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.
EXODUS 10:14KJVWhat does Exodus 10:14 mean?
Exodus 10:14 describes how a massive swarm of locusts covered the entire land of Egypt, settling everywhere and causing severe devastation. The verse emphasizes that there had never been a locust plague like this before, and there would never be one like it again.
In this part of the story, God is sending the eighth plague on Egypt through Moses as a warning to Pharaoh, who refuses to let the Israelites go. The verse highlights the overwhelming scale and uniqueness of this disaster, showing just how serious and unprecedented the situation was for the Egyptians.
The Hebrew behind Exodus 10:14
- The word for "locusts" (אַרְבֶּה, arbeh) refers to a specific kind of insect known for moving in huge swarms and destroying crops. The use of this word stresses the destructive power of the plague.
- The word translated "rested" (נוּחַ, nuach) means to settle down or come to rest, showing that the locusts did not just pass through but stayed and caused lasting damage.
- The word for "very" (מְאֹד, me’od) is used here to intensify the description, making clear that the plague was not just bad, but extremely severe.
- The word for "grievous" (כָּבֵד, kaved) often means heavy or burdensome, underlining how unbearable and weighty the disaster was for Egypt.
Why Exodus 10:14 matters
- This verse makes clear that the locust plague was not an ordinary event, but a one-of-a-kind disaster that stood out even among the other plagues.
- By stressing the total coverage and severity, Exodus 10:14 helps the reader understand the pressure Pharaoh was under and why the plagues were so persuasive.
- The verse connects to the larger story by showing the escalating consequences of Pharaoh’s stubbornness and the power of God’s actions in freeing the Israelites.