Psalms 78:46

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

He gave {H5414}{H8799)} also their increase {H2981} unto the caterpiller {H2625}, and their labour {H3018} unto the locust {H697}.

He gave their harvest to shearer-worms, the fruit of their labor to locusts.

He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.

He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.

Commentary

Psalm 78:46 is part of a longer historical psalm that recounts God's dealings with Israel, highlighting His faithfulness and their repeated rebellion. In this specific verse, the psalmist recalls one of the devastating plagues God inflicted upon ancient Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage.

Context

This verse sits within a section of Psalm 78 (verses 43-51) that vividly describes the miraculous signs and judgments God performed in Egypt. Before this verse, the psalmist mentions the turning of their rivers into blood, and plagues of flies and frogs (Psalm 78:44-45). Verse 46 specifically refers to the plague of locusts and caterpillars, which were instruments of divine judgment, destroying Egypt's crops and livelihood. This destruction of their agricultural "increase" and "labour" was a direct attack on Egypt's economy and sustenance, demonstrating God's overwhelming power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse underscores God's absolute power and His willingness to use natural forces as tools of judgment against those who defy Him. The plagues were not random events but targeted acts of God's justice against Pharaoh's stubbornness.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Pharaoh's persistent refusal to obey God's command to "Let my people go" led to severe repercussions that affected the entire land of Egypt. Their agricultural "increase" (produce) and "labour" (effort in farming) were utterly consumed, illustrating the devastating impact of defying the Almighty.
  • God's Control Over Nature: This plague, like others, powerfully demonstrates God's sovereignty over creation. He commands even the smallest insects to fulfill His purposes, bringing widespread devastation or blessing as He wills. This is also evident in the detailed account of the locust plague in Exodus 10.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version uses "caterpillar" (Hebrew: chasîl, חָסִיל) and "locust" (Hebrew: ʼarbeh, אַרְבֶּה). While ʼarbeh clearly refers to the swarming locust, notorious for its destructive power, chasîl is often understood as a consuming insect, possibly a stage of the locust (like the 'gnawing locust' or 'cankerworm' in other translations) or another type of voracious pest. Both terms emphasize the completeness and severity of the agricultural destruction. The "increase" refers to the harvest or produce, and "labour" to the toil involved in cultivating it, highlighting the total loss of their efforts and economic foundation.

Practical Application

Psalm 78:46 serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice and sovereignty. It teaches us that:

  • God is ultimately in control, even over forces that seem chaotic or natural. This brings comfort to believers who trust in His providence and warns those who would oppose His will.
  • Disobedience to God has real and often severe consequences, not just spiritually but also practically. This historical account encourages us to take God's commands seriously.
  • It encourages us to recognize God's hand in historical events and to learn from the past, seeking to obey Him rather than provoking His judgment. Just as God acted decisively in Egypt, He remains the sovereign Lord over all things, and His judgments are still a reality, as seen in future prophecies like those in Revelation 9:3.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 105:34 (3 votes)

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

  • Psalms 105:35 (3 votes)

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

  • Exodus 10:12 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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 (3 votes)

    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 1:4 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Revelation 9:2 (2 votes)

    And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.