Psalms 105:16

16 And he called for a famine upon the land; he broke the whole staff of bread.

Psalms 105:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 105:16

Moreover, he called for a famine upon the land
On the land of Egypt; or rather on the land of Canaan, where Jacob and his sons sojourned; and which reached to all lands, ( Genesis 41:56 Genesis 41:57 ) ( 42:5 ) and calling for it, it came, being a servant at the command of the Lord; see ( 2 Kings 8:1 ) ( Haggai 1:11 ) .

He brake the whole staff of bread;
so called, because it is the support of man's life, the principal of his sustenance: as a staff is a support to a feeble person, and which, when broke, ceases to be so. The staff of bread is broken, when either the virtue and efficacy of it for nourishment is taken away or denied; or when there is a scarcity of bread corn; which latter seems to be intended here; see ( Isaiah 3:1 ) ( Leviticus 26:26 ) .

Psalms 105:16 In-Context

14 He suffered no man to oppress them, and reproved kings for their sakes,

15 [Saying,] Touch not mine anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm.

16 And he called for a famine upon the land; he broke the whole staff of bread.

17 He sent a man before them: Joseph was sold for a bondman.

18 They afflicted his feet with fetters; his soul came into irons;