# famine ## Related Ideas: famished, hunger ## Definition: The term "famine" refers to an extreme lack of food throughout a country or region, usually due to not enough rain. The term "famished" means extremely hungry. * 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 destroy 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." ## Picture of Famine: ## Bible References: * [1 Chronicles 21:11-12](rc://en/tn/help/1ch/21/11) * [Acts 07:11](rc://en/tn/help/act/07/11) * [Genesis 12:10](rc://en/tn/help/gen/12/10) * [Genesis 45:06](rc://en/tn/help/gen/45/06) * [Jeremiah 11:21-23](rc://en/tn/help/jer/11/21) * [Luke 04:25](rc://en/tn/help/luk/04/25) * [Matthew 24:08](rc://en/tn/help/mat/24/08) ## Word Data: * Strong's: H3720, H7458, H7459, G3042, G3521 ## Forms Found in the English ULB: famine, famines, famished, hunger