Acts 7:11
New International Version
“Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.

New Living Translation
“But a famine came upon Egypt and Canaan. There was great misery, and our ancestors ran out of food.

English Standard Version
Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food.

Berean Standard Bible
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.

Berean Literal Bible
And there came a famine upon all of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers were not finding sustenance.

King James Bible
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

New King James Version
Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance.

New American Standard Bible
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food.

NASB 1995
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food.

NASB 1977
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it; and our fathers could find no food.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food.

Amplified Bible
“Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great distress and our fathers could not find food [for their households and livestock].

Christian Standard Bible
Now a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan, and our ancestors could find no food.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then a famine and great suffering came over all of Egypt and Canaan, and our ancestors could find no food.

American Standard Version
Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Contemporary English Version
Everywhere in Egypt and Canaan the grain crops failed. There was terrible suffering, and our ancestors could not find enough to eat.

English Revised Version
Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan brought a lot of suffering. Our ancestors couldn't find any food.

Good News Translation
Then there was a famine all over Egypt and Canaan, which caused much suffering. Our ancestors could not find any food,

International Standard Version
"But a famine spread throughout Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our ancestors couldn't find any food.

Majority Standard Bible
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food.

NET Bible
Then a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan, causing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food.

New Heart English Bible
Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no food.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers found no sustenance.

Weymouth New Testament
But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.

World English Bible
Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there came a scarcity on all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance,

Berean Literal Bible
And there came a famine upon all of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers were not finding sustenance.

Young's Literal Translation
'And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance,

Smith's Literal Translation
And a famine came upon the whole land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great pressure: and our fathers found no food.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there came a famine upon all Egypt and Chanaan, and great tribulation; and our fathers found no food.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then a famine occurred in all of Egypt and Canaan, and a great tribulation. And our fathers did not find food.

New American Bible
Then a famine and great affliction struck all Egypt and Canaan, and our ancestors could find no food;

New Revised Standard Version
Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now there came a famine which brought great distress throughout Egypt and in the land of Ca’naan so that our forefathers found no sustenance.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And there was a famine and great distress in all of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, and there was nothing to satisfy our fathers.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And there came a famine, and great affliction on the whole land of Egypt, and of Chanaan: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Godbey New Testament
And the famine came into all the land and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Haweis New Testament
Then came a famine upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress: and our fathers found no provisions.

Mace New Testament
in the mean time a famine spread over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, so that our fathers did not know where to get provisions.

Weymouth New Testament
But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan--and great distress--so that our forefathers could find no food.

Worrell New Testament
"Now there came a famine upon the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation; and our fathers were not finding sustenance.

Worsley New Testament
And there came a famine over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction; and our fathers could not find sustenance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Stephen's Address to the Sanhedrin
10and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household. 11Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. 12When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.…

Cross References
Genesis 41:54-57
the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt. / When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” / When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ...

Genesis 42:1-2
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” / “Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

Genesis 45:6-11
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. / Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ...

Genesis 47:13-15
There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine. / Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace. / When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”

Psalm 105:16
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

Genesis 41:29-30
Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, / but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land.

Genesis 43:1-2
Now the famine was still severe in the land. / So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Exodus 1:8-11
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

Nehemiah 9:9-10
You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt; You heard their cry at the Red Sea. / You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.

Psalm 105:23-24
Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham. / And the LORD made His people very fruitful, more numerous than their foes,

Isaiah 19:11-13
The princes of Zoan are mere fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give senseless advice. How can you say to Pharaoh, “I am one of the wise, a son of eastern kings”? / Where are your wise men now? Let them tell you and reveal what the LORD of Hosts has planned against Egypt. / The princes of Zoan have become fools; the princes of Memphis are deceived. The cornerstones of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

Ezekiel 20:5-9
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’ / On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. / And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ ...

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”


Treasury of Scripture

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.

Genesis 41:54-57
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread…

Genesis 43:1
And the famine was sore in the land.

Genesis 45:5,6,11
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life…

Jump to Previous
Able Affliction Canaan Chanaan Dearth Distress Egypt Famine Fathers Find Finding Food Forefathers Found Great Land Struck Suffering Sustenance Throughout Tribulation Trouble Whole
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Able Affliction Canaan Chanaan Dearth Distress Egypt Famine Fathers Find Finding Food Forefathers Found Great Land Struck Suffering Sustenance Throughout Tribulation Trouble Whole
Acts 7
1. Stephen, permitted to answer to the accusation of blasphemy,
2. shows that Abraham worshipped God rightly, and how God chose the fathers,
20. before Moses was born, and before the tabernacle and temple were built;
37. that Moses himself witnessed of Christ;
44. and that all outward ceremonies were ordained to last but for a time;
51. reprehending their rebellion, and murdering of Christ, whom the prophets foretold.
54. Whereupon they stone Stephen to death,
59. who commends his soul to Jesus, and humbly prays for them.














Then famine and great suffering
The phrase "Then famine and great suffering" refers to a significant historical event that affected both Egypt and Canaan. The Greek word for "famine" is "λιμός" (limos), which indicates a severe scarcity of food. Famines were not uncommon in the ancient Near East and often served as a divine instrument to fulfill God's purposes, as seen in the lives of the patriarchs. The "great suffering" underscores the severity of the situation, highlighting the desperation and hardship faced by the people. This suffering was not merely physical but also spiritual, as it tested the faith and resilience of those affected.

swept across Egypt and Canaan
indicates the widespread nature of the famine. Egypt and Canaan were neighboring regions, and their economies were closely linked. The famine's reach across both territories suggests a divine orchestration, as it set the stage for the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham. Historically, Egypt was often seen as a place of refuge during times of famine due to the Nile River's predictable flooding, which provided fertile land for agriculture. However, this famine was so severe that even Egypt could not escape its effects, emphasizing the magnitude of the event.

bringing great distress
The phrase "bringing great distress" conveys the emotional and physical toll the famine took on the people. The Greek word for "distress" is "θλίψις" (thlipsis), which can also mean tribulation or affliction. This distress was a catalyst for change, driving Jacob and his family to seek sustenance in Egypt, thus setting the stage for the Israelites' eventual enslavement and subsequent deliverance. The distress was not without purpose; it was a part of God's sovereign plan to shape and mold His chosen people.

to our fathers
refers to the patriarchs of Israel, specifically Jacob and his sons. This phrase connects the audience of Stephen's speech in Acts 7 to their ancestral heritage, reminding them of God's faithfulness throughout history. The patriarchs' experiences serve as a testament to God's providence and the unfolding of His redemptive plan. The use of "our fathers" also serves to unify Stephen's audience, drawing them into the narrative and encouraging them to see themselves as part of God's ongoing story.

(11-14) Now there came a dearth . . .--So far as we can trace the sequence of thought, there seems the suggested inference that as those who, in the history of Joseph, had persecuted him, came afterwards to be dependent on his bounty, so it might prove to be, in the last parallel which the history of Israel presented. In the coming famine, not of bread, but of sustenance for their spiritual life, they would have to turn to Him of whom they had been, in purpose and in act, the betrayers and murderers.

Verse 11. - Famine for dearth, A.V.; Egypt for the land of Egypt, A.V. and T.R.; Canaan for Chanaan, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

famine
λιμὸς (limos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3042: A famine, hunger. Probably from leipo; a scarcity of food.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

great
μεγάλη (megalē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

suffering
θλῖψις (thlipsis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2347: Persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. From thlibo; pressure.

swept
Ἦλθεν (Ēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

across
ὅλην (holēn)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

Egypt
Αἴγυπτον (Aigypton)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 125: Egypt. Of uncertain derivation.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Canaan,
Χανάαν (Chanaan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5477: Of Hebrew origin; Chanaan, the early name of Palestine.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

fathers
πατέρες (pateres)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

could not find
ηὕρισκον (hēuriskon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

food.
χορτάσματα (chortasmata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5527: Food, sustenance, provision. From chortazo; forage, i.e. Food.


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