ἀκρίς (akris)
akris
locust
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun akris refers to the locust, specifically the species that forms massive swarms across the Middle East. These insects are known for their ability to strip fields and trees bare, a destructive force that the sources describe as migrating from Arabia into Palestine each spring before eventually perishing in the sea.
In Scripture, this word carries two distinct images. John the Baptist wears clothing made of camel’s hair and eats locusts, treating them as ordinary food permitted by Israelite law. In Revelation, however, they appear as terrifying creatures with human-like features, symbolizing judgment rather than sustenance. This shift highlights how the same creature can represent both survival and devastation depending on the context.
The Hebrew background for this term often includes words like arbeh and chagab, reflecting the variety of locusts encountered in the region. Translators consistently use "locust" to capture this tangible reality, whether describing a prophet’s diet or an apocalyptic vision. The word grounds abstract spiritual concepts in the harsh, visible ecology of the ancient Near East.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akris points to the locust, a creature that defined daily life in the ancient Near East. For John the Baptist, these insects were simple sustenance, eaten alongside wild honey as part of a life stripped of comfort. This image reminds us that God often meets people in the most basic needs, offering strength through humble provisions rather than grand displays.
In Revelation, the same word describes terrifying swarms sent as judgment. Here, the locust is not food but fear, representing chaos and divine correction. This contrast shows how Scripture uses familiar things to teach deep truths: the same creation can sustain life or bring destruction depending on God’s purpose. We are invited to see that even in frightening times, God remains sovereign over the natural world.
Whether we face the simplicity of desert survival or the complexity of spiritual warfare, this word grounds our faith in reality. It calls us to trust God who provides for our needs and who holds all power, even over the most destructive forces in nature.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- locusts3×
- locusts [was]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀκρίδες2×
- ἀκρίδων1×
- ἀκρίδας1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 3:4
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
This verse highlights John’s ascetic lifestyle, showing how he relied on God’s provision through ordinary food permitted by the Law.
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Mark 1:6
John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
Here the locust reinforces the starkness of John’s ministry, emphasizing his separation from societal comforts to focus on repentance.
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Revelation of John 9:3
Then out of the smoke came locusts on the earth, and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
In this apocalyptic context, the locust shifts from sustenance to a symbol of divine judgment and chaotic power unleashed upon the earth.
-
Revelation of John 9:7
The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like golden crowns, and their faces were like people’s faces.
This description uses human-like features for the locust to emphasize the terrifying intelligence and organized nature of this spiritual attack.