gnat

gnat

A nonspecific term referring to gnats, lice, mosquitoes, or sand flies. It probably includes all such blood-sucking, two-winged insects. In (Exod 8:16-18) gnats are the third plague upon the Egyptians. In (Matt 23:24) scribes and Pharisees are charged with straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel, that is, paying close scrutiny to details of certain requirements while neglecting the ethical demands of justice, mercy, and faith.

Exod 8:16-18

The Third Plague: Gnats
16Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats thro ... View more

Matt 23:24

24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

HarperCollins Dictionary

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