from כָּפַן; hunger (as making to stoop with emptiness and pain); famine.
Transliteration:kâphân
Pronunciation:kaw-fawn'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun כָּפָן (kâphân), transliterated as *kâphân*, derives from the root verb כָּפַן (kâphan), which conveys the sense of "to stoop" or "to bend." This etymological connection is crucial, as it imbues the noun with a specific nuance: *kâphân* denotes not merely a general lack of food, but a severe state of hunger or famine that causes physical weakness, debilitation, and a "stooping" or bending over due to emptiness and pain. It describes a profound and debilitating scarcity of sustenance, leading to significant suffering and potential death. Its semantic range is thus confined to this intense form of starvation or widespread food shortage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term כָּפָפָן (kâphân) is remarkably rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in only two distinct passages, each revealing a facet of its theological significance:
1. **[[Job 38:27]]**: In this passage, God is challenging Job from the whirlwind, asserting His omnipotence and comprehensive knowledge of creation. God asks rhetorically about His own provision: "To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the tender grass to spring forth?" The context here is God's sovereign control over the natural world, specifically His ability to send rain to fertile and desolate lands alike, thereby preventing *kâphân* (famine) and ensuring the flourishing of life. This instance highlights God's benevolent power in sustaining creation and averting widespread starvation.
2. **[[Psalm 105:16]]**: This psalm recounts God's faithfulness to Israel throughout their history, emphasizing His covenant and providential care. Here, the psalmist declares, "Moreover He called for a famine (כָּפָפָן) upon the land; He broke the whole staff of bread." This verse refers to the famine that compelled Jacob's family to go down to Egypt, ultimately leading to Joseph's rise to power. In this context, *kâphâan* is not merely a natural disaster but a divinely ordained event, an instrument in God's hand to further His redemptive plan for His chosen people. It demonstrates God's active role in orchestrating events, even hardship, for His ultimate purposes.
Both occurrences underscore God's absolute sovereignty over the conditions that lead to, or prevent, severe hunger. Whether withheld as a blessing or sent as a providential tool, *kâphâan* is consistently portrayed as being under divine control.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most direct linguistic relative to כָּפָפָן (kâphân) is its root verb, כָּפַן (kâphan, `{{H3719}}`), meaning "to be hungry" or "to stoop from hunger." This connection reinforces the physical agony inherent in the noun.
While *kâphân* specifically emphasizes the physical debilitation of hunger, the more common and general Hebrew term for "famine" or "hunger" is רָעָב (ra'av, `{{H7458}}`). The verb "to be hungry" is רָעֵב (ra'ev, `{{H7457}}`). While both *kâphân* and *ra'av* denote a lack of food, *kâphân* carries a stronger connotation of the *effect* of severe hunger on the body, namely the physical weakness and "stooping" it causes.
Conceptually, *kâphân* is deeply intertwined with:
* **Divine Judgment and Providence**: As seen in [[Psalm 105:16]], famine is often a consequence of disobedience in the biblical narrative, yet it can also serve a higher, redemptive purpose.
* **Human Dependence**: The existence of such a word underscores humanity's utter reliance on God for sustenance and survival.
* **Suffering and Affliction**: Famine is a profound form of suffering, often leading to widespread death and despair.
* **God's Provision**: The opposite of *kâphân* is God's abundant provision, as seen in [[Job 38:27]] and throughout the narratives of manna in the wilderness or fertile harvests.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of כָּפָפָן (kâphân) lies primarily in its powerful articulation of divine sovereignty. Its rare appearances, coupled with their specific contexts, reveal that famine is not a random occurrence but an event firmly within God's control.
Firstly, *kâphân* highlights God's power to sustain life. In [[Job 38:27]], God's ability to provide rain for the desolate ground prevents the very conditions that lead to such extreme hunger, showcasing His benevolent care for His creation. This underscores the theological truth that life itself, and its sustenance, flows from the hand of God.
Secondly, *kâphân* serves as an instrument of divine will. In [[Psalm 105:16]], God "calls for" famine, demonstrating His prerogative to use even devastating circumstances to achieve His purposes. This reveals famine as a tool in God's providential governance, whether for discipline, testing, or to advance His redemptive plan. It reminds us that even in the midst of severe suffering, God remains active and purposeful.
Finally, the word emphasizes human vulnerability and dependence. When God "breaks the whole staff of bread," humanity is brought to a profound realization of its utter reliance on the Creator for daily sustenance. This fosters humility and encourages a posture of trust and obedience towards the One who holds all life in His hands.
### Summary
The Hebrew word כָּפָפָן (kâphân) signifies severe hunger or famine, specifically emphasizing the physical debilitation and "stooping" caused by extreme lack of food. Though infrequent in the biblical text, its two occurrences—in [[Job 38:27]] and [[Psalm 105:16]]—are highly significant. They powerfully demonstrate God's absolute sovereignty over natural phenomena, portraying *kâphân* as either averted through His benevolent provision or specifically "called for" as an instrument of His divine will and providence. The word underscores humanity's complete dependence on God for sustenance and highlights famine as a purposeful element within God's overarching plan, whether for judgment, testing, or the advancement of His redemptive purposes. While related to the more general term for famine, `{{H7458}}` (ra'av), *kâphân* carries a distinct nuance of the profound physical suffering inherent in starvation.
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