Psalms 105:16

16 And He ¹called for a famine upon the land; He ²broke 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 permitted no man to oppress them, And He reproved kings for their sakes:

15 "Do not touch My 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, who was sold as a slave.

18 They afflicted his feet with fetters, He himself was laid in irons;

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 41:54
• 2. Leviticus 26:26; Isaiah 3:1; Ezekiel 4:16