Psalms 105:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God brought famine to Canaan, cutting off the food supply.
The Context of Psalms 105:16
Famine becomes God's instrument to move Israel into Egypt, where they multiply.
What Does Psalms 105:16 Mean?
The famine is presented as God's action, not accident or nature's failure. He 'called for' it—a direct invocation of scarcity as a tool of his providence. The staff of bread (the support and sustenance of life) was broken, leaving people without resources. This famine drove Jacob and his sons to Egypt.
The famine was not random disaster but purposeful within God's plan. It became the mechanism by which Jacob's family entered Egypt where they would multiply into a nation. God's use of hardship to accomplish his purposes appears throughout the psalm.
Psalms 105:16 in the Original Language
famine (רָעָב râ'âb), 'hunger; starvation' — acute food shortage, often a sign of judgment or divine intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psalms 105:16
What does Psalms 105:16 mean?
God brought famine to Canaan, cutting off the food supply.
What is the context of Psalms 105:16?
Famine becomes God's instrument to move Israel into Egypt, where they multiply.