English · KJV
H7459

רְעָבוֹן

rᵉʻâbôwn /reh-aw-bone'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom רָעֵב
Meaningfamine
KJV usagefamine.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rᵉʻâbôwn — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word rᵉʻâbôwn, represented by H7459, means famine. Derived from a root word for hunger, it appears only 3 times in 3 unique verses. The term specifically denotes a period of severe scarcity of food, a crisis that affects households and nations alike.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7459 describes both a literal event and a spiritual condition. It is used twice in Genesis to describe the severe food shortage that drove Jacob's sons to Egypt. Joseph instructs them to take corn for the famine of their houses Genesis 42:19. This is reinforced when Joseph, as the lord H113 of the country H776, again provides for the famine of their households H1004 to test their character Genesis 42:33. In Psalms, the word is used to frame a divine promise: in the "days of famine," the righteous will be satisfied H7646, contrasting human hardship with God's provision Psalms 37:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context and consequences of famine:

  • H7668 sheber (corn, victuals): This refers to the grain or food that is the direct remedy for famine. It is the practical provision Joseph's brothers seek for their families Genesis 42:19.
  • H1004 bayith (house, family): This word underscores that famine is a crisis that strikes at the core of the family unit, threatening the survival of the household (Genesis 42:19, Genesis 42:33).
  • H7646 sâbaʻ (to be satisfied): This term for fulfillment stands in direct opposition to famine. It represents God's promise to fully provide for His people, even in times of lack Psalms 37:19.
  • H7451 raʻ (evil, affliction): This word connects famine to a broader "evil time" of distress and calamity, establishing it as a significant trial from which God delivers the faithful Psalms 37:19.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H7459 is centered on God's sovereignty and faithfulness during times of crisis.

  • Divine Provision: The promise that the righteous will be satisfied H7646 during a famine highlights a core theme: God's ability to sustain His people transcends natural circumstances Psalms 37:19.
  • Instrument of God's Plan: In Genesis, the famine serves as the catalyst for reuniting and testing the family of Jacob, ultimately positioning them in Egypt to fulfill a larger divine purpose (Genesis 42:19, Genesis 42:33).
  • A Test of Faith: The experience of famine creates a setting where trust in God is essential. It is a trial that separates those who rely on worldly circumstances from those who trust in God's promise of deliverance.

Summary

In summary, rᵉʻâbôwn H7459 is a concise but potent term for famine. While its occurrences are few, they powerfully illustrate the reality of physical hardship and the theological truth of God's unwavering provision. From the family-level crisis in Genesis to the promise of satisfaction in Psalms, the word frames scarcity as an opportunity to witness God's power to sustain and deliver His people.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • רַעֲבוֹן
  • רְעָבוֹן

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H113 אָדוֹן or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, H776 אֶרֶץ from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, e H1004 בַּיִת probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, d H7646 שָׂבַע or שָׂבֵעַ; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively); have enough, fill (full, s H7668 שֶׁבֶר the same as שֶׁבֶר; grain (as if broken into kernels); corn, victuals. H7451 רַע from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), di

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Genesis
1
Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.