from an unused root meaning to devour; a kind of locust; palmer-worm.
Transliteration:gâzâm
Pronunciation:gaw-zawm'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H1501}}` (gâzâm), transliterated as "gâzâm," denotes a specific type of destructive insect, most commonly rendered "palmer-worm" in English translations. Its etymology traces to an unused root signifying "to devour" or "to cut off," which profoundly informs its semantic range. This root meaning highlights the insect's primary characteristic: its capacity for extensive and devastating consumption of vegetation. Unlike other locust types that might consume entire fields, the "palmer-worm" is often understood as the larval or pre-adult stage, or a specific species, known for its stripping and gnawing actions, leaving behind bare stalks or branches. The "palmer-worm" is thus not merely an insect but a symbol of thorough, relentless destruction, particularly of agricultural produce, indicating a complete stripping away of sustenance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H1501}}` appears exclusively in prophetic literature, specifically within the books of Joel and Amos, always in contexts of severe agricultural devastation and divine judgment.
1. **[[Joel 1:4]]**: "What the palmer-worm has left, the locust has eaten; what the locust has left, the cankerworm has eaten; and what the cankerworm has left, the caterpillar has eaten." Here, `{{H1501}}` initiates a devastating sequence of four distinct locust types (`{{H1501}}` - gâzâm, `{{H697}}` - arbeh, `{{H3218}}` - yeleq, `{{H2625}}` - chasil). This progression emphasizes the totality of the destruction, where each successive pest consumes what the previous one left behind, leading to utter desolation. The context is a lament over the land's barrenness, calling for national repentance.
2. **[[Joel 2:25]]**: "So I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm and the caterpillar and the palmer-worm, My great army which I sent among you." In this passage, `{{H1501}}` is again listed among the four destructive insects, but this time in the context of God's promise of restoration following repentance. This highlights God's sovereignty over these natural phenomena; they are not random occurrences but "My great army which I sent among you," serving His divine purposes, whether for judgment or, ultimately, for restoration.
3. **[[Amos 4:9]]**: "I struck you with blight and mildew. The multitude of your gardens, your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees the palmer-worm devoured; yet you have not returned to Me," says the LORD." In Amos, `{{H1501}}` is explicitly identified as an instrument of divine chastisement. It is part of a series of judgments (blight, mildew) sent by God to prompt Israel to return to Him. The repeated phrase "yet you have not returned to Me" underscores Israel's stubbornness despite clear signs of divine displeasure, with the `{{H1501}}` serving as a tangible manifestation of God's disciplinary hand.
Across these occurrences, `{{H1501}}` consistently represents a severe, God-ordained natural disaster, causing widespread agricultural ruin and serving as a catalyst for either judgment or a call to repentance and subsequent restoration.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{H1501}}` is enriched by its relationship to other terms for destructive insects and broader theological concepts:
1. **Other Locust Types:** `{{H1501}}` is almost always found in conjunction with `{{H697}}` (arbeh - locust/swarm), `{{H3218}}` (yeleq - cankerworm/licking locust), and `{{H2625}}` (chasil - consuming locust/caterpillar). This quartet represents a comprehensive and successive wave of agricultural devastation, emphasizing the completeness of the destruction. Scholars debate whether these terms refer to different species, different stages of the same insect (e.g., larva, nymph, adult), or simply different descriptive names for the same phenomenon. Regardless, their collective appearance underscores a multifaceted and overwhelming plague.
2. **Root Meaning of "Devour":** The implied root meaning connects `{{H1501}}` to the broader concept of consumption and destruction, often in a negative, ruinous sense. This aligns with other Hebrew words describing various forms of devouring, whether by wild animals, fire, or human enemies.
3. **Divine Judgment and Discipline:** `{{H1501}}` is a vivid example of natural phenomena serving as instruments of God's judgment ([[Amos 4:9]]). It falls under the broader category of "pestilence" or "plague," which are frequently depicted in the Old Testament as divine punishments for disobedience.
4. **Repentance and Restoration:** While an agent of destruction, `{{H1501}}` also plays a role in the narrative of restoration. In Joel, the devastation wrought by the `{{H1501}}` and its companions is the very thing God promises to "restore" ([[Joel 2:25]]), contingent upon the people's repentance. This links `{{H1501}}` to the theological concepts of divine mercy and covenant faithfulness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H1501}}` extends beyond its literal biological definition, embodying several profound truths:
1. **God's Sovereignty Over Creation:** The repeated assertion in Joel that these locusts are "My great army which I sent among you" ([[Joel 2:25]]) unequivocally declares God's ultimate control over the natural world, even its most destructive elements. Plagues are not random occurrences but instruments within God's sovereign plan, serving His purposes for judgment, discipline, or a call to repentance.
2. **Consequences of Disobedience:** In Amos, `{{H1501}}` directly illustrates the principle that sin has tangible consequences. The devastation caused by the palmer-worm is a direct result of Israel's failure to "return to Me," serving as a stark warning and a call for covenant fidelity.
3. **Divine Justice and Mercy Intertwined:** The narrative in Joel powerfully displays the dual nature of God's character. The `{{H1501}}` is an agent of righteous judgment against a wayward people ([[Joel 1:4]]). Yet, the very destruction it causes becomes the basis for God's promise of lavish restoration upon repentance ([[Joel 2:25]]). This demonstrates that God's judgment is not an end in itself but often a means to bring His people to repentance and ultimately to experience His abundant mercy.
4. **Symbol of Overwhelming Calamity:** While a literal insect, `{{H1501}}` also functions as a powerful symbol of overwhelming, pervasive calamity. The "devouring" nature of the palmer-worm signifies a complete stripping away, leaving nothing behind. This imagery resonates with the spiritual stripping away that occurs when a people turn from God.
### Summary
The Hebrew term `{{H1501}}` (gâzâm), or "palmer-worm," consistently refers to a highly destructive insect, deriving its core meaning from a root signifying "to devour." Biblically, it appears in Joel and Amos as a key component of severe agricultural plagues, always serving as an instrument of divine action. In [[Joel 1:4]] and [[Joel 2:25]], it is part of a sequence of four devastating locust types, highlighting the totality of the destruction. In [[Amos 4:9]], it is explicitly sent by God as a disciplinary measure against disobedient Israel. Theologically, `{{H1501}}` underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, the tangible consequences of human sin, and the intertwining of divine justice and mercy. It serves as a potent reminder that even natural disasters can be God's "great army," designed to call humanity to repentance and to usher in His promised restoration.
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