Exodus 10:14-15
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The text emphasizes that this swarm of locusts was unlike any that had come before or would ever come again. This isn't just about sheer numbers, but a singular, unparalleled event designed by God to demonstrate His unique power over Egypt. It highlights that this particular plague was not just severe, but divinely set apart, leaving no room for comparison or future precedent.
The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ninth plague is unleashed upon Egypt as God commands Moses to stretch out his hand, and an east wind brings a devastating swarm of locusts. These locusts consume every bit of vegetation left by the hail, plunging the land into darkness and ruin. Pharaoh, terrified by the destruction, calls for Moses and Aaron, admitting his sin and begging for the plague to be lifted, but only this once. Following this, God removes the locusts with a mighty west wind, yet hardens Pharaoh's heart, preventing Israel's release.
Imagine a darkness so thick you can feel it, or a hunger so complete it devours every green thing. This plague wasn't just numerous; it was unprecedented.
The text emphasizes the sheer, unparalleled nature of this locust swarm. It wasn't just a large number of insects; it was a plague so extreme that it had no equal in Egypt's history, nor would it have one in the future.
A Cataclysmic Scale
Pharaoh cries out, 'I have sinned!' He begs for relief. Yet, the narrative quickly turns, showing a familiar pattern of broken promises and God's sovereign hand.
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This plague reveals a critical aspect of Pharaoh's response and God's interaction with him: a cycle of false repentance and divine hardening.
The Illusion of Repentance
This plague of locusts was an unprecedented catastrophe, specifically targeting Egypt's agriculture, which was the lifeblood of its economy. Its sheer scale and destructive power, described as unmatched before or since, served as a powerful, tangible demonstration of God's judgment against Pharaoh's defiance and Egypt's oppression of His people.
c. 1446 BC
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of slavery, depart from Egypt under Moses' leadership, marking a pivotal moment in their history and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
God sends ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. These plagues progressively escalate in severity, demonstrating God's power and judgment.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Plague of Locusts Descends
The eighth plague, a swarm of locusts, covers the land of Egypt, devouring all remaining vegetation, causing widespread devastation and panic among the Egyptians.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Partial Confession
Overwhelmed by the severity of the locust plague, Pharaoh briefly repents and asks Moses to intercede with God, promising to let the Israelites go.
c. 1446 BC
Locusts Removed by Wind
A strong west wind, sent by God at Moses' prayer, sweeps the locusts into the Red Sea, clearing the land of Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Heart Hardens Again
Despite the recent devastation, Pharaoh's heart is hardened by God, and he again refuses to let the Israelites go, leading to the subsequent plague of darkness.
This passage in Joel describes locusts as a devastating plague, mirroring the destruction seen in Exodus, and also emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the infestation, much like the description in Exodus.
Revelation 9:1-11This apocalyptic vision of locusts emerging from a bottomless pit shares thematic similarities with the plagues of Egypt, representing divine judgment that brings torment and destruction upon humanity.
Psalm 78:45-46This psalm recounts the plagues of Egypt, including the locusts, highlighting God's power to send such devastation as a form of judgment against His enemies.
Exodus 10:15This verse directly follows the passage and describes the totality of the locusts' devastation, emphasizing that 'there remained no green thing in the trees or in the herbs of the field throughout all the land of Egypt,' reinforcing the singular severity of the plague.
calvinExodus 10:12-20: "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."
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.
Tunc dixit Jehova Mosi, Extende manum tuam super terram AEgyp…
gillExodus 10:14: "And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such."
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt,.... Being raised up by the wind in the places where they were generated, they flew and spread themselves all over the land, being in a wonderful manner produced and multiplied by the power of God: and rested in all the coasts of Egyp…
The text emphasizes that this swarm of locusts was unlike any that had come before or would ever come again. This isn't just about sheer numbers, but a singular, unparalleled event designed by God to demonstrate His unique power over Egypt. It highlights that this particular plague was not just severe, but divinely set apart, leaving no room for comparison or future precedent.
The ninth plague is unleashed upon Egypt as God commands Moses to stretch out his hand, and an east wind brings a devastating swarm of locusts. These locusts consume every bit of vegetation left by the hail, plunging the land into darkness and ruin. Pharaoh, terrified by the destruction, calls for Moses and Aaron, admitting his sin and begging for the plague to be lifted, but only this once. Following this, God removes the locusts with a mighty west wind, yet hardens Pharaoh's heart, preventing Israel's release.
The ninth plague is unleashed upon Egypt as God commands Moses to stretch out his hand, and an east wind brings a devastating swarm of locusts. These locusts consume every bit of vegetation left by the hail, plunging the land into darkness and ruin. Pharaoh, terrified by the destruction, calls for Moses and Aaron, admitting his sin and begging for the plague to be lifted, but only this once. Following this, God removes the locusts with a mighty west wind, yet hardens Pharaoh's heart, preventing Israel's release.
"The locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever will be again. They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkene…" — The text emphasizes that this swarm of locusts was unlike any that had come before or would ever come again. This isn't just about sheer numbers, but a singular, unparalleled event designed by God to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
