In biblical terms, "dearth" refers to a period of scarcity or famine, often seen as a divine judgment or a test of faith. The concept of dearth is prevalent throughout the Bible, illustrating both physical and spiritual lessons.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently mentions dearth as a significant event impacting the Israelites and surrounding nations. One of the earliest instances is found in the account of Joseph. In Genesis 41, Pharaoh dreams of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Joseph, interpreting the dream, advises Pharaoh to store surplus grain during the years of plenty to prepare for the coming dearth. This event underscores God's sovereignty and provision, as Joseph states, "God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do" (Genesis 41:25).

Another notable mention is in the time of Elijah. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah proclaims a drought as a judgment against Israel for their idolatry under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. The drought lasts three and a half years, during which God miraculously provides for Elijah, the widow, and her son, demonstrating His faithfulness even in times of dearth.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, dearth is mentioned in Acts 11:28, where the prophet Agabus predicts a great famine "throughout the Roman world." This prophecy prompts the early Christian community to provide aid to the believers in Judea, highlighting the importance of charity and unity among Christians.

Theological Implications

Dearth in the Bible often serves as a tool for divine discipline, calling people to repentance and reliance on God. It is a reminder of human dependence on God's provision and the need for spiritual preparedness. The physical scarcity experienced during a dearth is frequently paralleled with spiritual barrenness, urging believers to seek sustenance in God's word and presence.

Spiritual Lessons

The biblical accounts of dearth teach several spiritual lessons:

1. Trust in God's Provision: Just as God provided for Joseph, Elijah, and the early church, believers are encouraged to trust in God's provision during times of scarcity.

2. Repentance and Obedience: Dearth often serves as a call to repentance, urging individuals and nations to turn back to God and obey His commandments.

3. Community and Generosity: The response to dearth in the early church exemplifies the importance of community support and generosity, as believers are called to care for one another in times of need.

4. Spiritual Preparedness: Just as Joseph prepared for the physical famine, Christians are encouraged to be spiritually prepared, storing up treasures in heaven and nurturing their relationship with God.

In summary, dearth in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that encompasses physical scarcity and spiritual lessons, urging believers to trust in God's provision, seek repentance, and support one another in times of need.A scarcity of provisions (1 Kings 17). There were frequent dearths in Palestine. In the days of Abram there was a "famine in the land" (Genesis 12:10), so also in the days of Jacob (47:4, 13). We read also of dearths in the time of the judges (Ruth 1:1), and of the kings (2 Samuel 21:1; 1 Kings 18:2; 2 Kings 4:38; 8:1).

In New Testament times there was an extensive famine in Palestine (Acts 11:28) in the fourth year of the reign of the emperor Claudius (A.D. 44 and 45).

(n.) Scarcity; want; lack; as, a dearth of edible plants; specifically, lack of food on account of failure of crops; famine.DEARTH

durth. See FAMINE.

3042. limos -- hunger, famine
... dearth, famine, hunger. Probably from leipo (through the idea of destitution);
a scarcity of food -- dearth, famine, hunger. see GREEK leipo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3042.htm - 6k1226. batstsoreth -- a dearth
... 1225, 1226. batstsoreth. 1227 . a dearth. Transliteration: batstsoreth Phonetic
Spelling: (bats-tso'-reth) Short Definition: drought. ... dearth, drought. ...
/hebrew/1226.htm - 6k

1224b. batstsarah -- dearth, destitution
... dearth, destitution. Transliteration: batstsarah Short Definition: drought. Word
Origin from batsar Definition dearth, destitution NASB Word Usage drought (1). ...
/hebrew/1224b.htm - 5k

7458. raab -- famine, hunger
... dearth, famine, famished, hunger. From ra'eb; hunger (more or less extensive) --
dearth, famine, + famished, hunger. see HEBREW ra'eb. 7457, 7458. raab. 7459 ...
/hebrew/7458.htm - 6k

1697. dabar -- speech, word
... of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment,
X commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed ...
/hebrew/1697.htm - 8k

657. ephes -- a ceasing
... Word Origin from aphes Definition a ceasing NASB Word Usage dearth (1), ends (14),
however (2), lack (1), less...nothing (1), neither (1), nevertheless* (3 ...
/hebrew/657.htm - 6k

Plenty in a Time of Dearth. Gen 41:56:00
... BOOK I. On select Passages of Scripture. GENESIS Hymn 11 Plenty in a time of dearth.
Gen 41:56. John Newton 8,8,8,8. Plenty in a time of dearth. Gen 41:56. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 11 plenty in a.htm

Training of Ministers and Teachers Neglected.
... Jacobs: "There seems to have been an entire dearth of laymen capable of intelligently
participating in the administration of the affairs of the congregation ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/training of ministers and teachers.htm

Book Three the Story of his Student Days in Carthage, his ...
... from snares. Within me I had a dearth of that inner food which is thyself,
my God"although that dearth caused me no hunger. And ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book three the story of.htm

Deluded by an Insane Love, He, Though Foul and Dishonourable ...
... For within me I had a dearth of that inward food, Thyself, my God, though that dearth
caused me no hunger; but I remained without all desire for incorruptible ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter i deluded by an insane.htm

Acts vii. 6, 7
... him. "Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and
great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvi acts vii 6.htm

A Prophet of Peace
... It was on the occasion of one of his visits to the school established at Gilgal
that he healed the poisoned pottage. "There was a dearth in the land; and the ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 19 a prophet of.htm

Eighth Tractate. On the Nature and Source of Evil.
... of shape, the ever-needy against the self-sufficing: think of the ever-undefined,
the never at rest, the all-accepting but never sated, utter dearth; and make ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate on the nature.htm

Introduction
... In view of the dearth of available material in English, it has seemed timely
to approach the whole subject from a new standpoint. ...
/.../messenger/christian hymns of the first three centuries/i introduction.htm

A Ribband of Blue.
... and His claim upon His people, by doing deliberately the thing that he knows to
be contrary to GOD's will, that man will find spiritual dearth and spiritual ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a ribband of blue/a ribband of blue.htm

Book iii. --Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New ...
... Glory succeeds, and the realm's second crown, so. 50 And in dearth's time large
power of furnishing. Bread: so appropriate a type of Christ,. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book iii of the harmony of.htm

Dearth (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) Scarcity; want; lack; as, a dearth of edible plants;
specifically, lack of food on account of failure of crops; famine. ...DEARTH. ...
/d/dearth.htm - 11k

Famine (99 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of
provisions; destitution. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FAMINE. ...
/f/famine.htm - 49k

Dearly-loved (20 Occurrences)
Dearly-loved. Dearly, Dearly-loved. Dearth . Multi-Version Concordance
Dearly-loved (20 Occurrences). ... Dearly, Dearly-loved. Dearth . Reference Bible.
/d/dearly-loved.htm - 12k

Music (143 Occurrences)
... Religious Reformations II. THEORY OF MUSIC 1. Dearth of Technical Information
2. Not Necessarily Unimpressive III. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ...
/m/music.htm - 78k

Locusts (33 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 6:28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there
be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege ...
/l/locusts.htm - 16k

Finding (57 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Acts 7:11 And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan,
and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance, (YLT). ...
/f/finding.htm - 23k

Rivulet (2 Occurrences)
... by waters, And by a rivulet he sendeth forth his roots, And he doth not see when
heat cometh, And his leaf hath been green, And in a year of dearth he is not ...
/r/rivulet.htm - 7k

Elimelech (6 Occurrences)
... the judges. In consequence of a great dearth he, with his wife Naomi and
his two sons, went to dwell in the land of Moab. There ...
/e/elimelech.htm - 10k

Dear (120 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive. 2. (superl.)
Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year. ...
/d/dear.htm - 37k

Dearths (1 Occurrence)

/d/dearths.htm - 6k

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Dearth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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