Exodus 10:5 Meaning: When Locusts Cover the Earth's Eye
and they shall cover the surface of the earth, so that one won’t be able to see the earth. They shall eat the residue of that which has escaped, which remains to you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which grows for you out of the field.
And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:
and they shall cover the face of the earth, so that one shall not be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:
and it hath covered the eye of the land, and none is able to see the land, and it hath eaten the remnant of that which is escaped, which is left to you from the hail, and it hath eaten every tree which is springing for you out of the field;
and they shall cover the face of the land, so that ye will not be able to see the land; and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which ye have remaining from the hail, and shall eat every tree which ye have growing in the field;
Meaning in one sentence
Exodus 10:5 describes locusts covering the 'eye of the earth' in a devastating judgment.
Context
The story has reached a breaking point. The hail has already struck, beating down the flax and barley but leaving the wheat and spelt untouched. Now Moses stands before Pharaoh with a new warning: locusts are coming. They will be so thick that they cover the earth completely, the Hebrew calls it covering the 'eye of the earth.' The locusts will devour whatever survived the hail, stripping every tree and plant. This is not random disaster; it is a direct act of God, intended to humble Pharaoh and to show that the Lord alone is God over all the earth. The plague targets not only food but also beauty and shade. For Egyptians, who prized their trees, this was a deep wound. Yet even here, the aim is not final destruction but a call to repentance, as Pharaoh's own servants plead with him to yield.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb kasah means to cover thickly, to conceal completely. The locusts are not a few scattered insects; they are a blanket hiding the ground itself. Then there is ayin, the word for 'eye.' When applied to the earth, it gives the land a kind of personhood, as if the earth sees and is seen. The locusts block that view, so no one can see the earth, and perhaps the earth itself cannot see the sun. Finally, akal means to devour, not just nibble. It is the same word used for fire consuming or swords devouring. The locusts eat everything, the residue, the survivors, the trees that grow. Together these words paint a picture of total desolation. There is no escape. But the same God who sends the locusts also promises restoration to those who turn back to Him (Joel 2:25). So the devastation is never the final word.
How Christians Read This Verse
Matthew Henry, writing in the Reformed tradition, saw the locust plague as a lesson in humility before God. The Geneva Bible notes the total devastation as a sign of divine judgment. John Gill and Albert Barnes describe the literal reality: locust swarms in the Middle East do cover the ground and devour everything in their path. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges points to the unique Hebrew phrase 'eye of the earth,' a poetic image of the land looking up to man. Keil and Delitzsch emphasize that this phrase, found only in the Pentateuch, reminds us that creation itself is affected by human pride. Across these traditions, Christians agree that the locusts are a direct act of God, meant to reveal His power and call for repentance.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the locust plague is merely a vivid ancient description of a natural swarm. In fact, the context makes clear these locusts are sent directly by God at a specific time and scale (Exodus 10:4). The phrase 'eye of the earth' is unique to these judgment passages. It suggests that the earth itself is hidden, its appearance and life covered over. This is not just nature; it is a sign of divine judgment aimed at revealing God's power and calling for humility. The total destruction points to the consequences of pride and the need to turn back to God.
Living This Out
This week, consider what you rely on, your health, resources, or a comfortable future. The locusts ate everything the hail left; nothing was secure except what God protected. You might not face locusts, but you may face a season where what you counted on fails. That is not God's punishment; it is an invitation to lean more fully on Him. The same God who sent the locusts also restored the years the locusts ate (Joel 2:25). You can trust Him with what remains and with what He will restore. Let the image of the covered earth remind you that only God's mercy can make things grow again.
Main takeaway: The locusts that hide the earth's eye remind us that only God sees all, and He alone restores what human pride strips away.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Imagine so many grasshoppers that you cannot see the ground beneath your feet. In Egypt, God sent a huge swarm of locusts that covered everything and ate all the green plants. It was a big warning to Pharaoh that God is the strongest king of all. But God was not trying to hurt everyone forever. He wanted Pharaoh to let His people go. God still wants people to listen to Him and choose what is right.
For ages 9, 12
The locust plague in Exodus 10 is not just a natural disaster. God commanded it to show Pharaoh that He alone is Lord over all creation. The Hebrew phrase 'eye of the earth' makes it sound like the land itself could not see because of the thick swarm. This reminds us that everything we enjoy, food, trees, safe places, comes from God. When we rebel against Him, even good things can be taken away. But God's desire is always for us to turn back to Him, because He is patient and ready to forgive. The same God who sent the locusts also promises to restore what was lost.
Questions People Ask
What does 'the eye of the earth' mean in Exodus 10:5?
The Hebrew phrase 'eye of the earth' (עֵין הָאָרֶץ) is a poetic way of describing the land's surface or appearance. Several commentators, including Keil and Delitzsch, see it as an ancient image: the earth with its plants looks up to people. The locusts cover this 'eye,' hiding the ground completely and blocking even the sunlight.
Why did God send locusts after the hail had already damaged the crops?
The hail destroyed the flax and barley but left the wheat and spelt untouched (Exodus 9:32). The locusts came to finish what remained, showing God's absolute control over every crop. Nothing could survive two such plagues unless God allowed it. This highlighted Pharaoh's stubbornness and God's power.
Is the locust plague in Exodus 10 a literal historical event or symbolic?
Christians have generally read it as a literal historical event, miraculously timed and with a unique intensity. The language of covering the 'eye of the earth' is hyper-specific and matches real accounts of locust swarms in the Middle East. At the same time, the plague has symbolic meaning as a judgment against Egypt's pride and a call to repentance.
How does Exodus 10:5 connect to Joel's prophecy about locusts?
Joel uses the devastating image of locusts to describe God's judgment on Israel, echoing the language of Exodus. For example, Joel 2:25 says God will restore the years the locusts have eaten. Both passages show that even total destruction can be followed by restoration when people repent and return to the Lord.
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