King James Bible Dictionary

David at the cave of Adullam thus addressed his persecutor Saul (1 Samuel 24:14): "After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea?" He thus speaks of himself as the poor, contemptible object of the monarch's pursuit, a "worthy object truly for an expedition of the king of Israel with his picked troops!" This insect is in Eastern language the popular emblem of insignificance. In 1 Samuel 26:20 the LXX. read "come out to seek my life" instead of "to seek a flea."

1 Samuel 24:14
1 Samuel 26:20

an insect but twice mentioned in Scripture, viz., in (1 Samuel 24:14; 26:20) Fleas are abundant in the East, and afford the subject of many proverbial expressions.

FLEA, noun [See Flee and Fly.]

An insect of the genus Pulex. It has two eyes and six feet; the feelers are like threads; the rostrum is inflected, setaceous, and armed with a string. The flea is remarkable for its agility, leaping to a surprising distance, and its bite is very troublesome.

FLE'ABANE, noun A plant of the genus Conyza.

FLE'ABITE,

FLE'ABITING, noun

1. The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite.

2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea.

FLE'ABITTEN, adjective

1. Bitten or stung by a flea.

2. Mean; worthless; of low birth or station.

FLEAK, A lock. [See Flake.]

FLEAM, noun

In surgery and farriery, a sharp instrument used for opening veins for letting blood.

FLE'AWORT, noun A plant.