Hebrew word · H3218

יֶ֫לֶק

yelek

locust

Yeleq is one of several Hebrew words for locusts (Joel 1:4; 2:25; Nah 3:15–16; Ps 105:34). It may refer to a particular stage of growth or a particular kind; scholars disagree on which. Samar occurs only here as an adjective.

Appears 9 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) young locust (early stage of development)

1a) caterpillar (as devouring)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Jeremiah 51:27

Range of meaning

Yeleq is one of several Hebrew words for locusts (Joel 1:4; 2:25; Nah 3:15–16; Ps 105:34). It may refer to a particular stage of growth or a particular kind; scholars disagree on which. Samar occurs only here as an adjective. Its verb means 'to bristle, stand on end' (Job 4:15, hair; Ps 119:120, flesh).

Against the English

KJV has 'rough caterpillers', which is entomologically wrong but keeps 'rough'. BSB, WEB and NIV-type versions have 'swarming locusts', which conveys the numbers but drops 'bristling'. ESV and NASB keep the bristling image.

How it drifted

Early modern English translators often used 'caterpillar' or 'cankerworm' for uncertain Hebrew insect words.

Used elsewhere in the period

Comparing an army to locusts is common in the Hebrew Bible and in Mesopotamian sources (Judg 6:5; Joel 2:4–9, where locusts look like horses; Nah 3:15–17). Revelation 9:7 turns the image around: locusts 'like horses prepared for battle'.

From the study of Joel 1:4

Range of meaning

A locust term whose derivation is uncertain. HALOT tentatively links it to lqq, 'to lick', which would give 'licker'. It occurs 9 times: Joel 1:4 and 2:25 (twice each), Psalm 105:34, Jeremiah 51:14 and 51:27, Nahum 3:15–16 (three times).

Against the English

KJV has 'cankerworm', a type of caterpillar. BSB 'young locust' and ESV 'hopping locust' both assume it is a stage in the insect's growth. WEB 'grasshopper'.

How it drifted

'Cankerworm' came from the older English tradition of guessing pests. The modern 'young locust' comes from the 19th-century theory that the four names in this verse are four stages of growth. That theory is possible but unproven.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Psalm 105:34 it stands in parallel with arbeh for the Egyptian plague. Nahum 3:16 says 'the yeleq strips and flies away', which suggests it has wings. In Jeremiah 51:27 horses come up 'like bristling yeleq'. The Septuagint usually renders it brouchos, a wingless locust.

Where it appears

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 105:34 וְ֝יֶ֗לֶק and locust[s]

    He spoke, and the locusts came—young locusts without number.

Jeremiah · 2

  1. Jeremiah 51:14 כַּיֶּ֔לֶק like <the> locust

    The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself: “Surely I will fill you up with men as with locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.”

  2. Jeremiah 51:27 כְּיֶ֥לֶק like a locust

    “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.

    Here: 'Like a yeleq', one of several Hebrew locust words (compare Joel 1:4). It probably refers to a particular growth stage of the locust. The point is huge numbers and unstoppable destruction.

Joel · 3

  1. Joel 1:4 הַיָּ֑לֶק הַיֶּ֔לֶק the locust[s]

    What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.

    Here: A third locust term. Its derivation is uncertain, possibly from a root meaning 'to lick' (lapping up the green). In Nahum 3:16 the yeleq 'strips and flies away', so the word need not mean a wingless young insect.

  2. Joel 2:25 הַיֶּ֖לֶק the locust[s]

    I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.

    Here: A second locust term. Its exact zoological meaning is uncertain. Jer 51:27 calls it 'bristly,' and Nah 3:16 has it shedding its skin and flying off, which may point to a young, not-yet-winged stage.

Nahum · 3

  1. Nahum 3:15 כַּיָּ֑לֶק כַּיֶּ֔לֶק like the locust

    There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust!

  2. Nahum 3:16 יֶ֥לֶק a locust

    You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away.

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