He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The poet adds "caterpillars" to the biblical account of the locust plague, a word that means "lickers." This detail isn't just poetic; it emphasizes the sheer, insatiable destructiveness of the plague, as these "lickers" devoured everything in their path.
He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger psalm celebrating God's faithfulness to Israel, recounting His mighty acts from the time of Abraham through the Exodus from Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this describe God's power in bringing plagues upon Egypt, specifically mentioning darkness and the destruction of crops. This verse then continues that narrative of divine judgment, detailing the swarming locusts sent as another devastating plague.
Did you know that God's spoken word carries immediate, unstoppable power? In an instant, He can unleash natural forces in ways we can barely imagine.
This verse highlights the absolute authority of God's command. When God 'spoke,' the locusts didn't hesitate, didn't question, and didn't delay. They came. This isn't just a poetic description; it's a powerful statement about God's sovereignty over creation.
The Power of the Divine Voice
This demonstrates that even the most destructive aspects of nature are under God's control, ready to act at His will. It's a reminder that the God who commands creation is the same God who is at work in our lives.
Why does the psalmist mention 'young locusts' and 'caterpillars'? It's more than just a detailed description of bugs; it paints a picture of overwhelming devastation.
The specific wording here – 'young locusts without number' and the mention of 'caterpillars' (or possibly another stage/type of locust) – serves to emphasize the totality and overwhelming nature of the plague sent by God upon Egypt.
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A Devastating Barrage
These details aren't just descriptive; they are theological. They highlight God's power to bring judgment and His ability to use the smallest creatures to bring the mightiest nations to their knees. It's a stark reminder that God's justice is thorough and comprehensive.
Understand the original words
arbeh · Hebrew Noun
A migratory, swarming insect that serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment, destruction, and total consumption. They represent an unstoppable force that leaves a land barren, illustrating the completeness of God's judicial action.
This verse recalls the devastating plague of locusts sent upon Egypt as a sign of God's power and judgment against Pharaoh's stubbornness, highlighting God's direct intervention in history.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
Following centuries of slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses, departed from Egypt under God's mighty power.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Plagues of Egypt
A series of ten devastating plagues struck Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The eighth plague involved locusts.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Sojourn
After their exodus, the Israelites journeyed through the Sinai wilderness for 40 years, during which God provided for and protected them.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan
The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, entered and conquered the Promised Land after the death of Moses.
This passage describes the same plague of locusts, emphasizing that God spoke and they came in overwhelming numbers, directly paralleling the Psalmist's account.
Joel 1:4The prophet Joel uses similar language to describe the devastation caused by locusts, referring to different stages of their destruction (gnawing locust, consuming locust, stripping locust, devouring locust), which broadens the understanding of the 'locusts and caterpillars' mentioned in Psalm 105.
Revelation 9:3This New Testament passage describes a plague of locusts released from the abyss, connecting the ancient plagues to apocalyptic imagery and the continuing theme of God's powerful judgments.
Psalm 78:45This psalm also recounts the plagues of Egypt, specifically mentioning the devastation caused by swarms of locusts and gnats, reinforcing the historical context and the scope of God's power displayed through these events.
pulpitPsalms 105:34: "He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,"
Verse 34. - He spake, and the locusts came (see Exodus 10:13, 14). And caterpillars. Either a kind of locust, or the locust at one period of its growth. Not mentioned in Exodus. And that without number (see Exodus 10:14, 15).
ellicottPsalms 105:34: "He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,"
(34) Caterpillars. —To the locust, ‘aarbeh, alone mentioned in Exodus, the psalmist adds, as a poetical synonym to suit his parallelism, caterpillar ( yelek ) , a word occurring in Joel 1:4 ; Joel 2:25 ; Nahum 3:15 ; Jeremiah 51:14 ; Jeremiah 51:27 . By derivation the word means “licker” (comp. Numbers 22:4 ), and is possibly used in a wide or general sense for insects of the locust kind. (See Bible Educ…
The poet adds "caterpillars" to the biblical account of the locust plague, a word that means "lickers." This detail isn't just poetic; it emphasizes the sheer, insatiable destructiveness of the plague, as these "lickers" devoured everything in their path.
This passage is part of a larger psalm celebrating God's faithfulness to Israel, recounting His mighty acts from the time of Abraham through the Exodus from Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this describe God's power in bringing plagues upon Egypt, specifically mentioning darkness and the destruction of crops. This verse then continues that narrative of divine judgment, detailing the swarming locusts sent as another devastating plague.
This passage is part of a larger psalm celebrating God's faithfulness to Israel, recounting His mighty acts from the time of Abraham through the Exodus from Egypt. The verses immediately preceding this describe God's power in bringing plagues upon Egypt, specifically mentioning darkness and the destruction of crops. This verse then continues that narrative of divine judgment, detailing the swarming locusts sent as another devastating plague.
"He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number," — The poet adds "caterpillars" to the biblical account of the locust plague, a word that means "lickers." This detail isn't just poetic; it emphasizes the sheer, insatiable destructiveness of the plagu…
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Last reviewed October 2026