גּוֹב (gov)
gov
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 gov refers to locusts, appearing in only two verses in the Old Testament. In Amos 7:1, it describes a swarm sent by God as a symbol of judgment against Israel, illustrating how divine discipline can manifest through natural disasters that devastate crops and livelihoods.
A second usage appears in Nahum 3:17, where the word compares Assyrian leaders to locusts that vanish when winter comes. This metaphor highlights their temporary power and eventual disappearance, emphasizing the fleeting nature of earthly authority compared to lasting divine sovereignty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word gov refers to the locust, a creature whose sudden swarms could wipe out entire harvests in ancient Israel. In Amos 7:1, this small insect becomes an instrument of divine warning. God shows the prophet a vision of locusts forming right after the king’s harvest, threatening the people with total loss. This image reminds us that even the smallest forces can carry significant weight when they are part of a larger plan.
Understanding this word helps us see how Scripture uses nature to speak to human hearts. The devastation caused by these pests was not random but served as a call to pay attention. It invites us to consider what might be disrupting our own spiritual growth or stability. We can find comfort in knowing that God uses such events to guide us back to what truly matters.
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.
- גֹּבַ֔י1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 7:1
Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me: behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and behold, it was the latter growth after the king’s harvest.
This verse uses gov to depict a specific threat to the final harvest, showing how divine judgment can target the very source of a community's survival.