# famine

## Definition:

The term “famine” refers to an extreme lack of food throughout a country or region, usually due to not enough rain.

* Food crops can fail from natural causes such as lack of rain, crop disease, or insects.
* Food shortages can also be caused by people, such as enemies who detroy crops.
* In the Bible, God sometimes caused famine as a way to punish nations when they sinned against him.
* In Amos 8:11 the term “famine” is used figuratively to refer to a time when God punished his people by not speaking to them. This could be translated with the word for “famine” in your language, or with a phrase such as “extreme lack” or “severe deprivation.”

## Bible References:

* [1 Chronicles 21:11-12](rc://en/tn/help/1ch/21/11)
* [Acts 7:11](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/11)
* [Genesis 12:10](rc://en/tn/help/gen/12/10)
* [Genesis 45:6](rc://en/tn/help/gen/45/06)
* [Jeremiah 11:21-23](rc://en/tn/help/jer/11/21)
* [Luke 4:25](rc://en/tn/help/luk/04/25)
* [Matthew 24:8](rc://en/tn/help/mat/24/08)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H3720, H7458, H7459, G30420
