HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7458
רָעָב
ra.av — famine
1) famine, hunger 1a) famine (in land, nation) 1a1) of Jehovah's word (fig) 1b) hunger (of individuals)
76 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
Famine
Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term
How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.
HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H7459
רְעָבוֹן
re.a.von — famine
hunger, lack of food, famine
3 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H3720
כָּפָן
ka.phan — famine
hunger, famine, painful hunger
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H4648
מְפִיבֹשֶׁת
me.phi.vo.shet — Mephibosheth
A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.4.4; son of: Jonathan (H3083H); father of: Micah (H4318H); also called Merib-baal at 1Ch.8.34; 9.40; § Mephibosheth = "exterminating the idol" 1) grandson of Saul and son of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine; he and his brother Armoni were among the 7 victims surrendered by David to the Gibeonites to avert a famine 2) son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul 2a) also 'Merib-baal'
13 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G3042
λιμός
limos — hunger
λιμός, -οῦ, ὁ (so in Att..; in Dor. ἡ, and so sometimes in LXX, see Th., Gr., 146; in NT: Luk.15:14, Act.11:28; cf. M, Pr., 60), [in LXX chiefly for רָעָב ;] hunger, famine: Luk.4:25 15:14, 17, Act.7:11" (LXX) Act.11:28, Rom.8:35, Rev.6:8 18:8; λ. καὶ δίψος, 2Co.11:27; pl., Mat.24:7, Mrk.13:8, Luk.21:11.† (AS)
12 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →Historical dictionary entry
The first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to go down to the land of Egypt (Gen. 26:1). Another is mentioned as having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar (Gen. 26:1, 17). But the most remarkable of all was that which arose in Egypt in the days of Joseph, which lasted for seven years (Gen. 41-45). Famines were sent as an effect of God’s anger against a guilty people (2 Kings 8:1, 2; Amos 8:11; Deut. 28:22-42; 2 Sam. 21:1; 2 Kings 6:25-28; 25:3; Jer. 14:15; 19:9; 42:17, etc.). A famine was predicted by Agabus (Acts 11:28). Josephus makes mention of the famine which occurred A.D. 45. Helena, queen of Adiabene, being at Jerusalem at that time, procured corn from Alexandria and figs from Cyprus for its poor inhabitants.
Scripture references
Genesis 26:1Genesis 26:17Genesis 412 Kings 8:12 Kings 8:2Amos 8:11Deuteronomy 28:22-422 Samuel 21:12 Kings 6:25-282 Kings 25:3Jeremiah 14:15Jeremiah 19:9Jeremiah 42:17Acts 11:28Genesis 12:10Genesis 41:53-57
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.