King James Bible Dictionary

A venomous insect common in the wilderness through which the children of Israel journeyed
Deuteronomy 8:15

Power over, given to the seventy
Luke 10:19

Unfit for food
Luke 11:12

Sting of, in the tail
Revelation 9:10

Figurative:

Of enemies
Ezekiel 2:6

Of cruelty
1 Kings 12:11; 1 Kings 12:14

Symbolic
Revelation 9:3; Revelation 9:5; Revelation 9:10

(Heb. 'akrab), a well known venomous insect of hot climates, shaped much like a lobster. It is usually not more than two or three inches long, but in tropical climates is sometimes six inches in length. The wilderness of Sinai is especially alluded to as being inhabited by scorpions at the time of the exodus, and to this day these animals are common in the same district, as well as in some parts of Palestine. Scorpions are generally found in dry and in dark places, under stones and in ruins. They are carnivorous in the habits, and move along in a threatening attitude, with the tail elevated. The sting, which is situated at the end of the tail, has at its base a gland that secretes a poisonous fluid, which is discharged into the wound by two minute orifices at its extremity. In hot climates the sting often occasions much suffering, and sometimes alarming symptoms. The "scorpions" of (1 Kings 12:1,14; 2 Chronicles 10:11,14) have clearly no allusion whatever to the animal, but to some instrument of scourging

unless indeed the expression is a mere figure.

SCOR'PION, noun [Latin scorpio; Gr. probably altered from the Oriental.]

1. In zoology, an insect of the genus Scorpio, or rather the genus itself, containing several species, natives of southern or warm climates. This animal has eight feet, two claws in front, eight eyes, three on each side of the thorax and two on the back, and a long jointed tail ending in a pointed weapon or sting. It is found in the south of Europe, where it seldom exceeds four inches in length. In tropical climates, it grows to a foot in length, and resembles a lobster. The sting of this animal is sometimes fatal to life.

2. In Scripture, a painful scourge; a kind of whip armed with points like a scorpion's tail. 1 Kings 12:11.

Malicious and crafty men, who delight in injuring others, are compared to scorpions. Ezekiel 2:6.

3. In astronomy, the eighth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters, Oct. 23.

4. A sea fish. [Latin scorpius.]

Water scorpion an aquatic insect of the genus Nepa.

SCOR'PION-FLY, noun An insect of the genus Panorna, having a tail which resembles that of a scorpion.

SCOR'PION-GRASS,

SCOR'PION'S TAIL, noun A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with trailing herbaceous stalks, and producing a pod resembling a caterpillar, whence it is called caterpillars.

The mouse-ear scorpion-grass is of the genus Myosotis.

Mentioned along with serpents (Deuteronomy 8:15). Used also figuratively to denote wicked persons (Ezekiel 2:6; Luke 10:19); also a particular kind of scourge or whip (1 Kings 12:11). Scorpions were a species of spider. They abounded in the Jordan valley.

SCOR'PION-SENNA, noun A plant of the genus Coronilla.

SCOR'PION'S-THORN, noun A plant of the genus Ulex.

SCOR'PION-WORT, noun A plant, the Ornithopus scorpioides.