רְעָבוֹן
famine
Definition
רְעָבוֹן refers to a severe and prolonged scarcity of food, specifically famine. It describes a condition of extreme hunger and want, often resulting from crop failure, drought, or siege. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently denotes this dire physical circumstance, as seen when Joseph tests his brothers by accusing them of being spies and demands one remain imprisoned 'until your brother comes here' so their words may be tested, 'whether there is truth in you, or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies' (Genesis 42:16, context of the famine). The word captures the totality of the crisis, affecting entire regions and populations.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used exclusively in contexts of widespread, catastrophic food shortage. It appears three times: twice in the narrative of Joseph and the famine in Egypt (Genesis 42:19, 42:33) and once in a wisdom psalm (Psalm 37:19). In Genesis, it describes the historical famine that drove Jacob's family to Egypt. In Psalm 37:19, it is used metaphorically within a promise: 'They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied,' contrasting the fate of the righteous with the wicked. The usage is consistent in denoting a severe, life-threatening lack of sustenance.
Etymology
רְעָבוֹן is a noun derived from the root רָעֵב (rāʻēb, H7456), which means 'to be hungry' or 'to hunger.' The noun form intensifies the root concept into a state or condition of hunger—a famine. It is part of a word family that includes the adjective 'hungry' and the verbal action of hungering, solidifying its connection to the basic human experience of food scarcity.
Semantic Range
Famine (רְעָבוֹן) in the Bible is often more than a natural disaster; it can be a tool of divine judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:23-24, 2 Kings 8:1) or a test of faith and providence, as in the Joseph story. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting physical scarcity to spiritual themes. Psalm 37:19 powerfully uses it to highlight God's covenantal faithfulness to provide for the righteous even in the most desperate physical circumstances, turning a word of crisis into a promise of sustenance.
In the ancient Near East, famine was a recurring and catastrophic reality, often resulting from drought, locusts, or warfare. Unlike modern localized food shortages, a biblical famine threatened the survival of entire clans and nations, forcing migration (as with Abraham to Egypt and Jacob's family). It represented a complete breakdown of the agricultural cycle and social order. The fear of famine was a central part of the cultural consciousness, making divine promises of provision (as in Psalm 37:19) profoundly significant.
רָעָב (rāʻāḇ, H7458) — The more common, general term for famine or hunger, used over 100 times. רְעָבוֹן is a less frequent, intensive form. כָּפָן (kāp̄ān, H3720) — Emphasizes the pangs or suffering of hunger. דֶּבֶר (deḇer, H1698) — Often 'pestilence,' but can be paired with famine as a compound disaster.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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