Psalms 105:34

He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,

He spake {H559}, and the locusts {H697} came {H935}, and caterpillers {H3218}, and that without number {H4557},

He spoke, and locusts came, also grasshoppers without number;

He spoke, and the locusts cameโ€” young locusts without number.

He spake, and the locust came, And the grasshopper, and that without number,

Commentary

Psalms 105:34 vividly recounts one of the powerful plagues God brought upon ancient Egypt to secure the release of His people, Israel. This verse highlights God's absolute command over creation and His unwavering commitment to His covenant promises.

Context of Psalms 105:34

Psalm 105 is a historical psalm, serving as a hymn of praise and thanksgiving, recounting God's faithfulness to Israel from the time of Abraham through the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. It systematically details God's mighty acts, miracles, and judgments, all designed to fulfill His covenant with His chosen people. Verses 26 through 38 specifically focus on the ten plagues that God inflicted upon Egypt, demonstrating His supremacy over Pharaoh and the Egyptian deities.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Power and Authority: The phrase "He spake" underscores God's omnipotent word. The very act of speaking brought forth an innumerable swarm, illustrating that God's command alone is sufficient to unleash overwhelming natural forces. This emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His ability to execute His will without hindrance.
  • Judgment on Egypt: The locusts and caterpillars were a devastating plague, targeting Egypt's agricultural prosperity and demonstrating God's judgment against a nation that enslaved His people and defied His commands. This plague, detailed more extensively in Exodus 10, stripped the land bare, leaving no green thing.
  • Deliverance of Israel: While a judgment on Egypt, the plagues were also a means of liberation for Israel. Each plague served to break Pharaoh's will and pave the way for the Israelites' freedom, demonstrating God's active intervention on behalf of His chosen people.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates two distinct Hebrew words: "locusts" ('arbeh, ืึทืจึฐื‘ึผึถื”) and "caterpillars" (yeleq, ื™ึถืœึถืง). 'Arbeh refers to the common migratory locust, known for its destructive swarms. Yeleq can refer to a young locust, a specific type of devouring beetle, or a caterpillar, emphasizing its destructive, gnawing nature. The pairing of these terms highlights the comprehensive and overwhelming nature of the infestation; the land was not just eaten by one type of pest but by multiple, ensuring total devastation "without number."

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of God's immense power and His faithfulness to His purposes. Just as He intervened decisively in ancient Egypt, He remains sovereign over all circumstances today. For believers, it's a comfort to know that God can overcome any obstacle to deliver His people and fulfill His promises. For those who defy Him, it serves as a reminder of His ultimate authority and the consequences of resisting His will. It encourages us to trust in His word, knowing that when "He spake," things happen, whether for judgment or for salvation, as seen in the creation itself by His Word.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 10:12

    ยถ And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, [even] all that the hail hath left.

  • Exodus 10:15

    For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

  • Joel 2:25

    And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

  • Joel 1:4

    That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

  • Joel 1:7

    He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast [it] away; the branches thereof are made white.

  • Psalms 78:46

    He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

  • Revelation 9:3

    And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
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