Reference: Winds
American
Mt 24:31. The winds which most commonly prevail in Palestine are from the western quarter, more usually perhaps from the south-west, Lu 12:54. Not infrequently a north wind arises, Job 37:9, which, as in ancient days, is till the sure harbinger of fair weather; illustrating the truth of the observation in Pr 25:23, "The north wind driveth away rain." For the tempestuous wind called EUROCLYDON, see that article.
But the wind most frequently mentioned in the Bible is the "cast wind," which is represented as blasting and drying up the fruits, Ge 41:6; Eze 17:10; 19:12, and also as blowing with great violence, Ps 48:7; Eze 27:26; Jon 4:8. It is also the "horrible tempest" literally the glow-wind, of Ps 11:6. This is a sultry and oppressive wind blowing from the south-east, and prevailing only in the hot and dry months of summer. Coming thus from the vast Arabian desert, it seems to increase the heat and drought of the season, and produces universal languor and debility. Rev. Dr. Eli Smith, who experienced it effects during the summer, at Beyrout, describes it as possessing the same qualities and characteristics as the Sirocco, which he had felt at Malta, and which also prevails in Sicily and Italy; except that the Sirocco, in passing over the sea, acquires great dampness. This wind is called by the Arabs the Simoom, by the Turks the Samuel; and by the Egyptians the Camsin; and has long been regarded as a pestilential wind, suddenly overtaking travelers and caravans in the deserts, and almost instantly destroying them by its poisonous and suffocating death. But late and judicious travelers find no evidence that this wind is laden with any poisonous influence. It is indeed oppressively hot and dry, rapidly evaporating the water in the ordinary skin bottles, stopping the perspiration of travelers, drying up the palate and the air passages, and producing great restlessness and exhaustion. As it often blows with a terrible roaring and violence, it carries dust and fine sand high up into the air, so that the whole atmosphere is lurid, and seems in a state of combustion, and the sun is shorn of his beams, and looks like a globe of dull smoldering fire. Both men and animals are greatly annoyed by the dust, and seek any practicable shelter or covering. The camels turn their backs, and hide their heads from it in the ground. It is often accompanied by local whirlwinds, which form pillars of sand and dust, rising high above the ground and moving with swiftness over the plain. Such a tempest may have suggested some features in the prophetic descriptions of the day of God's power: "wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood and fire and pillars of smoke: the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood," Joe 2:30-31; Ac 2:19-20.
Dr. Thomson describes another variety of hot winds or siroccos, often more overwhelming than those just mentioned. The sky is covered with clouds, and pale lightning play through the air; but there is no rain, thunder, or wind. The heat, however, is intolerable; every traveler seeks a refuge, the birds hide themselves in the thickest shades, the fowls pant under the walls with open mouths, and no living thing is in motion.
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And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Out of the chamber [of the south] comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
He will rain snares upon sinners. Fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.
With the east wind thou break the ships of Tarshish.
The north wind brings forth rain. So does a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
Yea, behold, being planted, shall it flourish? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.
But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong twigs were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them.
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters. The east wind has broken thee in the heart of the seas.
And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and {wonderful (LXX/NT)} day of LORD comes.
And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live
And he will send forth his agents with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the boundaries of the heavens--as far as their boundaries.
And he also said to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, straightaway ye say, A shower is coming, and so it happens.
And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and wonderful day of Lord comes.
Easton
blowing from the four quarters of heaven (Jer 49:36; Eze 37:9; Da 8:8; Zec 2:6). The east wind was parching (Eze 17:10; 19:12), and is sometimes mentioned as simply denoting a strong wind (Job 27:21; Isa 27:8). This wind prevails in Palestine from February to June, as the west wind (Lu 12:54) does from November to February. The south was a hot wind (Job 37:17; Lu 12:55). It swept over the Arabian peninsula. The rush of invaders is figuratively spoken of as a whirlwind (Isa 21:1); a commotion among the nations of the world as a striving of the four winds (Da 7:2). The winds are subject to the divine power (Ps 18:10; 135:7).
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The east wind carries him away, and he departs, and it sweeps him out of his place.
How thy garments are warm when the earth is still because of the south [wind]?
And he rode upon a cherub, and flew. Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.
who causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain, who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries,
The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.
In measure, in sending it forth, thou content with it. He has removed with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
And upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds. And there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
Yea, behold, being planted, shall it flourish? Shall it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.
But it was plucked up in fury. It was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong twigs were broken off and withered. The fire consumed them.
Then he said to me, Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says lord LORD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven broke forth upon the great sea.
And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four notable [horns] toward the four winds of heaven.
Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north, says LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says LORD.
And he also said to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, straightaway ye say, A shower is coming, and so it happens. And when a south wind is blowing, ye say, There will be heat, and it happens.
Fausets
The four represent the four quarters (Eze 37:9; Da 8:8; Mt 24:31; Jer 49:36). The N. wind was coldest (Song 4:16). The N. wind "awakes," i.e. arises strongly; the Holy Spirit as the Reprover of sin (Joh 16:8-11). The S. wind "comes" gently; the Comforter (Joh 14:16). The W. wind brings rain from the sea (1Ki 18:44-45); its precursor is cloud (Lu 12:54), prevailing in Palestine from November to February. The E. wind is tempestuous (Job 27:21) and, withering (Ge 41:23). The N. wind is first invoked (Song 4:16) to clear the air (Job 37:22); then the warm S. wind (Job 37:17; Lu 12:55); so the Holy Spirit first clears away mists of gloom, error, unbelief, and sin, which intercept the light of the Sun of righteousness, then infuses warmth (2Co 4:6), causing the graces to exhale their odor.
In Pr 25:23 "the N. wind driveth away (literally, causeth to grieve, so puts to flight) rain," so a frowning countenance drives away a backbiting tongue. So Vulgate, Chald., and Syriac less appropriately "bringeth forth rain." The N. wind prevails from June to the equinox, the N.W. wind thence to November. The E. wind, "the wind of the wilderness" (Job 1:19; 27:21; Jer 13:24). It is parching and penetrating, like the sirocco (Jon 4:8). The E. wind blowing from across the Red Sea, just at the Passover time of year, was the natural agency employed by divine interposition to part the waters of the Red Sea S. of Suez (Ex 14:21). The E. wind meant in Ge 41:6,23 is probably the S.E. wind blowing from the Arabian desert, called the chamsin, so parching as to wither up all grass; during it there is an entire absence of ozone in the air.
The samoom blows from the S.S.E.; blowing over the Arabian peninsula, it is parching when it reaches Palestine. Lake squalls (lailaps) are noticed Mr 4:37; Lu 8:23. The Greek (lips) name for S.W. wind, and the Latin (cores) N.W. wind, and the violent Euraquilon (not Euroclydon), E.N.E. wind, are noticed Ac 27:12,14. (See EUROCLYDON.) The E. wind symbolizes empty violence (Job 15:2; Ho 12:1; Israel "followeth after" not only vain but pernicious things) and destruction (Jer 18:17; Isa 27:8). Wind indicates speed (Ps 104:4; Heb 1:7), transitoriness (Job 7:7; Ps 78:39), the Holy Spirit (Joh 3:8; Ac 2:2; Ge 3:8 margin).
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And they heard the voice of LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. And the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them,
And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them,
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and LORD caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, a cloud rises out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Make ready [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain not stop thee. And it came to pass in a little while, that the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
O remember that my life is a breath. My eye shall no more see good.
Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind?
The east wind carries him away, and he departs, and it sweeps him out of his place.
The east wind carries him away, and he departs, and it sweeps him out of his place.
How thy garments are warm when the earth is still because of the south [wind]?
Out of the north comes golden splendor. God has upon him awesome majesty.
And he remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and comes not again.
who makes his [heavenly] agents spirits, his ministers a flame of fire,
The north wind brings forth rain. So does a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
In measure, in sending it forth, thou content with it. He has removed with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
Therefore I will scatter them as the stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness.
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy. I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
And upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds. And there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
Then he said to me, Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says lord LORD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four notable [horns] toward the four winds of heaven.
Ephraim feeds on wind, and follows after the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. And they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live
And he will send forth his agents with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the boundaries of the heavens--as far as their boundaries.
And a great storm of wind develops, and the waves were thrown into the boat, so as for it now to be filling.
but as they sailed he began to asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling up, and were in peril.
And he also said to the multitudes, When ye see a cloud rising from the west, straightaway ye say, A shower is coming, and so it happens. And when a south wind is blowing, ye say, There will be heat, and it happens.
The wind blows where it will, and thou hear the sound of it, but know not from where it comes, and where it goes. So is every man who is begotten from the Spirit.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper, so that he may dwell with you into the age,
And having come, he will convict the world about sin, and about justice, and about judgment. About sin because they truly did not believe in me, read more. and about justice because I go to the Father, and ye see me no more, and about judgment because the ruler of this world has been judged.
And suddenly there developed a sound from the sky as of a forceful wind moving, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
And since the haven was inconvenient to winter in, the majority gave counsel to launch from there also, if somehow they might be able, after arriving at Phoenix, to winter in a haven of Crete, looking toward southwest and northwest
But not long after, there threw against it a cyclonic wind called the Euroclydon.
Because it is God who said, Out of darkness light is to shine, who shone in our hearts for an enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the presence of Jesus Christ.
And indeed toward the heavenly agents he says, He who makes his agents spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Smith
Winds.
That the Hebrews recognized the existence of four prevailing winds as issuing, broadly speaking, from the four cardinal points, north, south, east and west, may be inferred from their custom of using the expression "four winds" as equivalent to the "four quarters" of the hemisphere.
Eze 37:9; Da 8:8; Zec 2:6; Mt 24:31
The north wind, or, as it was usually called "the north," was naturally the coldest of the four, Ecclus. 43:20 and its presence is hence invoked as favorable to vegetation in
It is described in
as bringing rain; in this case we must understand the northwest wind. The northwest wind prevails from the autumnal equinox to the beginning of November, and the north wind from June to the equinox. The east wind crosses the sandy wastes of Arabia Deserts before reaching Palestine and was hence termed "the wind of the wilderness."
It blows with violence, and is hence supposed to be used generally for any violent wind.
Job 27:21; 38:24; Ps 48:7; Isa 27:8; Eze 27:26
In Palestine the east wind prevails from February to June. The south wind, which traverses the Arabian peninsula before reaching Palestine, must necessarily be extremely hot.
Job 37:17; Lu 12:55
The west and southwest winds reach Palestine loaded with moisture gathered from the Mediterranean, and are hence expressly termed by the Arabs "the fathers of the rain." Westerly winds prevail in Palestine from November to February. In addition to the four regular winds, we have notice in the Bible of the local squalls,
Mr 4:37; Lu 8:23
to which the Sea of Gennesareth was liable. In the narrative of St. Paul's voyage we meet with the Greek term Lips to describe the southwest wind; the Latin Carus or Caurus, the northwest wind
and Euroclydon, a wind of a very violent character coming from east-northeast.
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And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
The east wind carries him away, and he departs, and it sweeps him out of his place.
How thy garments are warm when the earth is still because of the south [wind]?
By what way is the light divided, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
With the east wind thou break the ships of Tarshish.
In measure, in sending it forth, thou content with it. He has removed with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.
And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, says LORD. I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters. The east wind has broken thee in the heart of the seas.
Then he said to me, Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus says lord LORD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly. And when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four notable [horns] toward the four winds of heaven.
Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north, says LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, says LORD.
And he will send forth his agents with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather together his chosen from the four winds, from the boundaries of the heavens--as far as their boundaries.
And a great storm of wind develops, and the waves were thrown into the boat, so as for it now to be filling.
but as they sailed he began to asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling up, and were in peril.
And when a south wind is blowing, ye say, There will be heat, and it happens.
But not long after, there threw against it a cyclonic wind called the Euroclydon.