Locust photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.
Matthew 3:4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
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Locusts and wild honey? I’ve always wondered about this. I wish there were more details. John The Baptist wandered around the wilderness dressed in a garment made with camel’s hair, preaching the gospel and he ate locusts and wild honey? I’m wondering if the locusts were alive when he ate them, or if he cooked them over a fire before eating? How does one eat a locust? I’m wondering how easy it was to gather the locusts and wild honey for his meals? If you have any knowledge about this, feel free to share. It just doesn’t sound like an appetizing diet to me. I’m thinking he had other things to eat, but it appears that he may have eaten the locusts and wild honey quite frequently?
I had to Google it and I actually found a link to locust recipes!!
http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/faq/index.html
I refuse, but if you try any, you MUST share your thoughts!! LOL!!
Cindy, I will review the recipes you found and I’ll share my thoughts. My first thought is, if I were to even attempt to make these recipes, I have NO IDEA where I’d find locusts! I guess, when it warms up, I’d have to go out there and catch a batch for a recipe!! I’m glad you stopped by My Christian Fiction Blog and commented!
Cindy, I read through all the recipes and they DO NOT sound appetizing! It appears that you need to remove the head, wings and legs for most of the recipes. Readers, if you go to the link provided by Cindy, you’ll need to click on the
What About Some Locust Recipes? link near the bottom of the website.
Cecelia, this is bringing back memories of when my seventh grade class took a trip to NYC and while in the Chinatown section, we saw chocolate covered ants and bees and probably other critters for sale. Even with chocolate, we were not brave enough to try the insects. I hope I’m never desperate enough to have to eat insects for survival!
Donna Winters
http://www.greatlakesromances.com
Happy Saturday, Cecelia. I read about John surviving on locusts – I can’t say the idea appealed to me. LOL If you try any of those recipes….let me know how you liked them….after you get over the shock!
Sounds pretty much like you have to catch your own! Yuck!! I did see some other recipes, but I honestly don’t think there is anything you can do to a locust that will make me want to eat it. Oddly enough, they are one of the few insects that are kosher. But still…ewww!! 🙂
LOL – we were just discussing an insectile diet with some friends! The protein and B vitamin content is huge. I suggested deep frying, sprinkled with garlic powder and salt.
I’ve actually had these, and YUM.
The way the economy is going, we may all have to acquire a taste for the little buggers!
Helen, you’ve tasted locusts? What a brave woman you are! Cindy, I’m starting to imagine just how John the Baptist caught these critters for his meal. I’m thinking he used a net or a similiar contraption to catch these bugs and before eating he pulled off the legs, head and wings, and then he cooked them over a fire before popping them into his mouth. He washed them down with water and some honey!
Donna, I’ve heard of chocolate-covered ants. I think John the Baptist may have dipped these bugs into some honey, sweetening them up before popping them into his mouth to enjoy! Ewwww!!
Hello Cecelia, I’ve discussed this with my son, the Boy Scout/suvivor man/Bear Grylls fan. According to his expertise, the little critters would have more nutritional content if eaten raw as opposed to cooked. EEEWWW! He further claims that the bugs can’t see behind them, so they arn’t too difficult to catch with your hands. Although he’s never eaten a locust, he has just admited to shooting them with his BB gun to watch them explode. Double EEEWWW!
Hi Cecelia, According to ancient Greek, this was a mistranslation as John did not eat Locusts, but tips of plants. There are 2 words in Greek that are very similar and one means Locust’s and other word means tips of plants.
AKRIDES means the ends or tips of plants
AKREDES means locusts.
The word that has been translated as locusts in the Bible that John The Baptist was supposed to have eaten, is really AKRIDES and not AKREDES.
Also Jesus did not speak about a Camel but a thick Rope.
KAMILOS means a thick rope for boat bindings
KAMELOS means a Camel
This was a surprise to me, but the Rope makes more sense than a Camel.
Blessings
Pastor David
Cecelia,
I love honey…but locusts not so much!! LOL!!
I must admit that I’ve always wondered why Locusts (as an image) was used in the Bible quite a bit.
God Bless,
Marion