סׇלְעָם
𐤎𐤋𐤏𐤌
çolʻâm
H5556 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A specific type of locust characterized by its destructive, consuming behavior. While the precise species is uncertain, it refers to a particular swarming, devouring insect commonly associated with devastation of crops in ancient Israelite contexts. The term emphasizes the damaging effect—crushing or grinding—of the locust on vegetation. Its use in biblical texts often connotes a scourge or instrument of agricultural disaster.
Semantic Range
a type of locust distinguished by destructive, crushing behavior; bald locust; swarming consuming locust; agent of agricultural devastation
Root / Etymology
The word סׇלְעָם ('ṣolʿām') is derived from the root סלע (s-l-ʿ), which means 'rock' or 'crag.' However, in this nominal formation, the connection is not to physical rock but rather to the sense of forceful impact or crushing—a metaphor for the destructiveness of the locust. The morphological construction may reflect the participial or substantive noun indicating a characteristic, in this case, the destructive habit. The root סלע itself primarily denotes solidity, hardness, and sometimes danger, appropriated here in a figurative way to describe the locust's voraciousness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סׇלְעָם is mentioned among other locust types in Leviticus 11:22, a catalogue establishing which insects are permitted for consumption. In this context, it is a technical term for a particular kind of locust known for boldness and destructive swarm behavior, rather than an individual entomological species as understood by modern zoology. The Septuagint and Vulgate attempted equivalencies (e.g., 'bald locust'), but the precise identification is debated among scholars. Later rabbinic literature tried to link biblical terms to observable locust varieties, though this was often speculative. Unlike the generic אַרְבֶּה ('arbeh,' the most common term for locust), סׇלְעָם situates itself among named species with a focus on consuming habits. The English translation 'bald locust' likely arises from efforts to distinguish its appearance among other locust types, but the primary biblical association is with its destructive power. There is little evidence this term persisted in post-biblical usage or outside of priestly texts. Most English versions provide a gloss rather than a precise entomological classification.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from the same as סֶלַע in the sense of crushing as with a rock, i.e. consuming; a kind of locust (from its destructiveness); bald locust.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סלע (s-l-ʿ) — rock, crag, to split, to crush
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5556-01 |
הַ/סָּלְעָ֖ם | hasaleam | HTd/Ncmsa |
the bald locust | the crushing locust | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5556-01 |
Leviticus 11:22 | הַ/סָּלְעָ֖ם | hasaleam | HTd/Ncmsa |
the bald locust | the crushing locust |