Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4600 Living beings  »  4660 insects

A wide variety of insects are mentioned in Scripture. Some are useful in the provision of food, while others are viciously destructive. Their behaviour is used figuratively in the poetic and prophetic literature.

Regulations concerning insects as food

Leviticus 11:20-23 See also Deuteronomy 14:19

Kinds of insect

The ant

Proverbs 6:6 See also Proverbs 30:25

The bee

Judges 14:8 See also Deuteronomy 1:44; Psalm 118:12; Isaiah 7:18

The flea

1 Samuel 24:14; Samuel 26:20

The fly

Exodus 8:24 See also Exodus 8:21-22,29-31; Psalm 78:45; Ecclesiastes 10:1; Isaiah 51:6

The gnat

Exodus 8:16; Matthew 23:24 See also Exodus 8:17-18; Psalm 105:31

The grasshopper

Isaiah 40:22 See also Numbers 13:33; 1 Kings 8:37 pp 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalm 105:34; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Nahum 3:15

The hornet

Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12

The locust

Joel 2:25; Matthew 3:4 pp Mark 1:6 See also Exodus 10:12-14; Psalm 78:46; Proverbs 30:27; Jeremiah 46:23

The moth

Job 13:28; Matthew 6:19-20 See also Job 4:19; Job 27:18; Psalm 39:11; Isaiah 50:9; Isaiah 51:8; Hosea 5:12; Luke 12:33; James 5:2

The spider

Although not strictly an insect the spider is most conveniently included under this category:

Job 8:14; Isaiah 59:5

See also

4404  food
4669  locust
4690  wings
4843  plague