Exodus 10:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The grace of God has even touched the locusts. Initially, these creatures swarm in great numbers across the land without causing harm to homes or destroying fruit with aggression until they are given permission to act. As noted in the Book of Exodus, they serve as instruments of divine justice, responding to offenses against heaven.

The mention of locusts appears eighth in the sequence. Some interpret this form of judgment as a reflection of the instability found within a divided and combative humanity. Additionally, locusts may symbolize the transient nature of the soul, which flits and jumps among the fleeting desires of the present age.

Locusts have been present in Egypt since ancient times and remain known there today, although their occurrence is less frequent compared to Syria and Asia Minor. As we will explore further, their appearance aligns perfectly with their typical patterns of movement. They consistently travel with the wind, swept away by its force. The author of these observations personally witnessed how vast swarms of locusts, which had laid eggs repeatedly over several years in the northern Caucasus steppes and devastated agricultural lands, were carried by a strong westerly wind to the Caspian Sea, where they ultimately met their end. Their remains were cast up by the sea for many miles, causing a foul odor to fill the air. (See verses 13-19).