Exodus 10:5 · Bible study
Exodus 10:5 Commentary: The Eye of the Earth and Total Devastation
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the Hebrew phrase 'eye of the earth' in Exodus 10:5, the severity of the locust plague, and its theological purpose in displaying God's power.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The locusts completely cover the land so that the ground is hidden, and they eat every remnant of vegetation left from the hail.
- Key words: “eye of the earth” (עֵין הָאָרֶץ), a poetic phrase for the earth’s surface or appearance; “locusts” implied; “devour” (אָכַל), consumes everything.
- Main debate: Whether “eye of the earth” refers to the sun (Onkelos, Abarbinel) or the earth’s visible surface (Keil & Delitzsch, Barnes).
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over creation in judgment, and his use of natural forces to confront human pride.
- Best use: Preaching on the completeness of God’s judgment and his power to humble the obstinate.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
They will cover the face of the land so that no one can see it. They will devour whatever is left after the hail and eat every tree that grows in your fields.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
To cover the face of the earth, that nothing thereof may appear, but that which the hail hath left may be eaten: for they shall feed upon all the trees that spring in the fields.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
La cual cubrirá la faz de la tierra, de modo que no pueda verse la tierra; y ella comerá lo que quedó salvo, lo que os ha quedado del granizo; comerá asimismo todo árbol que os produce fruto en el campo:
os quais cobrirão a face da terra, de modo que não se possa ver a terra; e ela comerá o que restou salvo, o que vos restou do granizo; comerão também toda árvore que vos produz fruto no campo;
Elles couvriront la surface de la terre, et l’ on ne pourra plus voir la terre; elles dévoreront le reste de ce qui est échappé, ce que vous a laissé la grêle, elles dévoreront tous les arbres qui croissent dans vos champs;
daß sie das Land bedecken, also daß man das Land nicht sehen könne; und sie sollen fressen, was euch übrig und errettet ist vor dem Hagel, und sollen alle grünenden Bäume fressen auf dem Felde
En zij zullen het gezicht des lands bedekken, alzo dat men de aarde niet zal kunnen zien; en zij zullen afeten het overige van hetgeen ontkomen is, hetgeen ulieden overgebleven was van den hagel; zij zullen ook al het geboomte afeten, dat ulieden uit het veld voortkomt.
Esse copriranno la faccia della terra, sì che non si potrà vedere il suolo; ed esse divoreranno il resto ch’è scampato, ciò che v’è rimasto dalla grandine, e divoreranno ogni albero che vi cresce ne’ campi.
Która okryje wierzch ziemi, że jej widać nie będzie, i zje ostatek pozostały, który wam został po gradzie, i pogryzie każde drzewo rodzące na polu.
она покроет лице земли так, что нельзя будет видеть земли, и поест у вас [все] оставшееся [на земле], уцелевшее от града; объест также все дерева, растущие у вас в поле,
遮滿 地 面，甚至看 不見 地，並且吃 那 冰雹 所剩的 和 田 間 所長 的一切 樹木。
And the face of the earth will be covered with them, so that you will not be able to see the earth: and they will be the destruction of everything which up to now has not been damaged, everything which was not crushed by the ice-storm, and every tree still living in your fields.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Exodus 10:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Exodus 10:5 describes a locust invasion of overwhelming severity. The Hebrew phrase the eye of the earth (עֵין הָאָרֶץ) is a distinctive poetic figure. Keil and Delitzsch explain that this expression is based on the ancient idea that the earth, with its covering of plants, looks up to man. Barnes notes that the literal translation “cover the eye of the earth” alludes to the darkness created when the atmosphere is filled with locusts. Gill discusses the interpretation that the locusts cover the eye of the sun, darkening its rays. The consensus is that the locusts completely hide the ground and consume everything left after the hail: the residue and every tree. This total devastation demonstrates God’s power and judgment on Pharaoh’s stubbornness. Recognizing the completeness of the plague calls readers to take God’s warnings seriously and to trust his provision even when facing loss.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Covering of the sun: Onkelos Targum and Abarbinel (cited in Gill) interpret 'eye of the earth' as the sun, whose light is blocked by the dense swarm, causing darkness.
- Covering of the earth's surface: Keil & Delitzsch view the phrase as a poetic figure where the earth looks up through its vegetation; the locusts cover that 'eye'. Barnes also emphasizes darkness but from the swarm filling the air.
- Obscuring human sight: Gill includes an interpretation that 'eye of the earth' refers to the eye of man looking at the earth, which becomes impossible due to the locusts between the viewer and the ground.
What is clear: The locusts were so numerous that the land was completely hidden and all remaining vegetation was devoured.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'eye of the earth' | All traditions agree the phrase describes total coverage of the land by locusts. | Some (Onkelos, Abarbinel via Gill) interpret it as covering the sun; others (Keil & Delitzsch) as a poetic figure for the earth's surface with plants; others (Barnes) as obscuring the light needed to see the ground. |
| Remnant from the hail | The locusts eat whatever the hail did not destroy, leaving nothing. | Some see this as purely punitive; others (within the broader narrative) as a step toward total capitulation of Pharaoh. |
| Historical reality of the plague | Locust swarms of this magnitude are historically attested in the region and match ancient accounts. | Whether the description is literal hyperbole or an exact account of a specific event; most commentators accept historical basis. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The eighth plague follows the seventh plague of hail. In Exodus 9:31-32, the flax and barley were destroyed, but the wheat and spelt remained because they had not yet grown. The locusts now target what little vegetation survived. This sequential judgment leaves no possibility of agricultural recovery.
Locusts were a known scourge in Egypt and the ancient Near East. The Cambridge Bible cites Thomson’s account of an invasion in the Lebanon district where “the whole face of the mountain was black with them.” Gill references Pliny, who wrote that locusts darkened the sun and even gnawed the doors of houses. The Hebrew phrase “eye of the earth” appears only in Exodus 10:5, 15 and Numbers 22:5, 11. It is a vivid metaphor for total coverage: the earth is treated as a living entity whose “eye” is obscured.
The theological purpose is clear from the immediate context (Exodus 10:1-2). God tells Moses that he hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that the signs might be shown among the Egyptians and told to future generations. The locusts are a sign, not random destruction, but a deliberate act of the Lord who controls nature. In the ancient world, many cultures linked locusts to divine judgment. Moses warns that this visitation will be unlike anything the Egyptians or their ancestors had seen (Exodus 10:6). The devastation serves both as a punishment for rebellion and as a testimony to God’s unmatched power.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Exodus 10:5. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the translations uniformly render the same meaning. The minor difference between “face” and “eye” is a matter of translation philosophy, not a textual variant.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpreters saw the locust plague as a key sign of Moses’ authority and the Lord’s supremacy over Egypt. Ancient Christian writers such as Origen and Augustine allegorized the plagues as types of spiritual judgment and deliverance. During the Reformation, Calvin and Luther stressed the justice of God in opposing Pharaoh and the hardening of his heart. In modern times, commentators increasingly draw on Near Eastern natural history to confirm the realism of the account, while still affirming the theological message that God uses creation to confront rebellion. The verse has been reflected in hymns and liturgies focused on divine power and mercy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Covering that Hides. The locusts are so thick that the land cannot be seen. Judgment obscures all hope of recovery or escape.
- The Consumption that Completes. They devour the residue from the hail and every tree. Nothing is left, God’s judgment is thorough.
- The Context that Explains. This plague serves God’s purpose to display his signs and to teach future generations about his power over Egypt.
Five-point outline
- Announcement (v.4): Moses warns that locusts will come tomorrow if Pharaoh refuses.
- Coverage (v.5a): The locusts cover the “eye of the earth” so the ground cannot be seen.
- Consumption (v.5b): They eat the escapees from the hail and every tree in the field.
- Course (v.6a): They fill the houses of Pharaoh and all Egyptians, a complete infiltration.
- Consequences (v.7): Pharaoh’s own servants plead for his surrender. The plague breaks the support of his court.
Illustration hooks
- A field stripped bare by a swarm of locusts in a news report, sudden, total, and irreversible within hours.
- The feeling of watching a season’s savings disappear to an unexpected expense, leaving nothing for the next step.
- Walking through a garden after a hailstorm, only to have a second swarm finish off the last stalks.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God use locusts instead of a direct attack on the Egyptians?
- Is God being vengeful by destroying the crops that people depend on?
- What does this plague teach about God’s sovereignty over nature?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows judgment that leaves nothing untouched: the locusts cover, consume, and complete destruction. As we study, consider what it means to face God’s power fully and what it reveals about his character.
Discussion questions
- What comes to mind when you read that the locusts “cover the eye of the earth”? How does this imagery affect your understanding of the plague?
- Why do you think God targets what remained after the hail rather than sending a completely new kind of judgment?
- How does the description of locusts devouring “every tree which grows for you out of the field” underline the severity of the judgment?
- In what ways does this narrative show God’s control over creation, even using creatures like locusts to accomplish his will?
- If you were an Egyptian farmer hearing this warning, how might you respond? What would you feel?
- What does this passage teach about the relationship between human stubbornness and divine discipline?
- How can this account shape our response to God’s warnings in our own lives today?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 9:32 | But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they had not grown up. |
| Joel 1:4 | What the swarming locust has left, the great locust has eaten. What the great locust has left, the grasshopper has eaten. What the grasshopper has left, the caterpillar has eaten. |
| Joel 2:25 | I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the extreme extent of this devastation, noting that the swarms sometimes cover the entire ground to a depth of six or eight inches. His focus is on the overwhelming physical reality of the plague, not just a symbolic threat.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights the sheer scale of the plague: locusts blacken the entire sky as they fill the air to a great height. He notes that they devour not just leaves but branches and wood, which was especially cruel to a people who treasured their trees.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator emphasizes the literal accuracy of the plague description, noting that locusts truly cover the land as far as the eye can see. He highlights the distinctive Hebrew phrase "eye of the earth" used for "face," and stresses the insects' insatiable appetite, which leaves nothing green behind.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note emphasizes the total devastation: the locusts swarm so thickly that the entire ground disappears from sight, and they devour every last scrap of vegetation that survived the hail, including the trees. Nothing remains for the people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the Hebrew phrase “eye of the earth” in this description, offering several possible meanings: the locusts cover the earth’s visible surface, block a person’s view of the ground, or—as Jewish interpreters hold—so thickly swarm that they block the sun’s rays, darkening the land.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlight the phrase "cover the eye of the earth" as a distinctive Pentateuchal expression rooted in an ancient poetic idea: the earth with its plant-cover looks up to man. They argue that replacing "eye" with "surface" destroys this figure's real meaning, and that the swarms' horror lay in literally hiding the ground.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange distinguishes Pharaoh’s self-hardening from God’s subsequent judicial hardening. After the seventh plague, Pharaoh’s sentence was settled, and the later plagues completed his obduracy. Moses needed to know this in advance so the apparent failures would not discourage him, revealing Moses’ deep insight into God’s justice.