Psalm 78:46 kjv
He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
Psalm 78:46 nkjv
He also gave their crops to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
Psalm 78:46 niv
He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their produce to the locust.
Psalm 78:46 esv
He gave their crops to the destroying locust and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
Psalm 78:46 nlt
He gave their crops to caterpillars;
their harvest was consumed by locusts.
Psalm 78 46 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 10:1-6 | "Locusts will come and cover the face...devour...all you have left." | Direct account of the locust plague in Egypt. |
| Exod 10:12-15 | "I will bring locusts upon your country...eat every green thing..." | Moses' action under God's command regarding the locusts. |
| Psa 105:34-35 | "He spoke, and the locusts came, swarms of them...ate up all the vegetation..." | Parallel account of the plague, explicitly linking God's command to the locusts. |
| Joel 1:4 | "What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten..." | Prophetic lament describing devastation by various locust types. |
| Joel 2:25 | "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..." | God's promise of restoration after locust plagues, showing His control. |
| Deut 28:38 | "You will sow much seed in the field but gather little...locusts will devour it." | Locusts as a curse for disobedience in the promised land. |
| Deut 28:42 | "Swarms of insects will take possession of all your trees and crops." | A specific curse for disloyalty, parallel to Psa 78:46's judgment. |
| Lev 26:16 | "...I will afflict you with wasting disease...you will sow your seed in vain..." | Curse of crops failure and famine for not keeping commandments. |
| Amos 4:9 | "I struck you with blight and mildew; locusts devoured your many gardens..." | God's direct judgment using agricultural scourges against Israel. |
| Hag 2:17 | "I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail..." | Divine punishment causing unproductive labor due to disobedience. |
| Hag 1:6 | "You have sown much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough..." | Toil without gain due to God's withholding, similar outcome as locusts. |
| Mal 3:11 | "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops..." | Promise to rebuke devourers (like locusts) for faithfulness in tithes. |
| Psa 78:45 | "He sent swarms of flies...and frogs..." | Preceding verse in Psa 78 listing other plagues directed by God. |
| Exod 7:4-5 | "...I will lay My hand on Egypt...show My signs and wonders..." | God's purpose in the plagues: demonstrating His power to Pharaoh. |
| Rom 9:17 | "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show My power in you..." | Echo of God raising Pharaoh to display His power, linked to plagues. |
| Heb 12:29 | "For our 'God is a consuming fire.'" | Emphasizes God's judgment and severity against disobedience. |
| Matt 6:19-20 | "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy..." | Transitory nature of earthly possessions, echoes destruction by pests. |
| Prov 6:6-8 | "Go to the ant...consider its ways and be wise...stores its provisions in summer." | Importance of labor and diligence, implicitly valuing the fruits of labor. |
| Jer 5:17 | "...they will devour your harvests and your food; they will devour your sons..." | Broader judgment by an enemy akin to devouring insects. |
| Nah 3:15 | "There the fire will devour you...the sword will cut you off...like the devouring locust." | Comparing an enemy's destructive power to that of locusts. |
| Rev 9:3-4 | "And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power..." | Symbolic use of locusts in Revelation to represent a divine judgment. |
| Exod 8:16-19 | (Plea of Egyptian magicians: "This is the finger of God.") | Recognition of divine power by Pharaoh's magicians after lice plague. |
| Isa 5:10 | "Ten acres of vineyard will produce only one bath of wine; a homer of seed only a half ephah of grain." | Agricultural scarcity and judgment resulting from God's hand. |
Psalm 78 verses
Psalm 78 46 Meaning
Psalm 78:46 describes God's specific judgment upon the Egyptians during the Exodus plagues. It vividly portrays how God orchestrated the complete devastation of their agricultural output. The verse highlights the divine agency, asserting that God "gave" their produce and labor's fruits over to destructive locusts. This act rendered futile all their farming efforts, serving as a powerful demonstration of His sovereignty over creation and an economic judgment.
Psalm 78 46 Context
Psalm 78 is a "Maskil," a didactic poem authored by Asaph, intended to instruct and admonish the people of Israel by recounting their history with God. It primarily functions as a lengthy historical review, chronicling God's faithfulness despite Israel's persistent rebellion, idolatry, and forgetfulness from the Exodus to the time of David. Verse 46 falls within the section describing the plagues inflicted upon Egypt (verses 43-51), which serve as foundational demonstrations of God's immense power, righteous judgment, and His superiority over false gods. The immediate preceding verses recount other plagues like flies, frogs, and hailstones. The ultimate purpose of recounting these divine acts against Egypt, within the broader Psalm, is to highlight God's justice and warning for Israel not to repeat the mistakes of the past, underscoring the severe consequences of disobedience.
Psalm 78 46 Word analysis
He gave: Hebrew: יִתֵּן (yitten). The verb indicates active, intentional bestowal or assignment. This isn't merely a passive allowing of a natural disaster but a direct, deliberate action by God. It emphasizes His sovereign control over all creation, even over natural phenomena usually perceived as destructive forces. God orchestrates these events.
their crops: Hebrew: יְבוּלָם (y'vulâm), from יְבוּל (y'vul). Refers to agricultural produce, harvest, the fruit of the earth. It represents the very sustenance and economic foundation of ancient societies. The destruction of "crops" implied economic collapse and potential starvation.
to the grasshopper: Hebrew: לֶחָסִיל (l'chasill). Chasill is often identified as a type of locust, possibly the "cutting locust" or "devouring locust." This term might specify a particular voracious species or a stage of locust that completely devours all growth. Its inclusion alongside arbeh (locust) emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction.
their toil: Hebrew: יְגִיעָם (y'gia'am), from יְגִיעַ (y'gia'). Denotes the product or fruit of hard labor, strenuous effort, and industry. It speaks to the investment of time, energy, and resources into agricultural pursuits. This phrase underlines that not only the yield but also the very effort exerted was rendered meaningless.
to the locust: Hebrew: לָאַרְבֶּה (l'arbeh). Arbeh is the most common and generic Hebrew term for "locust" or "swarm." This indicates a massive infestation, a "swarm" that acts as an army. Its presence alongside chasill reinforces the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the devastation. The use of two different terms for locusts (or different stages/types) paints a picture of absolute and total consumption of every green thing.
"He gave their crops to the grasshopper, their toil to the locust." This structure highlights divine agency and parallel destruction. The active voice ("He gave") unmistakably points to God's direct intervention. The parallelism between "crops to the grasshopper" and "toil to the locust" uses synonymous words for both the produce and the pest, creating a poetic emphasis on the totality of loss. It means that both the harvested goods and the hard-earned fruits of labor were annihilated by swarms of these pests, making all human effort vain. This powerfully conveys the futility of human striving when under divine judgment, as God can effortlessly dismantle the very foundations of their prosperity. This particular plague serves as a vivid illustration of God's absolute power over life, livelihood, and the natural world, in direct opposition to the limited power of Egyptian deities associated with fertility and agriculture.
Psalm 78 46 Bonus section
The plagues recounted in Psalm 78, including the locust plague, directly challenged the Egyptian pantheon. Specific deities, such as Min (god of fertility, crops) or Renenutet (goddess of harvest and fortune), would have been seen as protectors of Egyptian agriculture. The locust plague, divinely sent and perfectly executed, not only destroyed the physical land but also demonstrated the utter helplessness of these pagan deities, highlighting the singular omnipotence of the God of Israel. This narrative reinforced monotheism and the exclusive power of YHWH for the ancient Hebrews. Furthermore, the selection of specific plagues in Psalm 78 is not exhaustive but appears chosen to underscore God's decisive interventions in history for His people, particularly His judgment against oppressors and His long-suffering with Israel. This verse, therefore, carries a polemical thrust against polytheism and serves as a powerful theological statement about God's just wrath.
Psalm 78 46 Commentary
Psalm 78:46 encapsulates a pivotal moment from the plagues upon Egypt, serving as a didactic reminder of God's unmatched sovereignty and judicial authority. This concise statement asserts that God Himself orchestrated the ruin of Egypt's agricultural wealth, not merely allowing a natural phenomenon but actively directing it. The employment of "grasshopper" (chasill) and "locust" (arbeh), possibly distinct types or stages of these devastating insects, underscores the plague's comprehensive nature—nothing was left undevoured. By consuming both "crops" (the actual harvest) and "toil" (the potential outcome and effort invested), God invalidated the entirety of the Egyptians' agricultural endeavors. This profound economic blow not only crippled their nation but also humiliated their gods, demonstrating YHWH's absolute control over fertility, weather, and life, rendering impotent any competing divine claims. For the ancient Israelites, this served as a stark warning: God's power to both sustain and destroy is absolute, and disobedience, even by His own people, would inevitably invite similar desolation. It powerfully communicates that ultimate provision and devastation are in God's hands.