Exodus 10 14

Exodus 10:14 kjv

And the locust 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 10:14 nkjv

And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them.

Exodus 10:14 niv

they invaded all Egypt and settled down in every area of the country in great numbers. Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.

Exodus 10:14 esv

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.

Exodus 10:14 nlt

And the locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt, settling in dense swarms from one end of the country to the other. It was the worst locust plague in Egyptian history, and there has never been another one like it.

Exodus 10 verses

Exodus 10 14 Meaning

Exodus 10:14 vividly describes the catastrophic extent of the locust plague in Egypt, emphasizing its unprecedented scale and destructive power. The swarm was so dense it obscured the very ground, casting a shadow over the land, and devoured every plant, vegetable, and fruit that had survived the preceding hailstorm. This verse underscores the total devastation inflicted, leaving absolutely no green vegetation left in all of Egypt.

Exodus 10 14 Context

Exodus chapter 10 recounts the eighth plague, the devastating swarm of locusts, against Egypt. This plague occurs after the stubbornness of Pharaoh following the plague of hail (Ex 9:23-26), which had already severely damaged crops and trees. Moses, warned by the Lord, declares that if Pharaoh continues to refuse to let Israel go, an unprecedented locust plague will consume everything that the hail had spared. Despite this clear warning and the pleas of his own officials, Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.

Historically and culturally, ancient Egypt's economy was deeply reliant on agriculture, especially the fertile lands irrigated by the Nile. Crops were central to their sustenance and wealth. Locust plagues, while known in the region, rarely reached the scale described here. Such a comprehensive infestation would equate to total economic ruin and starvation for the common people. The unprecedented nature of this plague, consuming even what the previous hail had left, signifies divine judgment tailored to showcase God's absolute control over creation, especially agriculture and fertility, which were associated with various Egyptian deities like Min (god of fertility and harvests), Renenutet (goddess of nourishment and harvest), and Isis (associated with fertility of the land). By utterly destroying their food source, YHWH directly challenges Pharaoh's perceived divine power and the efficacy of his gods to provide for or protect Egypt.

Exodus 10 14 Word analysis

• For they covered (וַיְכַסּוּ֙ - vayekhasu): Derived from the root kāsāh, meaning "to cover," "to conceal," or "to overwhelm." The Piel perfect form emphasizes a complete and intensive action. It highlights the sheer density and vast number of the locusts, indicating that they were not merely present but literally blanketed the land, hiding it from view. This denotes an oppressive, pervasive presence, not just scattered groups.
• the face of the whole earth (עֵ֣ין כָּל־הָאָ֔רֶץ - 'ein kol-ha'aretz): 'עֵין' (ayin) literally means "eye," but often figuratively refers to the "surface," "appearance," or "face" of something. Here, "face of the whole earth" powerfully conveys that the locusts were not localized but covered the entire visible surface of the land, an unbroken expanse of insects. "Whole earth" (כָּל־הָאָ֗רֶץ - kol-ha'aretz) implies every part of the land, demonstrating the universal scope of the devastation within Egypt. This indicates there was no untouched refuge from the plague.
• so that the land was darkened (וַתֶּחְשַׁ֤ךְ הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ - vattakhshakh ha'aretz): Derived from chāshakh, "to be dark." The verb form implies that the land became dark. This vivid image signifies that the swarm was so thick and dense that it blocked out the sun's light, plunging the land into a grim, oppressive gloom. This serves as a foreshadowing or preliminary aspect of the ninth plague, the physical darkness. It also visually portrays the immense scale and the psychological impact of the plague—a living, moving darkness consuming everything.
• and they did eat every herb of the land (וַיֹּאכְל֨וּ אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֤שֶׂב הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ - vayokheloo et-kol-esev ha'aretz): 'אכל' (ākhal) meaning "to eat," indicates complete consumption. 'עֵשֶׂב' (esev) refers to "grass," "herb," or any tender green plant. This specifies the general green vegetation consumed.
• and all the fruit of the trees (וְאֵת֙ כָּל־פְּרִ֣י הָעֵ֔ץ - ve'et kol-peri ha'etz): 'פְּרִ֣י' (peri) means "fruit," the product of the tree. This phrase specifically addresses the yield of the trees, encompassing both edible fruits and foliage essential for the trees' health.
• which the hail had left (אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹתִ֖יר הַבָּרָֽד - asher hotir habarad): 'הותיר' (hotir) from yāthar, "to remain," "to leave over," highlights the deliberate connection to the previous plague. It stresses that the locusts devoured the remaining vegetation, implying that the hailstorm (Ex 9:22-26) had already caused significant damage, yet this new plague ensured absolute destruction of what was spared. This indicates the escalating, targeted nature of God's judgments.
• and there remained not any green thing (וְלֹא־נוֹתַר֩ כָּל־יֶ֨רֶק - velo-notar kol-yerek): 'נוֹתַר' (notar) reinforces the idea of "nothing remaining." 'יֶרֶק' (yerek) refers to "greenness," "vegetation," or "green herb." This emphasizes the complete eradication of any and all living plant life, extending even beyond edible parts to include general green foliage. It is a powerful statement of ultimate desolation.
• in the trees, or in the herbs of the field (בָּעֵ֜ץ וּבְעֵ֤שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶה֙ - ba'etz ube'esev hassadeh): Further specifies the comprehensive nature, explicitly mentioning both trees and field herbs, leaving no category of vegetation untouched.
• through all the land of Egypt (בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם - bekhol-eretz Mitzrayim): This concluding phrase re-emphasizes the geographical totality of the devastation, affirming that no part of Egypt escaped this blight. It signifies the absolute sweep and extent of divine judgment.

Exodus 10 14 Bonus section

The scale of the locust plague described here suggests an ecological impact that would have lasted far beyond the plague's immediate duration. The stripping bare of all vegetation would lead to severe erosion, desertification, and potentially long-term disruption of the agricultural cycle, further demonstrating the completeness of divine judgment on Egypt's economy and its ability to recover. This unprecedented locust invasion can be seen as an 'un-creation' or reversal of the natural order that God established, symbolizing the chaos that results when humanity opposes divine will. This plague also functions as a powerful type of judgment against all who harden their hearts against God's command, leading to utter ruin. The repetition of "all" and "every" throughout the description further amplifies the comprehensive nature of the devastation.

Exodus 10 14 Commentary

Exodus 10:14 serves as a stark testimony to the unparalleled destructiveness of the locust plague, underscoring the severity of God's judgment against Pharaoh's persistent refusal. The language emphasizes an unprecedented scale—a total eclipse of the land by an overwhelming living tide, resulting in absolute agricultural annihilation. This specific targeting of remaining vegetation highlights a cumulative judgment, demonstrating God's meticulous and escalating power. He stripped Egypt not only of its sustenance but also directly challenged the supposed power of their deities of fertility and prosperity. The plague leaves Egypt, once a breadbasket, utterly barren, signifying that even the most abundant nation is vulnerable before the Creator. This physical darkening of the land by locusts also foreshadows the impending supernatural darkness, emphasizing that God controls both light and life. The verse is a powerful assertion of YHWH's sovereignty over nature, sustenance, and the destiny of nations.