Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, "swarms" often refer to large groups of creatures, typically insects, that move together in a coordinated manner. The concept of swarms is significant in the Bible, as it is frequently associated with divine intervention, judgment, and the demonstration of God's power over creation.
Biblical References:1.
The Plague of Locusts (Exodus 10:12-15): One of the most notable mentions of swarms in the Bible is the plague of locusts that God sent upon Egypt as the eighth plague. This event is a demonstration of God's power and judgment against Pharaoh for refusing to let the Israelites go. The Berean Standard Bible describes it as follows: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that locusts will swarm over the land and devour every plant in the fields, everything that the hail has left.' So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD sent an east wind across the land all that day and all that night. By morning the wind had brought the locusts; they swarmed over the whole land of Egypt and settled in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again."
2.
Creation and Dominion (Genesis 1:20-22): In the creation narrative, God commands the waters to "teem with living creatures" and the skies to be filled with birds. This is an example of God's creative power and His command for life to multiply and fill the earth. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Then 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 according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."
3.
Judgment and Prophecy (Joel 1:4, 2:25): The prophet Joel uses the imagery of locust swarms to describe a devastating judgment upon the land, symbolizing both a literal and a metaphorical invasion.
Joel 1:4 in the Berean Standard Bible reads: "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
Joel 2:25, God promises restoration: "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you."
4.
Divine Provision (Numbers 11:31-32): Swarms are also associated with God's provision for His people. In the wilderness, God provided quail for the Israelites to eat.
Numbers 11:31-32 in the Berean Standard Bible recounts: "Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day, the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp."
Theological Significance:Swarms in the Bible often symbolize both the abundance and the destructive power of God's creation. They serve as instruments of divine judgment, as seen in the plagues of Egypt and the prophecies of Joel. At the same time, they can also represent God's provision and care for His people, as demonstrated in the provision of quail in the wilderness. The imagery of swarms underscores the sovereignty of God over nature and His ability to use creation to fulfill His purposes, whether in judgment or blessing.
Strong's Hebrew
6157. arob -- probably a swarm... 6156, 6157. arob. 6158 . probably a swarm. Transliteration: arob Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-robe') Short Definition:
swarms. Word Origin
...8317. sharats -- to swarm, teem
... 8316, 8317. sharats. 8318 . to swarm, teem. Transliteration: sharats Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-rats') Short Definition:swarms. Word Origin a prim....
8318. sherets -- swarmers, swarming things
... Word Origin from sharats Definition swarmers, swarming things NASB Word Usage insects
(3), swarming thing (3), swarming things (5),swarms (1), teeming life (2...
7431. remes -- creeping things, moving things
... Origin from ramas Definition creeping things, moving things NASB Word Usage creeping
thing (5), creeping things (9), creeps (1), moving thing (1),swarms (1)....
Library
The Locust-Swarms
... SERMON XX. THE LOCUST-SWARMS. Joel 2:12, 13. Therefore also now, saith
the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with...
The Cost of Being Cruel and Stubborn
... If you will not let my people go, I will sendswarms of flies upon you, upon your
servants, and upon your people and into your palaces, so that the houses of...
Evil Thoughts.
... They came upon his servants, and the houses of the Egyptians were full ofswarms
of flies, "and the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies." The...
The Rod that Troubled Egypt.
... The dust of the land was changed to lice that covered man and beast, and this was
followed byswarms of flies that settled upon all the land except Goshen...
Ephesians iv. 31
... Our soul is a sort of vessel or basket, capable of receiving theswarms of spiritual
gifts; but if there shall be within it gall, and "bitterness, and wrath...
The Plagues
... It fairlyswarms with teal and coot, and see the snipe on the sand." She
stood up and watched the sandy strip they were nearing....
Prosperity under Persecution
... Persecution therefore is permitted to scatter the hive of the church into various
swarms, and each of theseswarms begins to make honey....
section iii.
... of Religion, but for the benefit of learning, to reduce it as it lay at first, in
a few and solid Authors; and to condemn to the fire thoseswarms and millions...
Trophies of Grace
... of their parents. The Adjutant rented a small hall in Coley Street, and
to it invited the children; they came inswarms. She made...
The Power and Wisdom of God in the Creation.
... animals with which it is stocked. Every part of matter is peopled; every
green leafswarms with inhabitants. There is scarce a single...
Thesaurus
Swarms (18 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Swarms (18 Occurrences). Genesis 1:20 God said,
"Let the waters swarm with
swarms of living creatures, and
...Flies (16 Occurrences)
... In Exodus 8:21 we read, "I will sendswarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants,
and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the...
Insects (17 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:22 I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people
dwell, that noswarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I...
Officials (229 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:21 Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will sendswarms of
flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses...
Swarm (26 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:20 God said, "Let the waters swarm withswarms of living creatures, and
let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky." (WEB JPS ASV DBY...
Swarming (19 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:17 Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy marshals as theswarms of
grasshoppers, which camp in the walls in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth...
Fly (33 Occurrences)
... In Exodus 8:21 we read, "I will sendswarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants,
and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the...
Whereon (45 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:21 Else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will sendswarms of
flies on you, and on your servants, and on your people, and into your houses...
Ruined (65 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:24 And Jehovah did so; and there came grievousswarms of flies into the
house of Pharaoh, and into his servants houses: and in all the land of Egypt...
Corrupted (28 Occurrences)
... Exodus 8:24 Yahweh did so; and there came grievousswarms of flies into the house
of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses: and in all the land of Egypt the...
Resources
What was the meaning and purpose of the ten plagues of Egypt? | GotQuestions.orgIs Joel 1:4 referring to literal locusts? When was this prophecy fulfilled? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about the hornet? | GotQuestions.orgSwarms: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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