Bible Dictionary: Moth

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Moth

By the Hebrew word we are certainly to understand some species of clothes-moth (tinea). Reference to the destructive habits of the clothes-moth is made in (Job 4:19; 13:28; Psalms 39:11) etc. (The moth is a well-known insect which in its caterpillar state is very destructive to woollen clothing, furs, etc. The egg of the moth, being deposited on the fur or cloth, produces a very small shining insect, which immediately forms a house for itself by cuttings from the cloth. It east away the nap, and finally ruins the fabric. There are more than 1500 species of moths. --McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia.)

ATS Bible Dictionary

Moth

The common moth is an insect destructive to woolen cloths. The egg is laid by a small shining worm; which by another transformation becomes a miller. Allusions to the moth, as devouring clothes, and as a frail and feeble insect, are frequent in Scripture, Job 4:19 13:28 27:18 Isaiah 50:9 Hosea 5:12 Matthew 6:19,20. See GARMENTS.

The insects called in general moths, of which the above is only one species, are exceedingly numerous. The main genus is called by naturalists Phaloena, and contains more than fifteen hundred species. Moths fly abroad only in the evening and night; differing in this respect from the tribe of butterflies that fly only by day. Their larva, or the worms from which they spring, are active, and quick in motion, mostly smooth, and prey voraciously on the food adapted to them; the common moth on cloths, others on furs, the leaves of plants, etc.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Hebrews `ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall to pieces (Job 4:19; 13:28; Isaiah 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12).

Gr. ses, thus rendered in Matthew 6:19, 20; Luke 12:33. Allusion is thus made to the destruction of clothing by the larvae of the clothes-moth. This is the only lepidopterous insect referred to in Scripture.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A mote.

2. (n.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.

3. (n.) Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth.

4. (n.) Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvae of several species of beetles of the genera Dermestes and Anthrenus. Carpet moths are often the larvae of Anthrenus. See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus.

5. (n.) Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MOTH

moth (`ash; compare Arabic `uththat, "moth"; colloquial, `itt; cac, "worm" (Isaiah 51:8); compare Arabic sus, "worm," especially an insect larva in flesh, wood or grain; ses, "moth" (Matthew 6:19, 20 Luke 12:33); setobrotos, "moth-eaten" (James 5:2)):

The moths constitute the larger division of the order Lepidoptera. Two of the points by which they are distinguished from butterflies are that they are generally nocturnal and that their antennae are not club-shaped. Further, the larva in many cases spins a cocoon for the protection of the pupa or chrysalis, which is never the case with butterflies. The Biblical references are to the clothes-moth, i.e. various species of the genus Tinea, tiny insects which lay their eggs in woolen clothes, upon which the larvae later feed. As the larva feeds it makes a cocoon of its silk together with fibers of the cloth on which it is feeding, so that the color of the cocoon depends upon the color of the fabric. The adult is only indirectly harmful, as it is only in the larval stage that the insect injures clothing. Therefore in Isaiah 51:8, "For the moth (`ash) shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm (cac) shall eat them like wool," both words must refer to the larva, the distich demanding such a word as cac to balance `ash in the first half. The word "moth" occurs 7 times in the Old Testament, in Job, Psalms, Isaiah and Hosea, always in figurative expressions, typifying either that which is destructive (Job 13:28 Psalm 39:11 Isaiah 50:9; Isaiah 51:8 Hosea 5:12) or that which is frail (Job 4:19; Job 27:18).

See INSECTS.

Alfred Ely Day

Greek

4597. ses -- a moth
... 4596, 4597. ses. 4598 . a moth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
ses Phonetic Spelling: (sace) Short Definition: a moth Definition: a moth. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4597.htm - 6k

4598. setobrotos -- moth-eaten
... moth-eaten. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: setobrotos Phonetic Spelling:
(say-tob'-ro-tos) Short Definition: moth-eaten Definition: moth-eaten. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4598.htm - 6k

5095. Timotheos -- Timothy, a Christian
... Timothy, a Christian. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Timotheos
Phonetic Spelling: (tee-moth'-eh-os) Short Definition: Timothy Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5095.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6211. ash -- a moth
... 6210, 6211. ash. 6212 . a moth. Transliteration: ash Phonetic Spelling:
(awsh) Short Definition: moth. Word Origin from ashesh Definition ...
/hebrew/6211.htm - 6k

5580. sas -- a moth
... a moth. Transliteration: sas Phonetic Spelling: (sawce) Short Definition: grub.
Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a moth NASB Word Usage grub (1). ...
/hebrew/5580.htm - 5k

4193. moth -- death.
... 4192, 4193. moth. 4194 . death. Transliteration: moth Phonetic Spelling:
(mohth) Short Definition: death. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/4193.htm - 5k

1120. Bamoth -- "high place," a place in Moab
... 1119, 1120. Bamoth. 1121 . "high place," a place in Moab. Transliteration:
Bamoth Phonetic Spelling: (baw-moth') Short Definition: Bamoth. ...
/hebrew/1120.htm - 6k

2454. chokmoth -- wisdom, every wise woman
... 2453, 2454. chokmoth. 2455 . wisdom, every wise woman. Transliteration: chokmoth
Phonetic Spelling: (khok-moth') Short Definition: wisdom. ...
/hebrew/2454.htm - 5k

7433. Ramoth Gilad -- a city East of the Jordan
... a city East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Ramoth Gilad or Ramoth Gilad Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-moth') Short Definition: Ramoth-gilead. ...
/hebrew/7433.htm - 6k

7216. Ramoth -- "heights," the name of several cities in Isr.
... "heights," the name of several cities in Isr. Transliteration: Ramoth or Ramoth
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-moth') Short Definition: Ramoth. ...
/hebrew/7216.htm - 6k

8070. Shemiramoth -- probably "name of heights," two Levites
... Shemiramoth. 8071 . probably "name of heights," two Levites. Transliteration:
Shemiramoth Phonetic Spelling: (shem-ee-raw-moth') Short Definition: Shemiramoth ...
/hebrew/8070.htm - 6k

1181. baale bamoth -- lords of (the) high places
... 1180, 1181. baale bamoth. 1182 . lords of (the) high places. Transliteration:
baale bamoth Phonetic Spelling: (bah-al-ay' baw-moth') Short Definition: heights ...
/hebrew/1181.htm - 6k

1020. Beth Hayshimoth -- "place of the desert," a place East of ...
... "place of the desert," a place East of the Jordan in Moab. Transliteration: Beth
Hayshimoth Phonetic Spelling: (bayth hah-yesh-ee-moth') Short Definition: Beth ...
/hebrew/1020.htm - 6k

Library

The Heart with the Treasure.
... THE HEART WITH THE TREASURE. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the heart with the treasure.htm

As in a Race Saw I the Disputers, the Children of Strife, [Trying] ...
... [551] Accursed disputation, that hidden moth, is from the Greeks. ... From that
garment the moth gendered and wound it up and deposited it. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn vii as in a.htm

The Disciples as Scribes.
... own treasure-house"in heaven, in which he stores his treasure as one who has been
made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven,"where neither moth doth consume ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/14 the disciples as scribes.htm

The Holy Spirit is that Large River by which the Mystical ...
... us, Lord Jesus, teach us as Thou didst teach Thine apostles, saying: "Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where rust and moth destroy, and ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi the holy spirit.htm

What Christ Himself Taught.
... Lay not up for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where robbers break through; but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xv what christ himself taught.htm

Hearts and Treasures
... He had just said, 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.' These are very ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/hearts and treasures.htm

Matt. vi. 16
... For after He had said, "Lay not up treasures upon the earth," He added, "where moth
and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.". ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xx matt vi 16.htm

The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of Many Kinds, but ...
... From some he received the branches withered and moth-eaten; those who returned branches
in that state the angel of the Lord ordered to stand apart. ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude eighth the sins of.htm

Christian Devotedness, Etc.
... "Lay not up for yourselves" says our Saviour, in his Sermon on the Mount, "treasures
upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break ...
/.../groves/christian devotedness/christian devotedness etc.htm

Seeketh not Her Own. 1 Corinthians 13:5.
... So, where our Savior says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/seeketh not her own 1.htm

Thesaurus

Moth (10 Occurrences)
... Hebrews `ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall
to pieces (Job 4:19; 13:28; Isaiah 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12). Gr. ...
/m/moth.htm - 13k

Moth-eaten (2 Occurrences)
Moth-eaten. Motheaten, Moth-eaten. Mother . Multi-Version Concordance
Moth-eaten (2 Occurrences). James 5:2 Your riches ...
/m/moth-eaten.htm - 6k

Moth's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Moth's (1 Occurrence). Job 27:18 He buildeth his house
as a moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh. (See NIV). ...
/m/moth's.htm - 6k

Ahi'moth (1 Occurrence)
Ahi'moth. Ahimoth, Ahi'moth. Ahinadab . Multi-Version Concordance
Ahi'moth (1 Occurrence). 1 Chronicles 6:25 And the ...
/a/ahi'moth.htm - 6k

Shelo'moth (5 Occurrences)
Shelo'moth. Shelomoth, Shelo'moth. Shelter . Multi-Version
Concordance Shelo'moth (5 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 23:9 ...
/s/shelo'moth.htm - 7k

Ra'moth-gil'ead (1 Occurrence)
Ra'moth-gil'ead. Ramoth-gilead, Ra'moth-gil'ead. Ramp .
Multi-Version Concordance Ra'moth-gil'ead (1 Occurrence). 1 ...
/r/ra'moth-gil'ead.htm - 6k

Ba'moth-ba'al (1 Occurrence)
Ba'moth-ba'al. Bamoth-ba'al, Ba'moth-ba'al. Ban . Multi-Version
Concordance Ba'moth-ba'al (1 Occurrence). Joshua 13:17 ...
/b/ba'moth-ba'al.htm - 6k

Ham'moth-dor (1 Occurrence)
Ham'moth-dor. Hammoth-dor, Ham'moth-dor. Hammuel . Multi-Version
Concordance Ham'moth-dor (1 Occurrence). Joshua 21:32 ...
/h/ham'moth-dor.htm - 6k

Coral (3 Occurrences)
... CORAL. kor'-al (ra'moth, peninim): The red coral or precious coral, Corallium
rubrum, is confined to the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. ...
/c/coral.htm - 12k

Shelomoth (5 Occurrences)
... SHELOMOTH. she-lo'-moth, shel'-o-moth, -moth (shelomoth): (1) An Izharite (1 Chronicles
24:22, Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus Salomoth; Lucian, Salomith ...
/s/shelomoth.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Moth (10 Occurrences)

Matthew 6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 4:19 How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 13:28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 27:18 He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Psalms 39:11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." Selah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 50:9 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 51:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation to all generations."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 5:12 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Moth

Moth: An Insect

Moth: Destructive of Garments

Moth: Figurative

The Moth of God in the Execution of his Judgments

The Moth: (Eating a Garment) of God's Judgments

The Moth: (Garments Eaten By) of Those Who Have Suffered Severe

The Moth: (Making Its House in Garments) of Man's Folly in Providing

The Moth: Destroyed by the Slightest Touch

The Moth: Destructive to Garments