Psalms 105:35

KJV

And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.

KJV (with Strong's)

And did eat up {H398} all the herbs {H6212} in their land {H776}, and devoured {H398} the fruit {H6529} of their ground {H127}.

Complete Jewish Bible

they ate up everything green in their land, devoured the fruit of their ground. 896

Berean Standard Bible

They devoured every plant in their land and consumed the produce of their soil.

American Standard Version

And did eat up every herb in their land, And did eat up the fruit of their ground.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 105:35 vividly depicts the devastating impact of the eighth plague upon ancient Egypt—the plague of locusts. This verse is situated within a sweeping historical psalm that recounts God's miraculous deeds on behalf of Israel, from the covenant with Abraham to their settlement in the Promised Land, emphasizing His unwavering faithfulness, sovereign power, and commitment to delivering His chosen people from oppression. It highlights the comprehensive destruction wrought upon Egypt's agricultural foundation as a direct act of divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 105 is a magnificent historical psalm, functioning as a hymn of praise that exhorts God's people to remember and declare His mighty works throughout their redemptive history. The psalm commences with an urgent invitation to worship and recount God's wondrous deeds (verses 1-6), then transitions into a detailed review of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (verses 7-15). The narrative subsequently focuses on Joseph's providential story (verses 16-22) and the subsequent oppression of Israel in Egypt (verses 23-25). Verses 26-38 specifically detail the ten plagues God sent upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. Verse 35, situated within this climactic section, provides a powerful description of the plague of locusts, following the summoning of the locusts in [Psalms 105:34](/psalms/105-34 "Psalms 105:34 - The Arrival of Locusts") and preceding the final, decisive plague and Israel's triumphant departure in [Psalms 105:36-38](/psalms/105-36-38 "Psalms 105:36-38 - The Death of the Firstborn and Israel's Exodus"). The psalmist's recounting is not merely a historical chronicle but a profound theological exposition, framing these events as irrefutable demonstrations of God's power and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Egypt's prosperity and very survival were intricately linked to the fertile lands irrigated by the Nile River. Agriculture formed the bedrock of their economy and sustenance, with staple crops like wheat, barley, and various vegetables being indispensable. The land's extraordinary fertility was also deeply interwoven with their polytheistic religious system, with deities such as Min (god of fertility and harvests) and Renenutet (goddess of nourishment and the harvest) holding central positions in their worship. A plague of locusts, while a known natural phenomenon in the region, was catastrophic because it directly attacked the very source of Egypt's prosperity and survival. The biblical account in [Exodus 10](/exodus/10 "Exodus 10 - The Plague of Locusts") meticulously emphasizes the unprecedented scale and totality of this particular plague, distinguishing it from ordinary occurrences. By destroying "all the herbs in their land" and "the fruit of their ground," God not only inflicted immense economic hardship and famine but also directly challenged the perceived power of Egypt's gods and Pharaoh's authority over nature, unequivocally proving Yahweh's absolute supremacy.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, and indeed the broader plague narrative within Psalm 105, powerfully contributes to several foundational themes within the biblical narrative. Firstly, it profoundly underscores **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation and His ability to use natural phenomena as precise instruments of His will. The locusts were not a random disaster but a meticulously timed and orchestrated divine act, highlighting that God is the true ruler of all nations and the natural world, infinitely superior to any human king or pagan deity. Secondly, it exemplifies **Divine Judgment**, specifically against Pharaoh's stubborn resistance and the cruel oppression of God's people. The thorough destruction of Egypt's agricultural foundation served as a severe and undeniable consequence for their defiance. Finally, and most importantly, the plague of locusts, like all the plagues, served the ultimate purpose of securing the **Deliverance of Israel**. By devastating Egypt's resources and breaking Pharaoh's hardened will, God meticulously created the circumstances necessary for the liberation of His chosen people, thereby fulfilling His ancient covenant promises made to Abraham, as referenced in [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "Genesis 12:1-3 - The Abrahamic Covenant"). This monumental act of deliverance is a central, recurring theme throughout the psalm, continually reminding believers of God's unfailing commitment to His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **eat up / devoured (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** This primitive root (H398) signifies "to eat," "consume," or "devour." In this context, its repetition and application to both "herbs" and "fruit" emphasize a comprehensive, voracious, and utterly destructive consumption. It's not mere grazing but a thorough stripping of the land's vegetation, leaving nothing viable behind. The KJV's "did eat up" and "devoured" both translate this single powerful Hebrew verb, highlighting the completed action and its devastating effect.
* **herbs (Hebrew, _ʻeseb'_):** This word (H6212) refers to grass or any tender shoot, encompassing the general vegetation and natural growth of the land. Its inclusion signifies that the destruction was widespread, affecting not just cultivated crops but all green things that sustained life. The locusts left no part of the natural landscape untouched.
* **fruit (Hebrew, _pᵉrîy'_):** This term (H6529) refers to the produce or fruit of the ground, specifically cultivated crops and agricultural yield. By devouring the "fruit of their ground," the locusts destroyed the very source of Egypt's sustenance and economic stability, ensuring famine and demonstrating God's direct assault on their livelihood.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And did eat up all the herbs in their land":** This initial clause powerfully describes the sweeping, comprehensive destruction. The phrase "all the herbs" emphatically highlights the totality of the consumption, indicating that every form of vegetation—from wild grasses to nascent cultivated plants—was mercilessly consumed. The locusts, acting as agents of divine judgment, systematically stripped the land of its green covering, targeting the very foundation of Egypt's agricultural and natural sustenance.
* **"and devoured the fruit of their ground":** This second clause serves to reinforce and intensify the first, using a verb that conveys even greater totality and focusing specifically on the "fruit of their ground," which encompasses the cultivated produce and essential crops for human and animal survival. The synonymous parallelism underscores the completeness of the devastation, highlighting the profound economic and existential crisis inflicted upon Egypt. It signifies that not only was the natural vegetation obliterated, but the potential for any future harvest or sustenance was utterly annihilated.

#### Literary Devices
The psalmist masterfully employs several literary devices to convey the overwhelming magnitude of the locust plague's devastation. **Parallelism** is prominently featured, with the two clauses of the verse ("And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground") serving as a powerful example of synonymous parallelism. The second clause reiterates and intensifies the meaning of the first, emphasizing the completeness and severity of the destruction. This rhythmic repetition creates a powerful, almost hypnotic effect that underscores the totality of the divine judgment. **Imagery** is also vividly utilized, painting a stark picture of a land utterly stripped bare, devoid of any green life or potential for sustenance. The active, voracious verbs "eat up" and "devoured" evoke a visceral sense of an unstoppable, consuming force, making the abstract concept of a plague concrete and terrifying. Furthermore, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in the use of "all" and the absolute nature of "devoured," which, while perhaps not literally leaving zero trace of a single blade of grass, effectively communicates the overwhelming and comprehensive nature of the destruction from a human perspective, leaving no hope for a harvest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 105:35 stands as a potent reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His willingness to utilize natural forces as precise instruments of His divine purpose, whether for righteous judgment or covenantal deliverance. The plague of locusts was not merely an ecological disaster but a direct, targeted assault on Egypt's economic and religious infrastructure, unequivocally demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy over Pharaoh and the entire pantheon of Egyptian gods. It powerfully illustrates that stubborn resistance to God's will carries severe and comprehensive consequences, while simultaneously affirming God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they are in the deepest throes of bondage. This monumental act of judgment against Egypt was a crucial, divinely orchestrated step in God's grand plan to liberate Israel and bring them into the Promised Land, thereby fulfilling promises made generations earlier.

* [Exodus 10:15](/exodus/10-15 "Exodus 10:15 - The Devastation of the Locusts")
* [Joel 1:4](/joel/1-4 "Joel 1:4 - Locusts as a Symbol of Judgment")
* [Deuteronomy 28:38](/deuteronomy/28-38 "Deuteronomy 28:38 - Locusts as a Curse for Disobedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 105:35, while rooted in an ancient historical event, carries profound and enduring implications for contemporary believers. It compels us to recognize God's unchallengeable authority over all creation and all human powers, regardless of their perceived might. In a world often characterized by human pride, technological hubris, and oppressive systems, this verse serves as a sober reminder that God remains utterly sovereign, capable of intervening decisively in human affairs and bringing down even the mightiest empires. It functions as a stark warning about the inevitable consequences of resisting God's will and oppressing His people, whether individually or corporately. Conversely, it offers immense encouragement: just as God acted with overwhelming power to deliver Israel from physical bondage, He remains eternally faithful to His covenant promises today. When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, personal "plagues" of adversity, or societal injustices, we are called to remember God's past acts of power and deliverance, trusting implicitly in His continued faithfulness and His unfailing ability to work on behalf of His people. This historical recounting fosters a deep, abiding sense of trust and hope, knowing that our God is not a passive observer but an active, intervening, and sovereign Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this verse deepen your understanding of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and human affairs, even in seemingly natural disasters?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or as a collective, be subtly or overtly resisting God's revealed will today, and what might be the potential consequences of such resistance?**
* **How does remembering God's past, dramatic acts of deliverance, such as the plague of locusts, strengthen your faith and trust in His faithfulness and power in your current personal circumstances or in the face of global challenges?**

### FAQ

**Was the locust plague a natural event or a miracle?**

Answer: While locust plagues are indeed a known natural phenomenon in the Middle East, the biblical account in [Exodus 10](/exodus/10 "Exodus 10 - The Plague of Locusts") and Psalm 105 emphatically underscore its miraculous nature. It was not merely a natural occurrence but a supernaturally orchestrated event, distinguished both by its precise timing and its unprecedented intensity and scope. God "brought an east wind" to bring the locusts with unparalleled devastation and a "strong west wind" to remove them completely, demonstrating His direct and absolute control over nature as a potent tool for His divine will and judgment. This divine orchestration, rather than the phenomenon itself, marks it definitively as a miracle.

**What was the profound significance of this plague to the Egyptians?**

Answer: The plague of locusts was profoundly significant to the Egyptians on multiple, interconnected levels. Economically, it was catastrophic, as it destroyed "all the herbs" and "the fruit of their ground," leading to widespread famine, economic ruin, and the collapse of their agricultural foundation. Egypt's prosperity was built upon its agricultural output, and this plague directly attacked that very foundation. Theologically, it was a direct and humiliating challenge to the entire Egyptian pantheon, particularly deities associated with fertility, agriculture, and nourishment, such as Min and Renenutet. By demonstrating His absolute power over the very forces that sustained Egypt, Yahweh unequivocally proved His supremacy over their gods and Pharaoh, as part of God's broader judgment against all the gods of Egypt mentioned in [Exodus 12:12](/exodus/12-12 "Exodus 12:12 - Judgment on Egyptian Gods").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The devastating judgment upon Egypt, vividly described in Psalms 105:35, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as God's sovereign power was displayed through the plagues to deliver Israel from physical bondage, Christ's ultimate victory on the cross delivers humanity from the far greater spiritual bondage of sin and death. The "eating up" and "devouring" of Egypt's land by locusts can be seen as a profound foreshadowing of the comprehensive judgment against sin that Christ bore in His own body. He became the ultimate [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), enduring the full, consuming wrath of God's judgment so that all who believe might be set eternally free. The barrenness left in Egypt's wake points to the spiritual desolation and death that sin inevitably brings, while Christ's sacrifice brings forth the "fruit" of the Spirit and abundant, eternal life to those who believe, transforming barren lives into fruitful ones, as promised in [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life in Christ"). Ultimately, the passage speaks of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant and His absolute power to judge evil and deliver His people—a power fully manifested in Jesus Christ, who will one day return in glory to establish His righteous kingdom and bring final, decisive judgment upon all who oppose Him, as powerfully depicted in [Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ's Triumphant Return and Righteous Judgment").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.