1357. geb
Lexical Summary
geb: Cistern, pit, reservoir

Original Word: גֵּב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: geb
Pronunciation: ghev
Phonetic Spelling: (gabe)
KJV: locust
Word Origin: [probably from H1461 (גּוּב - Pit)]

1. a locust (from its cutting)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
locust

Probably from guwb (compare gowb); a locust (from its cutting) -- locust.

see HEBREW guwb

see HEBREW gowb

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
see gebeh.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [גֵּב] locust, see below גבה.

I. [גֵּב] noun [masculine] locust (name from swarm, collection, Ethiopic compare also Ethiopic locust √ = Arabic scaturivit, manavit), only plural גֵּבִים Isaiah 33:4 (in simile of leaping). — גֵּב II, III, see below גוב.

Topical Lexicon
Biblical Occurrence

Isaiah 33:4: “Your spoil will be gathered as if by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men will pounce on it.” The word paints a picture of an overwhelming, voracious mass descending suddenly upon plunder—an image of swift, inescapable judgment.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern agrarian societies dreaded locust swarms that could strip every green thing (Exodus 10:15). Isaiah draws on that shared fear: as locusts darkened skies and leveled fields, so the spoil of the proud invader would disappear in moments. The metaphor stresses uncontrollable force, collective momentum, and total devastation.

Prophetic Emphasis in Isaiah 33

1. Reversal: The oppressor who had “plundered” (Isaiah 33:1) becomes the plundered.
2. Totality: Nothing remains untaken, just as locusts leave nothing uneaten.
3. Divine agency: The Lord summons the swarm; human boasting collapses under His decree.

Thematic Links Across Scripture

Exodus 10:12-19 – God unleashes locusts on Egypt, foreshadowing later judgments on tyrants.
Joel 1:4; 2:25 – Locust waves symbolize successive armies and call to repentance with promise of restoration.
Proverbs 30:27 – Locusts, though leaderless, advance in unified ranks; collective power without visible command reflects God’s hidden sovereignty.
Revelation 9:3-11 – Apocalyptic locusts show the enduring, eschatological relevance of the motif.

Spiritual and Ministry Application

• False security is fragile; wealth or power amassed apart from God can vanish “as if by locusts” (compare Luke 12:20).
• Justice belongs to God; He can overturn oppression instantly (Romans 12:19).
• Urgency of repentance; divine judgment may descend without warning (Isaiah 55:6-7).
• Stewardship over possession; believers ought to hold riches loosely, ready to use them for God’s purposes (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Christological and Eschatological Outlook

The verse precedes Isaiah’s vision of the righteous King whose reign brings stability (Isaiah 33:17-24). The swarm that devours earthly spoil anticipates the final reckoning when human pride is consumed and only what is grounded in the Messiah endures (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Forms and Transliterations
גֵּבִ֖ים גבים
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Isaiah 33:4
HEB: הֶֽחָסִ֑יל כְּמַשַּׁ֥ק גֵּבִ֖ים שׁוֹקֵ֥ק בּֽוֹ׃
KJV: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run
INT: the caterpillar rushing of locusts rush

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 1357
1 Occurrence


gê·ḇîm — 1 Occ.

1356b
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