Strong's Hebrew: 7458. רָעָב (raab) -- Famine, hunger

◄ 7458. raab ►

Lexicon

raab: Famine, hunger

Original Word: רָעָב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ra`ab
Pronunciation: rah-av'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-awb')
Definition: Famine, hunger
Meaning: hunger

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

dearth, famine, famished, hunger

From ra'eb; hunger (more or less extensive) -- dearth, famine, + famished, hunger.

see HEBREW ra'eb

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from raeb
Definition
famine, hunger
NASB Translation
famine (94), famished (1), hunger (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

רָעָב₁₀₁ noun masculine^{Genesis 26:1} famine, hunger; — absolute ׳ר Genesis 12:10 +; suffix רְעָבָם Nehemiah 9:15;

1 famine (in land, nation or city), Genesis 12:10; Genesis 26:1; Genesis 41:30,31; Exodus 16:3; 2 Samuel 21:1; 2 Samuel 24:13 = 2 Kings 4:38; 2 Kings 6:25 +; ׳שְׁנֵי( הָ)ר Genesis 41:27,30,36, ׳שְׁנַת ר Genesis 41:50, but also ׳שָׁנִים ר [שָׁלוֺשׁ] שֶׁבַע 2 Samuel 24:13 (on Gender see Albr^{ZAW xvi (1896), 103}) = 1 Chronicles 21:12; with חזק (be) severe Genesis 47:56; Genesis 47:57; 1 Kings 18:2; 1Ki 25:3= Jeremiah 52:6, חזק עַל Genesis 47:20; with כָּבֵד Genesis 12:10; Genesis 47:4,13; גָּדוֺל 2 Kings 6:25; ׳זַלְעֲפוֺת ר Lamentations 5:10; ׳מְזֵי ר Deuteronomy 32:24 + Isaiah 5:13 (see [מָזֶה]), ׳תַּחֲלוּאֵי ר Jeremiah 14:18, ׳חַלֲלֵי ר Lamentations 5:10, ׳אֲסֻפֵי ר Ezekiel 34:29; ׳חִצֵּי הָר Ezekiel 5:16; as scourge of ׳י (+ חֶרֶב, דֶּבֶר, etc.; especially Jeremiah, Ezekiel), Jeremiah 5:12; Jeremiah 11:22; Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 21:7,9; Ezekiel 5:2; Ezekiel 6:11,12 +, etc.; figurative of lack of ׳יs word Amos 8:11.

2 hunger, of individual Jeremiah 32:9; Deuteronomy 28:48 (+ צָמָא, etc.), 2 Chronicles 32:11 (+ id.).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb רָעֵב (ra'ev), meaning "to be hungry" or "to suffer hunger."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent of רָעָב is λιμός (G3042), which also means "hunger" or "famine." This term is used in the New Testament to describe both literal famines, as seen in Acts 11:28, and metaphorical hunger, as in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." The Greek term carries forward the Hebrew concept of physical and spiritual hunger, emphasizing the human need for both physical sustenance and spiritual fulfillment.

Usage: The term רָעָב is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe both literal and metaphorical hunger. It often appears in contexts of divine judgment, where famine is a consequence of disobedience, as well as in narratives illustrating human need and dependence on God for sustenance.

Context: רָעָב (ra'av) is a significant term in the Hebrew Scriptures, appearing in various contexts to convey the physical and spiritual dimensions of hunger. In Genesis 12:10, the term is used to describe the famine that drove Abram to Egypt: "Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while, because the famine was severe." This instance highlights the recurring theme of famine as a catalyst for movement and change in the biblical narrative.

In Deuteronomy 28:48, רָעָב is part of the curses for disobedience: "you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution." Here, hunger is depicted as a tool of divine discipline, emphasizing the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

The prophetic literature often uses רָעָב metaphorically to describe spiritual deprivation. Amos 8:11 declares, "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." This passage underscores the deeper hunger for divine truth and guidance.

רָעָב also appears in narratives of provision and deliverance, such as in 1 Kings 17:1-16, where Elijah is sustained during a famine, illustrating God's ability to provide for His people even in times of scarcity.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּ֭רָעָב בְּרָעָ֖ב בְּרָעָ֥ב בְּרָעָ֧ב בָּֽרָעָב֙ בָּרָעָ֖ב בָּרָעָ֣ב בָּרָעָ֥ב בָּרָעָֽב׃ בָֽרָעָב֙ ברעב ברעב׃ הָֽרָעָ֔ב הָֽרָעָ֖ב הָרָעָ֑ב הָרָעָ֔ב הָרָעָ֖ב הָרָעָ֗ב הָרָעָ֣ב הָרָעָ֥ב הָרָעָ֨ב הָרָעָֽב׃ הָרָעָב֙ הרעב הרעב׃ וְהָרָעָ֖ב וְהָרָעָ֞ב וְהָרָעָ֣ב וְהָרָעָ֤ב וְהָרָעָ֥ב וְרָעָ֔ב וְרָעָ֖ב וְרָעָ֞ב וְרָעָב֒ וְרָעָב֙ וּבָֽרָעָב֙ וּבָרָעָ֖ב וּבָרָעָ֣ב וּבָרָעָ֥ב וּבָרָעָ֨ב וברעב והרעב ורעב לִרְעָבָ֔ם לָֽרָעָ֔ב לָֽרָעָב֙ לָרָעָ֗ב לרעב לרעבם מֵרָעָ֣ב מרעב רָ֭עָב רָעָ֑ב רָעָ֔ב רָעָ֖ב רָעָ֗ב רָעָ֛ב רָעָ֞ב רָעָ֣ב ׀ רָעָ֤ב רָעָ֥ב רָעָֽב׃ רָעָב֙ רָעָב֩ רעב רעב׃ bā·rā·‘āḇ ḇā·rā·‘āḇ bārā‘āḇ ḇārā‘āḇ baraAv bə·rā·‘āḇ bərā‘āḇ beraAv berao hā·rā·‘āḇ hārā‘āḇ haraAv lā·rā·‘āḇ lārā‘āḇ laraAv lir‘āḇām lir·‘ā·ḇām liraVam mê·rā·‘āḇ mêrā‘āḇ meraAv rā‘āḇ rā·‘āḇ raAv rao ū·ḇā·rā·‘āḇ ūḇārā‘āḇ uvaraAv varaAv veharaAv veraAv wə·hā·rā·‘āḇ wə·rā·‘āḇ wəhārā‘āḇ wərā‘āḇ

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 12:10
HEB: וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨רֶד
NAS: Now there was a famine in the land;
KJV: And there was a famine in the land:
INT: now there was A famine the land went

Genesis 12:10
HEB: כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: there, for the famine was severe
KJV: to sojourn there; for the famine [was] grievous
INT: for was severe the famine the land

Genesis 26:1
HEB: וַיְהִ֤י רָעָב֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ מִלְּבַד֙
NAS: Now there was a famine in the land,
KJV: And there was a famine in the land,
INT: had occurred A famine the land beside

Genesis 26:1
HEB: בָּאָ֔רֶץ מִלְּבַד֙ הָרָעָ֣ב הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: the previous famine that had occurred
KJV: the first famine that was in the days
INT: the land beside famine the previous that

Genesis 41:27
HEB: שֶׁ֖בַע שְׁנֵ֥י רָעָֽב׃
NAS: will be seven years of famine.
KJV: shall be seven years of famine.
INT: will be seven years of famine

Genesis 41:30
HEB: שֶׁ֨בַע שְׁנֵ֤י רָעָב֙ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ן וְנִשְׁכַּ֥ח
NAS: years of famine will come,
KJV: years of famine; and all the plenty
INT: seven years of famine and after will be forgotten

Genesis 41:30
HEB: מִצְרָ֑יִם וְכִלָּ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: of Egypt, and the famine will ravage
KJV: of Egypt; and the famine shall consume
INT: of Egypt will ravage and the famine the land

Genesis 41:31
HEB: בָּאָ֔רֶץ מִפְּנֵ֛י הָרָעָ֥ב הַה֖וּא אַחֲרֵי־
NAS: of that subsequent famine; for it [will be] very
KJV: by reason of that famine following;
INT: the land reason famine of that subsequent

Genesis 41:36
HEB: לְשֶׁ֙בַע֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הָרָעָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּהְיֶ֖יןָ
NAS: years of famine which
KJV: years of famine, which shall be in the land
INT: the seven years of famine which will occur

Genesis 41:36
HEB: תִכָּרֵ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּרָעָֽב׃
NAS: will not perish during the famine.
KJV: perish not through the famine.
INT: perish the land the famine

Genesis 41:50
HEB: תָּב֖וֹא שְׁנַ֣ת הָרָעָ֑ב אֲשֶׁ֤ר יָֽלְדָה־
NAS: the year of famine came,
KJV: before the years of famine came,
INT: came the year of famine whom bore

Genesis 41:54
HEB: שֶׁ֣בַע שְׁנֵ֤י הָרָעָב֙ לָב֔וֹא כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר
NAS: years of famine began
KJV: years of dearth began
INT: and the seven years of famine to come after

Genesis 41:54
HEB: יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֤י רָעָב֙ בְּכָל־ הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת
NAS: had said, then there was famine in all
KJV: had said: and the dearth was in all lands;
INT: Joseph there was famine all the lands

Genesis 41:56
HEB: וְהָרָעָ֣ב הָיָ֔ה עַ֖ל
NAS: When the famine was [spread] over all
KJV: And the famine was over all the face
INT: the famine become was over

Genesis 41:56
HEB: לְמִצְרַ֔יִם וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק הָֽרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
NAS: to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe
KJV: unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore
INT: Egyptian was severe and the famine the land to the Egyptians

Genesis 41:57
HEB: כִּֽי־ חָזַ֥ק הָרָעָ֖ב בְּכָל־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: because the famine was severe
KJV: for to buy [corn]; because that the famine was [so] sore
INT: because was severe the famine all the earth

Genesis 42:5
HEB: כִּֽי־ הָיָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃
NAS: those who were coming, for the famine was in the land
KJV: those that came: for the famine was in the land
INT: for become the famine the land of Canaan

Genesis 43:1
HEB: וְהָרָעָ֖ב כָּבֵ֥ד בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: Now the famine was severe in the land.
KJV: And the famine [was] sore in the land.
INT: now the famine was severe the land

Genesis 45:6
HEB: זֶ֛ה שְׁנָתַ֥יִם הָרָעָ֖ב בְּקֶ֣רֶב הָאָ֑רֶץ
NAS: For the famine [has been] in the land
KJV: For these two years [hath] the famine [been] in
INT: these years the famine in the land

Genesis 45:11
HEB: חָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים רָעָ֑ב פֶּן־ תִּוָּרֵ֛שׁ
NAS: years of famine [to come], and you and your household
KJV: years of famine; lest thou, and thy household,
INT: five years of famine come to poverty

Genesis 47:4
HEB: כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן
NAS: flocks, for the famine is severe
KJV: for their flocks; for the famine [is] sore
INT: for is severe the famine the land of Canaan

Genesis 47:13
HEB: כִּֽי־ כָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב מְאֹ֑ד וַתֵּ֜לַהּ
NAS: because the famine was very
KJV: in all the land; for the famine [was] very
INT: because severe the famine was very languished

Genesis 47:13
HEB: כְּנַ֔עַן מִפְּנֵ֖י הָרָעָֽב׃
NAS: languished because of the famine.
KJV: fainted by reason of the famine.
INT: of Canaan reason of the famine

Genesis 47:20
HEB: חָזַ֥ק עֲלֵהֶ֖ם הָרָעָ֑ב וַתְּהִ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ
NAS: because the famine was severe
KJV: his field, because the famine prevailed
INT: was severe and the famine became the land

Exodus 16:3
HEB: הַקָּהָ֥ל הַזֶּ֖ה בָּרָעָֽב׃ ס
NAS: whole assembly with hunger.
KJV: this whole assembly with hunger.
INT: assembly this hunger

101 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7458
101 Occurrences

bā·rā·‘āḇ — 14 Occ.
bə·rā·‘āḇ — 3 Occ.
bə·rā·‘āḇ — 1 Occ.
hā·rā·‘āḇ — 24 Occ.
lā·rā·‘āḇ — 4 Occ.
lir·‘ā·ḇām — 1 Occ.
mê·rā·‘āḇ — 1 Occ.
rā·‘āḇ — 26 Occ.
rā·‘āḇ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇā·rā·‘āḇ — 10 Occ.
ḇā·rā·‘āḇ — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·rā·‘āḇ — 9 Occ.
wə·rā·‘āḇ — 6 Occ.