גֵּב (gev)
gev
locust
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun gev refers specifically to a locust. This is a rare word in Scripture, appearing only once in Isaiah 33:4. Its usage there evokes the image of a massive swarm, which aligns with its likely etymological root meaning "collection" or "swarm." The term captures not just the individual insect but the overwhelming force of their gathering.
Because this word is so scarce, it carries a concentrated weight in its single occurrence. Isaiah uses it to describe the chaotic destruction brought by invading armies, comparing their noise and numbers to a plague of locusts. This metaphor highlights how sudden and consuming such threats can be when they move as a unified mass.
Translators consistently render gev as "locust" without ambiguity. The rarity of the term means it does not have a broad range of semantic usage across the Bible. Instead, its power lies in that one vivid comparison, reminding readers of the sheer scale of devastation when nature’s swarms are likened to human conflict.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gev appears only once in Scripture, found in Isaiah 33:4. It describes a swarm of locusts that moves with overwhelming force and noise. In this context, the image is not just about an insect, but about the sudden, consuming power of a unified mass. When armies or chaos gather like this, they can seem unstoppable to those on the receiving end.
Yet, for the believer, this vivid picture serves as a reminder of God's ultimate sovereignty. Even when threats appear as numerous and terrifying as a locust plague, they are subject to divine judgment and order. The text uses this natural phenomenon to illustrate the fate of the wicked, offering comfort to those who trust in justice. It shows that no matter how large the gathering of evil, it is temporary and finite.
This single occurrence invites us to look beyond the immediate chaos. While the swarm represents destruction, the context points toward a higher authority that governs such events. We can find peace knowing that what seems overwhelming to human eyes is fully known and managed by God. This perspective helps us face our own 'swarms' of trouble with calm trust rather than fear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- locusts1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- גֵּבִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 33:4
Your plunder will be gathered as the caterpillar gathers. Men will leap on it as locusts leap.
This verse uses the word to compare the chaotic noise and movement of invading armies to locusts leaping, emphasizing their overwhelming numbers.