### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **gâzâm**, represented by `{{H1501}}`, refers to a **kind of locust** or **palmer-worm**. It is derived from an unused root meaning to devour. This specific term appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, where it consistently portrays an agent of agricultural devastation as part of a larger, overwhelming swarm.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1501}}` is used to illustrate a comprehensive and divinely ordained judgment. In Joel, it is the first in a four-part sequence of destruction: "That which the **palmerworm** hath left hath the locust eaten" [[Joel 1:4]]. This progression highlights the thoroughness of the plague. The prophet Amos also identifies the **palmerworm** as an instrument of God's discipline, sent to devour gardens and vineyards after God has smitten the people with blight and mildew [[Amos 4:9]]. The Lord Himself claims these destructive forces, including the **palmerworm**, as "my great army which I sent among you" [[Joel 2:25]], framing the natural disaster as a military campaign directed by God.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of devastation and divine agency:
* `{{H697}}` **'arbeh** (locust, grasshopper): This word for locust appears alongside `{{H1501}}` and is used to describe an overwhelming multitude, such as the Midianite armies that were like **grasshoppers** for multitude [[Judges 7:12]].
* `{{H2428}}` **chayil** (army, strength, wealth): This term elevates the locust swarm from a pest to a military force. In [[Joel 2:25]], God calls the palmerworm and other locusts His "great **army**," demonstrating that His power can be expressed through nature, not just by human might [[Zechariah 4:6]].
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike, smite): This verb directly connects the palmerworm's actions to God's intent. The Lord states, "I have **smitten** you with blasting and mildew... the palmerworm devoured them" [[Amos 4:9]], framing the destruction as a direct consequence of divine judgment.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1501}}` centers on God's sovereignty over the natural world as a means of judgment.
* **Instrument of Divine Judgment:** The palmerworm is not a random pest but a specific tool sent by God. It is part of "my great army" that God sent [[Joel 2:25]] and a consequence of Him smiting His people for their disobedience [[Amos 4:9]].
* **Symbol of Complete Devastation:** The appearance of `{{H1501}}` as the first in a series of devouring insects in [[Joel 1:4]] signifies the beginning of a relentless and total consumption. Each successive creature eats what the previous one "hath left" `{{H3499}}`, symbolizing a judgment that leaves no residue.
* **A Call to Repentance:** The devastation wrought by the palmerworm serves a purpose: to call people back to God. The judgment in Amos is pointedly followed by the statement, "yet have ye not returned unto me" [[Amos 4:9]]. This judgment is paired with a promise that God will "restore the years that the locust hath eaten" [[Joel 2:25]], linking destruction to the potential for redemption.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1501}}` is far more than a simple entomological term. It functions as a potent symbol of God's sovereign power, capable of deploying the natural world as His "great army" to enact judgment. The **gâzâm** illustrates how divine discipline can be comprehensive and devastating, yet it also exists within a narrative that ultimately points toward God's desire for repentance and His promise to restore what was lost.
TRV