm of between forty and fifty bees....
Discipline
... 'How goodly,' he cries, 'are thy tents, oh Jacob, and thy camp, oh Israel.' He likens
them, not to the locustswarm, the sea flood, nor the forest fire, but to...
Cautions against False Doctrine.
... beings who are in a little while to perish. Aswarm of such evils has burst
in upon us. [1183] But ye have not "given place by subjection...
Book iv. --Of Marcion's Antitheses.
... These gifts of theirs, and says they are to Him. Unwelcome, while He chides a People
prest. Withswarm of sin? [1563] Does He, the truthful, bid,....
Thoughts for the Clergy on the Amusement Question.
... loves. They throw off the shackles which youth hates. Our cities and villages
swarm with traps set expressly for them. Thousands...
Book Seven the Conversion to Neoplatonism. ...
... My heart cried out violently against all fantasms, [177] and with this one clear
certainty I endeavored to brush away theswarm of unclean flies that swarmed...
'the Angel Adjutant'
... But more than by anything concerning the men and women of this neighbourhood, one
is impressed by theswarm of dreggy children playing their poor little...
Thesaurus
Swarm (26 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) Hence, any great number or multitude, as of people in motion, or sometimes
of inanimate objects; as, a
swarm of meteorites.
...Swarm (26 Occurrences).
...Locust-swarm (1 Occurrence)
Locust-swarm. Locust's, Locust-swarm. Lod . Multi-Version Concordance
Locust-swarm (1 Occurrence). Amos 7:1 Thus hath...
Bee (1 Occurrence)
... Samson found a "swarm of bees" in the carcass of a lion he had slain (Judges
14:8). Wild bees are described as laying up honey in woods and in clefts of rocks...
Swarming (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofSwarm. Multi-Version Concordance
Swarming (19 Occurrences). Genesis 7:21 And all flesh...
Pontus (3 Occurrences)
... Miletus, "greatest of the Ionic towns," sent out its colonists,swarm afterswarm,
up through the Bosphorus, and along the southern shore of the Black Sea....
Swarms (18 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:20 God said, "Let the watersswarm with swarms of living creatures, and
let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky." (WEB JPS ASV DBY...
Creatures (83 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:20 God said, "Let the watersswarm with swarms of living creatures, and
let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky." (WEB JPS ASV NAS...
Lod (4 Occurrences)
Fly (33 Occurrences)
... like "d" or "z" or like th in "the"): The references in Psalms as well as in Exodus
are to the plague of flies, and the word `arobh is rendered "swarm of flies...
Creature (73 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:20 God said, "Let the watersswarm with swarms of living creatures, and
let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky." (Root in WEB KJV...
Resources
Why did God use a locust swarm to punish Israel (Joel 1:4)? | GotQuestions.orgIs Joel 1:4 referring to literal locusts? When was this prophecy fulfilled? | GotQuestions.orgWere fish and sea creatures also destroyed during the Flood (Genesis 6-8)? | GotQuestions.orgSwarm: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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