Lexical Summary chargol: Locust Original Word: חָרְגֹּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance beetle From charag; the leaping insect, i.e. A locust -- beetle. see HEBREW charag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition (a kind of) locust NASB Translation cricket (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַרְגֹּל noun [masculine] a kind of locust (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic  , חַרְגּוֺלָא;  (Dozy), all = locust;  swarm of locusts (Frey)) — only Leviticus 11:22 (P) in list of edible insects, "" אַרְבֶּה, סָלְעָם, חָגָב. Topical Lexicon Identification and Description Chargol designates a leaping, chirping member of the Orthoptera—rendered “cricket” in the Berean Standard Bible—recognized by its jointed hind legs that enable powerful jumps. Found across the Levant, these insects emerge in great numbers after the spring rains, making them an easily harvested, protein-rich food. Biblical Occurrence Leviticus 11:22 places chargol among the four winged insects Israel was expressly permitted to eat: “Of these you may eat the following: the locust according to its kind, the katydid according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind.” Though its name appears only once, its presence in the dietary code anchors several wider themes. Context in the Mosaic Dietary Code The surrounding verses draw a sharp line between most flying “creeping things” (unclean) and a small group of “hoppers” (clean). The distinction is both practical—offering a readily available food in a subsistence economy—and pedagogical, training Israel to discern between holy and common in everyday life (Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 11:47). Historical and Cultural Background Archaeological finds and classical writers confirm that crickets and related insects were routinely collected, parched, salted, and even pressed into cakes. Rabbinic sources (Mishnah Hullin 3:7) continue to treat the cricket as permissible, detailing inspection of leg joints to ensure proper identification. Such care reflects the enduring weight given to the Torah’s categories. Theological Significance 1. Provision: Chargol exemplifies God’s ingenuity in supplying nourishment through humble means, inviting gratitude rather than contempt for “small” gifts (Deuteronomy 8:3). Intertestamental and Rabbinic Reflection Second Temple literature preserved chargol’s clean status. Debate centered on precise species, not on permissibility. Josephus remarks that the Law “permits locusts of every kind” (Antiquities 3.276), implying that the cricket, as a locust-type, remained accepted. Such continuity underscores the Law’s stability across centuries. Echoes in the New Testament John the Baptist’s fare of “locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4) continues the Levitical allowance, displaying prophetic simplicity and covenant fidelity. Peter’s rooftop vision (Acts 10) later universalizes cleanness, yet the earlier category of chargol illustrates how God had already shown mercy within the Law’s framework, foreshadowing the fuller cleansing in Christ. Ministry Applications • Teaching on chargol clarifies the moral-ceremonial distinction, aiding believers to handle Old Testament law responsibly (2 Timothy 2:15). Summary Strong’s 2728, chargol, though a single-occurrence term, contributes richly to biblical theology. It testifies to God’s detailed care, instructs in holiness, and anticipates the comprehensive purity achieved through Christ—all while reminding modern readers that every word of Scripture, even one naming a cricket, is purposeful and edifying. Forms and Transliterations הַחַרְגֹּ֣ל החרגל ha·ḥar·gōl hacharGol haḥargōlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 11:22 HEB: לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וְאֶת־ הַחַרְגֹּ֣ל לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וְאֶת־ NAS: in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds, KJV: after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, INT: and the devastating kinds and the cricket kinds and the grasshopper 1 Occurrence |
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