Acts 7:11

KJV

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} there came {G2064} a dearth {G3042} over {G1909} all {G3650} the land {G1093} of Egypt {G125} and {G2532} Chanaan {G5477}, and {G2532} great {G3173} affliction {G2347}: and {G2532} our {G2257} fathers {G3962} found {G2147} no {G3756} sustenance {G5527}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now there came a famine that caused much suffering throughout Egypt and Kena‘an

Berean Standard Bible

Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.

American Standard Version

Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This recounts a pivotal moment in the early history of Israel, as narrated by Stephen in his defense before the Sanhedrin. It describes a severe and widespread famine that afflicted both the land of Egypt and Canaan, causing immense suffering and leading to a complete lack of provisions for the patriarchs, Jacob and his sons. This dire situation providentially compelled Jacob's family to seek sustenance in Egypt, setting the stage for their eventual growth into a nation and the subsequent Exodus.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within Stephen's extensive historical sermon in [Acts 7](/acts/7 "Acts 7 - Stephen's Speech"), a masterful recounting of Israel's history from Abraham to the building of the temple. Stephen, accused of blasphemy against the Law and the Temple, uses this historical survey to demonstrate God's consistent presence outside the temple and His faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they repeatedly rejected His chosen messengers, from Joseph to Moses, and ultimately to Jesus. [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine") specifically serves as a crucial link in this narrative, explaining *how* Jacob's family came to be in Egypt, following the narrative thread of Joseph's rise to power and his providential role in preserving his family, as detailed in [Genesis 41-47](/genesis/41-47 "Genesis 41-47 - Joseph and the Famine"). This historical detail underscores God's sovereign hand guiding His people through seemingly adverse circumstances.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The famine described in [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine in Egypt and Canaan") directly references the seven-year famine recorded in [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Genesis 41 - Pharaoh's Dream and Joseph's Rise"). This was a period of severe agricultural distress, particularly in the ancient Near East, where economies were primarily agrarian and highly dependent on rainfall and fertile river valleys like the Nile. A widespread famine like this would have devastated populations, leading to widespread starvation and migration in search of food. Egypt, with its predictable Nile floods, was often a granary for the region, making the famine's impact there particularly severe, indicating its extraordinary nature. The cultural norm for survival during such times was to seek aid from areas that had stored provisions, making Egypt the logical destination for Jacob's family from Canaan.
* **Key Themes:** [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine") contributes to several overarching themes within Stephen's speech and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Providence Amidst Adversity**. The famine, though a "great affliction," was not a random event but God's providential means to bring Jacob's family into Egypt, where they would multiply into a nation, fulfilling the covenant promises made to Abraham (e.g., [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "Genesis 15:13-14 - God's Covenant with Abraham")). Secondly, it underscores **Human Dependence on God**. The phrase "our fathers found no sustenance" powerfully illustrates humanity's absolute reliance on God for even the most basic needs. This scarcity emphasizes the vulnerability of humanity and the necessity of trusting in God's ultimate provision and guidance, even when natural resources fail. Finally, this verse is foundational to the theme of **The Journey to Egypt and the Exodus**. The famine directly led to the patriarchs' descent into Egypt, a pivotal moment that laid the groundwork for the later Exodus narrative, demonstrating God's continuous guidance over His people through periods of distress and His ultimate plan for their deliverance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **dearth (Greek, _limós'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to leave" or "to be destitute," _limós_ specifically denotes a scarcity of food, a famine, or hunger. In [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine"), it emphasizes the widespread and severe lack of provisions that gripped entire regions, not just a localized shortage. This word conveys the dire economic and existential crisis faced by the inhabitants of Egypt and Canaan.
* **affliction (Greek, _thlîpsis'_):** From a root meaning "to press" or "to crush," _thlîpsis_ describes pressure, tribulation, distress, or anguish. It goes beyond mere inconvenience, highlighting the profound suffering, hardship, and emotional distress caused by the famine. The addition of "great" (_mégas_) intensifies this, indicating an overwhelming and pervasive sense of suffering and hardship.
* **sustenance (Greek, _chórtasma'_):** This word, related to "forage" or "grass," refers to food or nourishment. Its use in the negative ("found no sustenance") underscores the complete and utter lack of provisions. It signifies that all natural and human means of acquiring food had been exhausted, leaving the patriarchs in a desperate and vulnerable state, entirely dependent on external intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan":** This opening clause immediately establishes the setting and the primary crisis. The word "dearth" (famine) signifies a widespread and severe lack of food, indicating an agricultural catastrophe. The phrase "over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan" emphasizes the expansive nature of this crisis, affecting two major geographical regions. This points to a divinely orchestrated event, as such a widespread famine would have been beyond natural human control or prediction, serving God's purposes.
* **"and great affliction":** This phrase describes the consequence of the famine, highlighting the immense suffering it caused. "Affliction" (thlîpsis) denotes pressure, tribulation, or distress, and when qualified by "great," it conveys the overwhelming hardship, pain, and anguish experienced by the people. It speaks to the human cost of the famine, beyond just the lack of food, encompassing the emotional and physical toll.
* **"and our fathers found no sustenance":** This final clause brings the global crisis down to a personal level for Stephen's audience. "Our fathers" refers to the patriarchs, Jacob and his sons, the progenitors of the Israelite nation. The emphatic statement "found no sustenance" underscores their complete inability to secure food through their own efforts or resources. This desperation was the immediate catalyst for their journey to Egypt, demonstrating their utter dependence on God's provision and guidance, even if through indirect means.

#### Literary Devices
Stephen's recounting of [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine") employs several literary devices to enhance its impact and convey his theological message. The passage utilizes **Narrative Recapitulation**, as Stephen concisely summarizes a significant event from Israel's foundational history (the famine and migration to Egypt from [Genesis 41-47](/genesis/41-47 "Genesis 41-47 - Joseph and the Famine")) to build his argument. This serves to establish his authority and demonstrate God's consistent dealings with His people. The phrase "great affliction" also leans into **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the extreme severity of the famine and the suffering it caused, beyond a mere shortage. This rhetorical exaggeration highlights the dire circumstances that necessitated divine intervention. Furthermore, the entire narrative context of the famine and subsequent move to Egypt functions as **Foreshadowing**. It subtly points to the later, greater deliverance of the Exodus, where God would again intervene to lead His people out of Egypt, a theme central to Stephen's broader argument about God's presence outside the temple and His work through unexpected means.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The famine described in [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine") is a profound illustration of God's sovereign control over natural events and His ability to use even devastating circumstances to fulfill His redemptive purposes. It highlights that God's providence extends not only to blessing but also to allowing hardship, all within His overarching plan. This event was not a random tragedy but a divinely orchestrated catalyst that moved Jacob's family into Egypt, where they would multiply significantly, setting the stage for the Exodus and the formation of Israel as a nation. It underscores the theme of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His people face extreme vulnerability and lack. The "great affliction" serves to deepen their dependence on God, reminding them, and us, that ultimate provision comes from Him alone.

* [Genesis 41:56-57](/genesis/41-56-57 "Genesis 41:56-57 - The Famine Spreads")
* [Genesis 42:1-2](/genesis/42-1-2 "Genesis 42:1-2 - Jacob Sends Sons to Egypt")
* [Psalm 105:16-17](/psalms/105-16-17 "Psalm 105:16-17 - God's Providence in Famine")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine in Egypt and Canaan") offers a powerful reminder that life's "dearth" and "great affliction" are not outside the purview of God's sovereign plan. Just as God used the severe famine to position Jacob's family for future growth and the fulfillment of His covenant, He often uses our personal and collective hardships to shape us, deepen our dependence on Him, and redirect our paths toward His greater purposes. This verse challenges us to look beyond immediate suffering to discern God's hand at work, trusting that even in scarcity, He is providentially guiding. It calls us to remember that our ultimate sustenance is not found in material provisions, but in God Himself, who faithfully provides for His children, both physically and spiritually. When we face our own moments of "no sustenance"—whether financial, emotional, or spiritual—this passage encourages us to turn to the Lord, knowing He is our ultimate source of life and provision.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How have I experienced God's providence at work during times of personal "dearth" or "great affliction"?**
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to rely on my own resources rather than trusting in God's provision?**
* **How does understanding God's use of hardship in biblical history (like this famine) inform my perspective on current challenges or global crises?**

### FAQ
**Why does Stephen recount this specific historical event in his defense?**

Answer: Stephen recounts the famine and the subsequent journey to Egypt in [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine") as part of a larger historical narrative in [Acts 7](/acts/7 "Acts 7 - Stephen's Speech") to establish several key points. Firstly, he demonstrates God's consistent presence and activity with His people *outside* the land of Israel and the Temple, beginning with Abraham and continuing through the patriarchs in Egypt. This counters the accusation that he was speaking against the Temple. Secondly, he highlights God's faithfulness in preserving His people through seemingly impossible circumstances, even using hardship (like the famine) as a means to advance His redemptive plan. Finally, by tracing a pattern of Israel rejecting God's chosen messengers (Joseph, Moses, and ultimately Jesus), Stephen subtly turns the accusation back on his accusers, implying their own resistance to God's Spirit and His new work in Christ.

**Was the famine a punishment from God?**

Answer: The biblical narrative, particularly in [Genesis 41](/genesis/41 "Genesis 41 - Pharaoh's Dream and Joseph's Rise"), portrays the famine as a natural disaster, albeit one that God revealed to Pharaoh through Joseph's interpretation of dreams. While all natural events are ultimately under God's sovereignty, the primary biblical emphasis is not on the famine as a direct punishment for specific sins of the patriarchs. Instead, it is presented as a providential means by which God orchestrated the migration of Jacob's family to Egypt. This move was essential for their numerical growth into a nation, fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham (e.g., [Genesis 15:13-14](/genesis/15-13-14 "Genesis 15:13-14 - God's Covenant with Abraham")), and setting the stage for the dramatic deliverance of the Exodus. Thus, it was more a part of God's redemptive plan than a punitive act.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The famine in [Acts 7:11](/acts/7-11 "Acts 7:11 - The Famine in Egypt and Canaan"), which compelled Jacob's family to seek sustenance in Egypt, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate provision found in Jesus Christ. Just as Joseph, through God's wisdom, became the source of physical sustenance for his family in a time of great dearth, so too does Christ stand as the ultimate Bread of Life for a world suffering from spiritual famine. Humanity, in its spiritual "great affliction," finds itself utterly without "sustenance" apart from Him, unable to provide for its deepest needs. Jesus declared Himself to be the "bread of life" (cf. [John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")), the one who satisfies spiritual hunger and thirst, providing eternal life where there was only spiritual death and barrenness. Furthermore, the journey to Egypt and subsequent Exodus prefigure the greater spiritual exodus from the bondage of sin and death that Christ accomplishes through His atoning work (cf. [Luke 9:31](/luke/9-31 "Luke 9:31 - Jesus' Exodus in Jerusalem")). He is the true deliverer, the one who leads His people out of spiritual bondage into the promised land of eternal life, offering abundant and everlasting sustenance (cf. [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Jesus Gives Abundant Life")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 41:54

And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

Genesis 41:57

And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy [corn]; because that the famine was [so] sore in all lands.

Genesis 45:11

And there will I nourish thee; for yet [there are] five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.

Genesis 43:1

¶ And the famine [was] sore in the land.

Psalms 105:16

Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

Genesis 47:13

¶ And [there was] no bread in all the land; for the famine [was] very sore, so that the land of Egypt and [all] the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

Genesis 47:15

And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.