# 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 often 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](en/tn/1ch/help/21/11) * [Acts 07:11-13](en/tn/act/help/07/11) * [Genesis 12:10-13](en/tn/gen/help/12/10) * [Genesis 45:4-6](en/tn/gen/help/45/04) * [Jeremiah 11:21-23](en/tn/jer/help/11/21) * [Luke 04:25-27](en/tn/luk/help/04/25) * [Matthew 24:6-8](en/tn/mat/help/24/06)