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
All flying insects that walk on all fours are detestable to you. However, you may eat the following kinds of flying insects that walk on all fours: those having jointed legs above their feet for hopping on the ground. Of these you may eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper. All other flying insects that have four legs are detestable to you.
Kinds of insect
The ant
Proverbs 6:6 See also Proverbs 30:25
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
The bee
Judges 14:8 See also Deuteronomy 1:44; Psalm 118:12; Isaiah 7:18
When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.
The flea
1 Samuel 24:14, 1 Samuel 26:20
The fly
Exodus 8:24 See also Exodus 8:21–22, Exodus 8:29–31; Psalm 78:45; Ecclesiastes 10:1; Isaiah 51:6
And the LORD did so. Thick swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials. Throughout Egypt the land was ruined by swarms of flies.
The gnat
Exodus 8:16; Matthew 23:24 See also Exodus 8:17–18; Psalm 105:31
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, that it may turn into swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt.’”
You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
The grasshopper
Isaiah 40:22 See also Numbers 13:33; 1 Kings 8:37 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:28; Psalm 105:34; Ecclesiastes 12:5; Nahum 3:15
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
The hornet
Exodus 23:28; Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12
The locust
Joel 2:25; Matthew 3:4 parallel Mark 1:6 See also Exodus 10:12–14; Psalm 78:46; Proverbs 30:27; Jeremiah 46:23
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.
John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
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
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.[’’]
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
The spider
Although not strictly an insect the spider is most conveniently included under this category: Job 8:14; Isaiah 59:5
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.