Lexical Summary raeb: hungry, hunger, suffer hunger Original Word: רָעֵב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance suffer to famish, be, have, suffer, hunger A primitive root; to hunger -- (suffer to) famish, (be, have, suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be hungry NASB Translation famished (1), gets hungry (1), hunger (3), hungry (6), suffer hunger (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs רָעֵב verb be hungry (Late Hebrew id. Hiph`il and derivatives; Assyrian rûbatu, hunger; Arabic  be roomy, voracious,  desire vehemently; Ethiopic  be hungry); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ר Isaiah 9:19; Isaiah 44:12; 3plural רָעֵ֑בוּ Psalm 34:11; Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְעַב Isaiah 8:21, 1plural נִרְעַב Jeremiah 42:14, etc.; — be hungry Isaiah 8:21; Genesis 41:55 (E; of land, = have famine), Jeremiah 42:14 (לַלֶּחֶם), Isaiah 49:10 ("" צמא), Isaiah 65:13 ("" id.; opposed to אכל), Psalm 50:12 if I should be hungry (of ׳י), Proverbs 6:30; Proverbs 19:15. Hiph`il allow one to hunger, subject ׳י: Imperfect3masculine singular וַיַּרְעִבֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 8:3 (opposed to וַיַּאֲִכלְךָ), יַרְעִיב נֶפֶשׁ Proverbs 10:3. Topical Lexicon Overview The term רָעֵב is the ordinary Hebrew verb meaning “to hunger” or “to be hungry,” and by extension the adjective “hungry.” Appearing seventeen times in the Old Testament, it moves fluidly between literal physical need, the social reality of poverty, God-given discipline, and an eschatological promise that hunger will one day cease. Scripture treats hunger as a theological signpost: it exposes human dependence, tests covenant fidelity, and summons God’s people to compassionate action. Occurrences and Literary Setting • Genesis 41:55 anchors the word in Egypt’s seven-year famine. Joseph’s wisdom under God turns the people’s cry, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you,” into a typological picture of divine provision amid worldwide hunger. Historical Background Famine and chronic hunger were constant threats in the agrarian Near East. Rain cycles, locust plagues, and invading armies could devastate crops, and storehouses were limited. Ancient law codes and the Torah built in protections—gleaning rights, triennial tithes for the poor, and Sabbath year rest—to mitigate hunger. When these safeguards were ignored, prophets indicted the nation. Theological Themes Provision and Dependence Hunger drives humanity to seek God. In Psalm 34:10, David declares, “The young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Physical need underscores divine sufficiency. Discipline and Testing Deuteronomy 8:3 shows that God sometimes allows hunger to test faith and to train His people to rely on His word. The wilderness experience made Israel aware of its frailty, preparing the nation for settled life in the land. Justice and Compassion Job 22:7 condemns withholding bread from the hungry, while Proverbs 25:21 commands generosity: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.” Scripture thus makes feeding the hungry a mark of righteousness and even of love for one’s enemy. Judgment Isaiah 8:21 portrays a people roaming “famished and enraged” because of covenant rebellion. Hunger becomes a curse when God’s word is rejected. Eschatological Hope Isaiah 49:10 anticipates the Messianic age when no one will hunger. Revelation echoes this promise (although outside the Hebrew corpus), confirming the future removal of hunger in God’s kingdom. Wisdom and Ethical Instruction Proverbs repeatedly contrasts the diligent with the sluggard. Hunger motivates labor (Proverbs 6:30), yet laziness “brings a man into deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger” (Proverbs 19:15). The righteous steward resources wisely so that neither he nor his neighbor suffers want. Ministry Application Practical Care Believers are called to mirror God’s generosity. Meeting physical hunger—locally through food pantries, globally through relief work—constitutes tangible obedience to the biblical mandate. Spiritual Hunger Physical hunger functions as an analogy for the heart’s longing for righteousness. Jesus’ beatitude, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” assumes the Old Testament background and promises ultimate satisfaction. Gospel Witness Just as Joseph became the mediator of bread for the nations, the Church proclaims Christ, the living bread. Acts of mercy validate this message, demonstrating that in Christ both physical and spiritual hunger are addressed. Use in Worship and Devotion Psalm 50:12 reminds worshipers of God’s self-sufficiency: “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.” Adoration flows from recognizing that God feeds His people yet needs nothing from them. The believer responds with gratitude, trust, and open-handed service. Study Questions 1. How does Deuteronomy 8:3 inform Jesus’ response to temptation in Matthew 4:4? Conclusion Throughout Scripture, רָעֵב serves as both a stark reminder of human vulnerability and a canvas on which God paints His faithfulness, justice, and redemptive purpose. Physical hunger alerts us to deeper spiritual realities, driving us to the One who alone satisfies every need, now and forever. Forms and Transliterations אֶ֭רְעַב ארעב וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְרָעֵ֔ב וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ֒ וַתִּרְעַב֙ וּ֝מֵרָעֵ֗ב וּ֝רְעֵבִ֗ים וירעבך ומרעב ורעב ורעבו ורעבים ותרעב יִרְעַ֜ב יִרְעָ֙בוּ֙ יִרְעָֽב׃ יַרְעִ֣יב ירעב ירעב׃ ירעבו ירעיב נִרְעָ֖ב נרעב רָ֘עֵ֤ב רָעֵ֣ב רָעֵב֙ רעב תִּרְעָ֔בוּ תִרְעָֽב׃ תרעב׃ תרעבו ’er‘aḇ ’er·‘aḇ Erav nir‘āḇ nir·‘āḇ nirAv rā‘êḇ rā·‘êḇ raEv ṯir‘āḇ tir‘āḇū tir·‘ā·ḇū ṯir·‘āḇ tirAv tirAvu ū·mê·rā·‘êḇ ū·rə·‘ê·ḇîm ūmêrā‘êḇ umeraEv ūrə‘êḇîm ureeVim vaiyariveCha vattirAv veraEv veraEvu wat·tir·‘aḇ wattir‘aḇ way·yar·‘i·ḇe·ḵā wayyar‘iḇeḵā wə·rā·‘ê·ḇū wə·rā·‘êḇ wərā‘êḇ wərā‘êḇū yar‘îḇ yar·‘îḇ yarIv yir‘aḇ yir‘āḇ yir‘āḇū yir·‘ā·ḇū yir·‘aḇ yir·‘āḇ yirAv yirAvuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:55 HEB: וַתִּרְעַב֙ כָּל־ אֶ֣רֶץ NAS: of Egypt was famished, the people KJV: of Egypt was famished, the people INT: was famished all the land Deuteronomy 8:3 Job 5:5 Job 22:7 Job 24:10 Psalm 34:10 Psalm 50:12 Proverbs 6:30 Proverbs 10:3 Proverbs 19:15 Proverbs 25:21 Isaiah 8:21 Isaiah 9:20 Isaiah 44:12 Isaiah 49:10 Isaiah 65:13 Jeremiah 42:14 17 Occurrences |
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