Greek word · G200

ἀκρίς

akris

locust

Locust or grasshopper: the insect. In the Greek Old Testament it translates several Hebrew locust words ('arbeh, chagav). Elsewhere in the New Testament it is only the insect (Revelation 9:3, 7).

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀκρίς, -ίδος, ἡ

[in LXX chiefly for אַרְבֶּה, also for חָגָב, etc. ;]

a locust: Matthew 3:4, Mark 1:6, Revelation 9:3, 7.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 3:4

Range of meaning

Locust or grasshopper: the insect. In the Greek Old Testament it translates several Hebrew locust words ('arbeh, chagav). Elsewhere in the New Testament it is only the insect (Revelation 9:3, 7).

Against the English

Every major English version says 'locusts', which is correct. The confusion comes from English itself, where 'locust' also names trees: the carob ('locust bean') and the honey locust.

How it drifted

From late antiquity and the medieval period, some Christian readers thought it strange for a saint to eat insects. They proposed carob pods instead, hence the German Johannisbrot and the English 'St John's bread'. Some ancient writers made a similar move: the Ebionite gospel changed the word altogether (see textual notes).

Used elsewhere in the period

Leviticus 11:22 allows four kinds of locust as clean food. The Damascus Document from Qumran (CD 12:14–15) rules that locusts must be put into fire or water while still alive. The Mishnah (Hullin 3:7) lists the marks of a clean locust. Greek writers describe whole peoples who lived on locusts, the 'Locust-eaters' (Diodorus Siculus 3.29; Strabo 16.4.12). Assyrian palace reliefs show locusts carried on skewers to a banquet. Locusts are still eaten in parts of the Middle East and Africa.

From the study of Revelation 9:7

Range of meaning

Locust or grasshopper, especially the migratory desert locust that forms huge swarms. It was also eaten as food (Mark 1:6, John the Baptist's diet; Lev 11:22 permits it).

Against the English

'Locust' is accurate. Modern Western readers, though, rarely feel the terror a swarm meant to a farming society. One swarm could wipe out a region's harvest and bring famine.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament akris translates Hebrew ʾarbeh in Exodus 10 (the eighth plague on Egypt) and in Joel 1–2. There the locust plague becomes an invading army and a sign of the Day of the LORD. Wisdom of Solomon 16:9 recalls that people died from the bites of locusts and flies in Egypt.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 3:4 ἀκρίδες locusts

    John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

    Here: The insect. Leviticus 11:22 names certain locusts as clean food, and poor people and desert dwellers across the region ate them, roasted, dried or salted.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 1:6 ἀκρίδας locusts

    John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Revelation · 2

  1. Revelation 9:3 ἀκρίδες locusts

    And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth.

  2. Revelation 9:7 ἀκρίδων locusts [was]

    And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men.

    Here: The locusts that came out of the smoke of the abyss in 9:3. Any first hearer would think of the eighth Egyptian plague and Joel's locust army.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.