Psalms 105:16 (KJV)

What does Psalms 105:16 mean?

Psalms 105:16 says that God caused a famine to come upon the land and broke "the whole staff of bread," meaning He took away the food that people depended on. This verse highlights God's control over natural events and how He can use them to shape history.

In this psalm, the writer is telling the story of Israel's past, showing how God guided and sometimes tested His people. Here, the famine is part of the events leading up to Joseph's rise in Egypt, reminding readers that even hard times were under God's direction and served a larger purpose in the story of His people.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 105:16

• "called" (קָרָא, qara'): This word means to summon or call out, emphasizing that the famine did not happen by chance but was something God actively brought about.
• "staff" (מַטֶּה, matteh): In this context, "staff" is a symbol of support or something people lean on. The "staff of bread" refers to bread as a basic support of life, so breaking it means removing the people's main source of sustenance.
• "brake" (שָׁבַר, shavar): This word means to break or destroy. Here, it shows that God completely took away the food supply, not just reduced it.
• "bread" (לֶחֶם, lechem): This word means bread or food in general. The verse uses it to represent all the basic food people needed to survive.

Why Psalms 105:16 matters

• This verse clears up that the famine was not just a natural disaster but something God allowed for a purpose, setting up the next part of Israel's story.
• The phrase "staff of bread" helps readers see how deeply the famine affected daily life, removing the very thing people relied on.
• By placing this event in the context of God's larger plan, the verse connects the hardship of famine to God's faithfulness in guiding and providing for His people later on.