(רָעָה, raah'; πεινάω) AND THIRST are the symbols of affliction. Thus in Deuteronomy 8:3, "He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger," where the latter is the instrument of the former. So Deuteronomy 32:24, "They shall be burnt with hunger;" i.e. they shall be tormented or afflicted. So tofaist is often called to afflict one's soul, as in Leviticus 16:29-31; Isaiah 58:5. In Aristophanes (Aves) hunger is proverbially used for great misery. See 1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Philippians 4:12. In our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, to hunger and thirst signifies to long for and relish the Gospel (Matthew 5:6; Luke 6:21), but elsewhere to be in want of hearing God's word; that is, to be hindered by persecution from worshipping God in peace (Psalms 23; Ecclesiastes 24:19; John 4:13; John 6:35; Amos 8:11; Ezekiel 7:26). (See FAMINE).