by The word study process within the Elementary Biblical Hebrew textbook is a five-step process to uncover the deeper meanings and intentions behind a key word that shape a passage’s message. In Joel 1:4, the repetition of “locust” signals its importance to understanding the verse and the broader prophetic narrative. This word study examines the Hebrew term, אַרְבֶּה (ʾǎr·bě(h)), the most frequently used word for “locust” in the Old Testament, to discern its significance in Joel 1:4. By investigating its origins, usage, translations, and contextual meanings, this word study helps clarify the meaning ofאַרְבֶּה .
Within Joel 1:4, the word, “locust” occurs six times. This word, locust, qualifies for a word study because of the numeric usage within the verse. Roden explains, “If a noun is used several times in a short span, that word is probably key to understanding that text.”[1] Another qualification that is met with, “locust” is that the entire passage centers around it.
There are several Hebrew words for “locust” and the same Hebrew word is not used within Joel 1:4 all the time. גָּזָם gā·zām (x1), אַרְבֶּה ʾǎr·bě(h) (x2), יֶ֫לֶק yěʹ·lěq (x2), and חָסִיל ḥā·sîl (x1) are all used within this one verse for locust.
Within the New King James Version (NKJV), “locust” occurs forty-two times in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament. Of those forty-two times, אַרְבֶּה ʾǎr·bě(h), is used the most often at twenty-one. Keown states, “The Heb. ʾarbeh is the most common OT word for locust.”[2] This will be the word used for this word study as it is used twice in Joel 1:4.
אַרְבֶּה ʾǎr·bě(h), is used twenty four times in the source documents for the translations of the Bible. It is used twice in Joel, and both are within verse four. Of the books of the Bible, it is most used in the Pentateuch (x9) with seven of them in Exodus. This is because it was used for the plaque of the locusts against the Pharaoh in Egypt.
Within the NKJV, it translated as “locust” twenty-three times and “grasshoppers” once. Some of the other translations use slightly different English words. Biblical Studies Press states, “for אַרְבֶּה (’arbeh) KJV has “locust,” NEB “swarm,” NAB “locust swarm,” NASB, NKJV, NRSV, NLT “swarming locust(s),” NIV “great locusts,” NIrV “common locusts”;”[3]
In many of the contextual settings,אַרְבֶּה ʾǎr·bě(h), is used to describe the locusts as migratory and in multitude. They are also mentioned in the context that they are acceptable to eat for nourishment. Brannan states, “Noun Usage 1. locust — a migratory grasshopper having short antennae that was considered clean for food.”[4]
There is still some confusion on the differences of the Hebrew words on the insect with the many different Hebrew words. Davies explains, “Biblical Hebrew has a rich vocabulary for the locust and related insects (see e.g. Joel 1:4), but ʾarbeh is the most frequent and widely distributed of them. It is not certain whether the different words refer to different species, different stages of growth or both.”[5] Clarke states, “I am fully of opinion that the arbeh, or locust himself, is the gazam, the yelek, and the chasil; and that these different names are used here by the prophet to point out the locust in its different states, or progress from embryo to full growth.”[6]
The Hebrew word, אַרְבֶּה (ʾǎr·bě(h)), has a decisive role in Joel 1:4 by portraying the locust as both a symbol of destruction and a tool of divine judgment. The examination of its usage across the Old Testament and its varied translations underscores its significance as the most common word for locust. The contextual analysis suggests that different Hebrew terms for locusts in Joel 1:4 may reflect stages of growth, types of devastation, or different types of locusts reinforcing the passage’s theme of complete desolation. The results help understand the meaning and complexity of the word, אַרְבֶּה (ʾǎr·bě(h)). It is also very possible that Joel used a multitude of words to reinforce the image of destruction.
Feedback from Professor: “Good demonstration of the procedure. All that remains is to develop a sensitivity to a word’s nuances. This will develop the more you work with Hebrew.” – Dr. Robert (Russell) Mack.
Bibliography
Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Richardson, TX: Biblical Studies Press, 2006.
Brannan, Rick, ed. Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible. Lexham Research Lexicons. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.
Bromiley, Geoffrey W., ed. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988.
Clarke, Adam. The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes. New Edition. Vol. I–VI. Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014.
Davies, G. I. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Exodus 1–18, vol. 1, International Critical Commentary. New York, NY: T&T Clark, 2020.
Roden, Chet. Elementary Biblical Hebrew. 2nd ed. Solana Beach, CA: Cognella Incorporated, 2024.
[1] Chet Roden, Elementary Biblical Hebrew, 2nd ed. (Solana Beach, CA: Cognella Incorporated, 2024), 69.
[2] G. L. Keown, “Locust,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 149.
[3] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Richardson, TX: Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Joe 1:4.
[4] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020), אַרְבֶּה.
[5] G. I. Davies, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Exodus 1–18, vol. 1, International Critical Commentary (New York, NY: T&T Clark, 2020), 641.
[6] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 4, (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 660.