and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about a swarm of bugs; it's about total devastation so complete that the very ground itself is obscured. Notice how the text emphasizes they'll eat "what is left to you after the hail" and then "every tree of yours that grows in the field"—it shows God's judgment consuming not just what survived, but everything precious that remained.
and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Pharaoh has refused to let the Israelites go yet again, so God announces the next plague: locusts. These are not just a few bugs, but a devastating swarm sent to devour everything the previous plagues, particularly the hail, left behind. This plague will literally cover the land and consume all remaining crops and trees, leaving nothing for Egypt.
Imagine an army so vast it blots out the sun, transforming day into a terrifying twilight. This isn't science fiction; it's the reality of the locust plague described in Exodus.
The description of the locusts covering the face of the earth is more than just hyperbole. Commentators note the sheer density, with swarms sometimes covering the ground several inches deep and darkening the sky for miles.
Beyond Seeing
The text says they cover 'the face of the earth, so that no one can see the land.' This isn't just about a visual obstruction; it speaks to a total annihilation of sustenance and hope. The world as they knew it was literally disappearing under the swarm.
The locusts didn't just visit; they devoured, leaving nothing untouched. This plague was designed to strip Egypt bare, showing God's complete power over their resources.
The plague of locusts was particularly devastating because it followed the destructive hail. God's judgment was thorough, targeting what little the Egyptians had left.
Leaving Nothing Behind
'They shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field.' This means every bit of remaining grain, every fruit-bearing tree, even the bark of the trees, was consumed. Nothing was spared.
This illustrates how sin and rebellion invite a judgment that can utterly strip away the blessings God has provided, leaving a desolate wasteland.
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The sheer destructive power of the locust plague, described as covering the entire land and devouring every plant and tree, underscores the escalating intensity of God's judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt. This plague, following the devastation of hail, left the Egyptians with absolutely nothing, highlighting their utter defeat and the complete sovereignty of God over the natural world.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Enslaved in Egypt
For centuries, the Israelites lived in Egypt, growing in number but facing increasing oppression and forced labor under various Pharaohs.
c. 1446 BC
The Ten Plagues Begin
God sends a series of devastating plagues upon Egypt to break Pharaoh's stubborn will and compel him to let the Israelites go. The plagues escalate in severity.
c. 1446 BC
The Plague of Hail
A terrible hailstorm destroys much of Egypt's crops and livestock that had not already been ruined by earlier plagues, such as the plague of devastating locusts.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Plague of Locusts
Locusts swarm across the land, consuming all remaining vegetation and trees, leaving nothing edible behind. This plague is so thick it blots out the sun and consumes everything the hail missed.
c. 1446 BC
Pharaoh's Heart Hardens
Despite the devastating plagues, Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to let the Israelites go, and his heart is described as being hardened, either by his own will or by God's allowing it, to demonstrate God's power.
c. 1446 BC
The Plague of Darkness
A thick, palpable darkness covers the land of Egypt for three days, a plague that intensifies the terror and desperation.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Following the final plague, Pharaoh finally relents and allows the Israelites to leave Egypt after 400 years of bondage, marking their liberation.
This passage describes locusts in a similarly devastating way, emphasizing their consuming power and the utter destruction left in their wake, echoing the total devastation described in Exodus.
Joel 2:2-3This prophecy paints a picture of a swarming, darkness-bringing force that consumes everything, much like the locust plague in Exodus, highlighting the overwhelming and total nature of the destruction.
Revelation 9:3-4The imagery of locusts emerging from smoke that obscures the sun and are commanded not to harm vegetation but to torment people, draws a parallel to the overwhelming and destructive power of the locust plague, though with a different specific outcome.
Psalm 78:46This psalm recounts God's judgment on Egypt, explicitly mentioning the locusts as the agent of destruction, directly linking the historical event in Exodus to God's wider pattern of discipline.
clarkeExodus 10:5: "And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:"
They shall cover the face of the earth - They sometimes cover the whole ground to the depth of six or eight inches. See the preceding accounts.
bensonExodus 10:5: "And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:"
Exodus 10:5 . They shall cover the face — Hebrew, the eye; of the earth — That is, of its inhabitants; that one cannot be able to see the earth — It is observable that no living creature multiplies so fast as the locust. It is almost in…
This isn't just about a swarm of bugs; it's about total devastation so complete that the very ground itself is obscured. Notice how the text emphasizes they'll eat "what is left to you after the hail" and then "every tree of yours that grows in the field"—it shows God's judgment consuming not just what survived, but everything precious that remained.
Pharaoh has refused to let the Israelites go yet again, so God announces the next plague: locusts. These are not just a few bugs, but a devastating swarm sent to devour everything the previous plagues, particularly the hail, left behind. This plague will literally cover the land and consume all remaining crops and trees, leaving nothing for Egypt.
Pharaoh has refused to let the Israelites go yet again, so God announces the next plague: locusts. These are not just a few bugs, but a devastating swarm sent to devour everything the previous plagues, particularly the hail, left behind. This plague will literally cover the land and consume all remaining crops and trees, leaving nothing for Egypt.
"and they shall cover the face of the land, so that no one can see the land. And they shall eat what is left to you after the hail, and they shall eat every tree of yours that grows in the field," — This isn't just about a swarm of bugs; it's about total devastation so complete that the very ground itself is obscured. Notice how the text emphasizes they'll eat "what is left to you after the hail…
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Last reviewed October 2026