Bible Dictionaries
Gnat

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A small winged stinging insect, a mosquito, spoken of in the proverbial expression, Matthew 23:24 , "Ye strain at a gnat, and swallow in a camel," which should read, as it did in the first English translations, "Ye strain out a gnat," etc. The expression alludes to the Jewish custom of filtering wine, for fear of swallowing any insect forbidden by the law as unclean, Leviticus 11:23; and is applied to those who are superstitiously anxious in avoiding small faults, yet do not scruple to commit great sins.

Bibliography Information
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Gnat'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ats/​g/gnat.html. 1859.