Psalms 105:16

16 And He calleth a famine on the land, The whole staff of bread He hath broken.

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 hath not suffered any to oppress them And He reproveth for their sakes kings.

15 `Strike not against Mine anointed, And to My prophets do not evil.'

16 And He calleth a famine on the land, The whole staff of bread He hath broken.

17 He hath sent before them a man, For a servant hath Joseph been sold.

18 They have afflicted with fetters his feet, Iron hath entered his soul,