### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **kâphân**, represented by `{{H3720}}`, translates to **famine** or **hunger**. The term derives from a root that suggests making one stoop with emptiness and pain. It is a rare word, appearing only **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible, but it is used to depict a state of severe lack and hardship.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The two appearances of `{{H3720}}` are found in the book of Job, where it describes extreme suffering. In one context, it is presented as a calamity that the righteous person will overcome, being able to "laugh" at destruction and **famine** [[Job 5:22]]. In contrast, it is also used to portray a state of absolute misery, where want and **famine** drive individuals to become solitary and flee into the desolate wilderness [[Job 30:3]]. In both instances, it signifies a profound and life-threatening scarcity.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are paired with `{{H3720}}` to intensify the description of hardship:
* `{{H7701}}` **shôd** (destruction): This word means **violence, ravage; desolation, destruction, oppression, robbery, spoil(-ed, -er, -ing), wasting**. It appears with **famine** in [[Job 5:22]], linking hunger with broader themes of societal collapse and violent ruin, such as the "destruction from the Almighty" [[Joel 1:15]].
* `{{H2639}}` **cheçer** (want): Defined as **lack; hence, destitution; poverty, want**. It is used alongside **famine** in [[Job 30:3]] to create a picture of complete and utter need, describing the condition of those who are solitary and desolate.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3720}}` is found in its use within the context of suffering and divine justice in Job.
* **A Condition of Despair:** Paired with `want` `{{H2639}}`, **famine** is depicted as a force that leads to utter isolation and drives people into the wilderness, symbolizing a state of profound physical and social desolation [[Job 30:3]].
* **A Trial of Faith:** The ability to laugh at **famine** and `destruction` `{{H7701}}` is presented as a divine blessing and a mark of security for the righteous, suggesting that God's protection transcends even the most dire physical circumstances [[Job 5:22]].
* **Component of Calamity:** Its consistent association with words for destruction and destitution establishes **famine** as a key element within the biblical depiction of extreme calamity and judgment.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H3720}}` is a specific and potent term for **famine**. While it is used infrequently, its appearances in the book of Job powerfully illustrate the extremes of human suffering. By being paired with words like `destruction` `{{H7701}}` and `want` `{{H2639}}`, it conveys a condition that can lead to total despair but can also serve as a trial that is overcome through faith in God's deliverance.
TRV