Proverbs 30:27

27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;

Proverbs 30:27 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
English Standard Version (ESV)
27 the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;
New Living Translation (NLT)
27 Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation.
The Message Bible (MSG)
27 locusts - leaderless insects, yet they strip the field like an army regiment;
American Standard Version (ASV)
27 The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
27 Locusts have no king, yet all of them divide into swarms by instinct.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
27 locusts have no king, yet all of them march in ranks;
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
27 The third are locusts. They don't have a king. But they all march forward in ranks.

Proverbs 30:27 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 30:27

The locusts have no king
These are small creatures also, yet very devouring ones; and consume the fruits of the earth, wherever they come and light; see ( Exodus 10:13-15 ) ; they are very numerous, and move in large bodies, and yet with great regularity and order; which shows the wisdom there is in them by natural instinct, though they have no king to command, guide, and direct them: in this the mystical locusts differ from them, who have a king, whose name is Abaddon, ( Revelation 9:11 ) ; yet they go forth all of them by bands;
the Targum is,

``they are all gathered together as one.''
They get together in one place; they associate and join themselves in bands, and keep together, though they have no ruler over them; an emblem of unity, concord, and harmony, let the form of government be what it will, as the best security to a people: and these creatures, when they move from place to place, they move in a body, in a very regular manner; "in precise order" F21, as the words may be rendered, with great exactness, everyone in his proper place, all in rank and file; and though they have no general to marshal them, yet are in, and march in as good order as the most regular army does. So the Arabic version,
``yet in their army, their affairs and manner are in a beautiful disposition;''
indeed they are God's army, as they are called, ( Joel 2:25 ) ; and it is he that gives them their wisdom, instructions, directions, and commission. It is rendered by some, "everyone cutting"; that is, as Kimchi F23 interprets it, cutting the green grass and trees; or, "every one dividing" F24; that is, to himself, the prey or spoils, as kings do; see ( Isaiah 33:4 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

F21 Vid. Hilier. Onomastic. Sacr. p. 187.
F23 Sepher Shorash. rad. (Uux) ; so Stockius, p. 377. "exeidens omnia, herbas, scil. et fruges", Schindler. col. 633. so Ben Melech.
F24 (wlk Uux) "unaquaeque sibi dividens", Bochart; so Schultens.

Proverbs 30:27 In-Context

25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:

Cross References 1

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