### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun רְעָבוֹן (rᵉʻâbôwn, `{{H7459}}`) is derived from the verbal root רָעֵב (raʻeb, `{{H7456}}`), meaning "to be hungry" or "to suffer hunger." As a noun, רְעָבוֹן specifically denotes the state or condition of widespread and severe hunger, universally translated as "famine." Its core meaning conveys a profound and devastating scarcity of food, leading to widespread deprivation, suffering, and often death within a population. Unlike a simple state of hunger, רְעָבוֹן implies a collective, societal crisis of sustenance. There is no significant semantic range beyond this precise definition; it consistently refers to a period of extreme food shortage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term רְעָבוֹן (rᵉʻâbôwn, `{{H7459}}`) is remarkably rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only once in the Masoretic Text:
* [[Psalm 105:16]]: "Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he broke the whole staff of bread."
In this singular occurrence, the context is a historical recounting of God's providential care for Israel, from Abraham through the Exodus. Verse 16 attributes the famine that afflicted the land (likely referring to the famine in Egypt and Canaan during Joseph's time, as recounted in Genesis 41-47) directly to God's sovereign action. The phrase "he called for a famine upon the land" underscores divine initiative and control, indicating that the famine was not merely a natural disaster but an intentional act of God. The subsequent clause, "he broke the whole staff of bread," is a vivid metaphor illustrating the complete and utter cessation of food supply, emphasizing the severity and totality of the divinely orchestrated scarcity. This verse highlights God's absolute power over creation and His use of natural phenomena to fulfill His redemptive purposes, such as bringing Jacob's family to Egypt to preserve them and ultimately establish them as a nation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The word רְעָבוֹן (`{{H7459}}`) is intimately connected to several other Hebrew terms and concepts:
* **Root Verb:** רָעֵב (raʻeb, `{{H7456}}`) - "to be hungry," "to suffer hunger." This is the foundational verb from which רְעָבוֹן is derived, indicating the experience of hunger itself.
* **Common Noun for Famine:** רָעָב (raʻav, `{{H7457}}`) - "hunger," "famine." This is the most frequently used word for "famine" in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., [[Genesis 12:10]], [[Genesis 26:1]], [[Genesis 41:54]]). While רְעָבוֹן (`{{H7459}}`) and רָעָב (`{{H7457}}`) are semantically very close, the single use of רְעָבוֹן in [[Psalm 105:16]] might subtly emphasize the *condition* or *state* of famine as a specific divine act.
* **Causes of Famine:**
* בַּצֹּרֶת (batstsorah, `{{H1217}}`) - "drought," a primary cause of agricultural failure and subsequent famine.
* שָׂרָף (saraph, `{{H8313}}`) - "blight," "scorching," another agricultural disaster.
* **Consequences and Associated Judgments:** Famine is often linked with other forms of divine judgment or national calamity:
* דֶּבֶר (dever, `{{H1698}}`) - "pestilence," "plague."
* חֶרֶב (cherev, `{{H2719}}`) - "sword," "war."
These three—famine, pestilence, and sword—frequently appear together as the "three severe judgments" or "four dreadful acts of judgment" (e.g., [[Jeremiah 14:12]], [[Ezekiel 5:12]], [[Ezekiel 14:21]]), highlighting a comprehensive divine chastisement.
### Theological Significance
Despite its single occurrence, the theological significance of רְעָבוֹן (`{{H7459}}`) is profound, particularly in its context within [[Psalm 105:16]]:
* **Divine Sovereignty:** The most striking theological implication is the explicit declaration that God "called for" the famine. This unequivocally asserts God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, including natural phenomena and human circumstances. Famine is not a random occurrence but can be a direct instrument in the hands of the Almighty, serving His divine purposes.
* **Providence and Preservation:** Paradoxically, the famine referenced in Psalm 105 (the one in Joseph's time) was a key component of God's providential plan to preserve the nascent nation of Israel. It compelled Jacob's family to relocate to Egypt, where they could grow and be protected before the Exodus. Thus, famine can be an act of both judgment and a means of divine preservation.
* **Divine Judgment and Discipline:** While not the primary focus in [[Psalm 105:16]], the broader biblical narrative consistently portrays famine as a severe consequence of national disobedience and covenant infidelity ([[Leviticus 26:26]], [[Deuteronomy 28:48]], [[Jeremiah 14:12]]). It serves as a stark reminder of God's justice and His capacity to withdraw His sustaining hand.
* **Human Dependence:** Famine underscores humanity's inherent vulnerability and utter dependence on God for sustenance. It challenges the notion of self-sufficiency and emphasizes the truth that "man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" ([[Deuteronomy 8:3]], quoted in [[Matthew 4:4]]).
* **Eschatological Sign:** In prophetic literature, famine is also enumerated among the signs of the end times ([[Matthew 24:7]], [[Revelation 6:8]]), indicating widespread suffering and distress that will precede the consummation of God's redemptive plan.
### Summary
The Hebrew word רְעָבוֹן (rᵉʻâbôwn, `{{H7459}}`) precisely denotes "famine," a severe and widespread lack of food. Though appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible in [[Psalm 105:16]], its singular occurrence carries significant theological weight. Derived from the root `{{H7456}}` ("to be hungry") and closely related to the more common term `{{H7457}}` ("famine"), רְעָבוֹן in Psalm 105 powerfully highlights God's direct and sovereign control over natural events, demonstrating His capacity to "call for" famine as an instrument in His divine plan. Theologically, famine serves as a potent reminder of God's absolute sovereignty, His just judgment, His providential care for His people, and humanity's profound dependence upon Him for all sustenance. It also functions as a prophetic sign of the world's ultimate end.
TRV