Easton's Bible Dictionary Hebrews `ash, from a root meaning "to fall away," as moth-eaten garments fall to pieces (Job 4:19; 13:28; Isaiah 50:9; 51:8; Hosea 5:12). Gr. ses, thus rendered in Matthew 6:19, 20; Luke 12:33. Allusion is thus made to the destruction of clothing by the larvae of the clothes-moth. This is the only lepidopterous insect referred to in Scripture. Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A mote. 2. (n.) Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth. 3. (n.) Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. 4. (n.) Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvae of several species of beetles of the genera Dermestes and Anthrenus. Carpet moths are often the larvae of Anthrenus. See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus. 5. (n.) Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastes any other thing. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MOTH moth (`ash; compare Arabic `uththat, "moth"; colloquial, `itt; cac, "worm" (Isaiah 51:8); compare Arabic sus, "worm," especially an insect larva in flesh, wood or grain; ses, "moth" (Matthew 6:19, 20 Luke 12:33); setobrotos, "moth-eaten" (James 5:2)): The moths constitute the larger division of the order Lepidoptera. Two of the points by which they are distinguished from butterflies are that they are generally nocturnal and that their antennae are not club-shaped. Further, the larva in many cases spins a cocoon for the protection of the pupa or chrysalis, which is never the case with butterflies. The Biblical references are to the clothes-moth, i.e. various species of the genus Tinea, tiny insects which lay their eggs in woolen clothes, upon which the larvae later feed. As the larva feeds it makes a cocoon of its silk together with fibers of the cloth on which it is feeding, so that the color of the cocoon depends upon the color of the fabric. The adult is only indirectly harmful, as it is only in the larval stage that the insect injures clothing. Therefore in Isaiah 51:8, "For the moth (`ash) shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm (cac) shall eat them like wool," both words must refer to the larva, the distich demanding such a word as cac to balance `ash in the first half. The word "moth" occurs 7 times in the Old Testament, in Job, Psalms, Isaiah and Hosea, always in figurative expressions, typifying either that which is destructive (Job 13:28 Psalm 39:11 Isaiah 50:9; Isaiah 51:8 Hosea 5:12) or that which is frail (Job 4:19; Job 27:18). See INSECTS. Alfred Ely Day

Multi-Version Concordance Moth (10 Occurrences) Matthew 6:19 "Don't lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don't break through and steal; (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Luke 12:33 Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don't grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn't fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Job 4:19 How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth! (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Job 13:28 though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Job 27:18 He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV) Psalms 39:11 When you rebuke and correct man for iniquity, You consume his wealth like a moth. Surely every man is but a breath." Selah. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 50:9 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 51:8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation to all generations." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hosea 5:12 Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)