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 that seven thin ears, blasted with the wind, sprang up after them:
Out of the south cometh the tempest, and cold out of the north.
Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire, brimstone, storm and tempest: this shall be their portion to drink.
Thou shalt break the ships of the sea, through the east wind.
The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a backbiter's tongue.
Behold, it was planted: shall it prosper therefore? Shall it not be dried up and withered, yea even in the shooting out of his blossoms, as soon as the east wind bloweth?'"
she was rooted out in displeasure, and cast down to the ground. The East wind dried up her fruit; her strong stalks were broken off, withered, and burnt in the fire.
"'Thy mariners were ever bringing unto thee out of many waters. But the east wind shall overbear thee into the midst of the sea:
I will show wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath: blood and fire, and the vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the LORD come.
And as soon as the sun was up, God prepared a fervent east wind: so that the sun beat over the head of Jonah, that he fainted again and wished unto his soul that he might die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
Then said he to the people, "When ye see a cloud rise out of the west straightway ye say, 'We shall have a shower,' and so it is.
And I will show wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great, and notable day of the Lord come.'
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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A vehement wind carrieth him hence, and departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place.
And how thy clothes are warm, when the land is still through the South wind?
He rode upon the Cherub, and did fly: he came flying upon the wings of the wind. {TYNDALE: And he rode upon Cherub and flew: and appeared upon the wings of the wind.}
He bringeth forth the clouds from the ends of the world, and sendeth forth lightnings with the rain, bringing the winds out of their treasuries.
This is the heavy burden of the waste sea: A grievous vision was showed unto me, even as the stormy weather that passeth through at the noonday, to come from the wilderness, from that horrible land.
Every man recompenseth with the measure that he receiveth: He museth upon his sore wind, as upon the days of extreme heat.
and upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them against the same four winds. And there shall be no people, but some of Elam shall flee unto them.
Behold, it was planted: shall it prosper therefore? Shall it not be dried up and withered, yea even in the shooting out of his blossoms, as soon as the east wind bloweth?'"
she was rooted out in displeasure, and cast down to the ground. The East wind dried up her fruit; her strong stalks were broken off, withered, and burnt in the fire.
Then said he unto me, "Thou son of man, prophesy thou toward the wind: prophesy, and speak to the wind, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Come, O thou air, from the four winds, and blow upon these slain, that they may be restored to life.'"
Daniel spake and said, "I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the sea,
The goat waxed exceedingly great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken also. Then grew there another four such like in the stead, toward the four winds of the heaven.
"O get you forth! O flee from the land of the north, sayeth the LORD; ye whom I have scattered into the four winds under heaven, sayeth the LORD.
Then said he to the people, "When ye see a cloud rise out of the west straightway ye say, 'We shall have a shower,' and so it is. And when ye se the south wind blow, ye say, 'We shall have heat,' and it cometh to pass.
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 the LORD God as he walked in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam hid himself and his wife also from the face of the LORD God, among the trees of the garden.
And that seven thin ears, blasted with the wind, sprang up after them:
and seven other ears, withered, thin and blasted with wind, spring up after them.
and seven other ears, withered, thin and blasted with wind, spring up after them.
When now Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, the LORD carried away the sea with a strong east wind that blew all night, and made the sea dry land and the water divided itself.
And the seventh time he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like the palm of a man's hand." Then he said, "Go and say to Ahab, 'Put the horses in the chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.'" And within a little while, heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
and suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."
"O remember that my life is but a wind, and that mine eye shall no more see the pleasures thereof;
"Should a wise man's answer be as the science of the wind, and fill his belly with the wind of the east?
A vehement wind carrieth him hence, and departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place.
A vehement wind carrieth him hence, and departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place.
And how thy clothes are warm, when the land is still through the South wind?
Gold is brought out of the North, but the praise and honour of God's fear cometh from God himself.
For he considered that they were but flesh; even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a backbiter's tongue.
Up thou North wind, come thou South wind, and blow upon my garden, that the smell thereof may be carried on every side: yea, that my beloved may come into my garden, and eat of the fruits and apples that grow therein.
Up thou North wind, come thou South wind, and blow upon my garden, that the smell thereof may be carried on every side: yea, that my beloved may come into my garden, and eat of the fruits and apples that grow therein.
Every man recompenseth with the measure that he receiveth: He museth upon his sore wind, as upon the days of extreme heat.
Therefore will I scatter you, like as the stubble that is taken away with the south wind.
With an East wind will I scatter them, before their enemies. And when their destruction cometh, I will turn my back upon them, but not my face."
and upon Elam I will bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them against the same four winds. And there shall be no people, but some of Elam shall flee unto them.
Then said he unto me, "Thou son of man, prophesy thou toward the wind: prophesy, and speak to the wind, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Come, O thou air, from the four winds, and blow upon these slain, that they may be restored to life.'"
The goat waxed exceedingly great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken also. Then grew there another four such like in the stead, toward the four winds of the heaven.
Ephraim keepeth the air, and followeth after the east wind: he is ever increasing lies and destruction. They be confederate with the Assyrians, their oil is carried into Egypt.
And as soon as the sun was up, God prepared a fervent east wind: so that the sun beat over the head of Jonah, that he fainted again and wished unto his soul that he might die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and dashed the waves into the ship, so that it was full.
And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
Then said he to the people, "When ye see a cloud rise out of the west straightway ye say, 'We shall have a shower,' and so it is. And when ye se the south wind blow, ye say, 'We shall have heat,' and it cometh to pass.
The wind bloweth where he listeth, and thou hearest his sound: but canst not tell whence he cometh and whither he goeth. So is every man that is born of the spirit."
and I will pray the father: and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you ever,
And when he is come, he will rebuke the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me: read more. Of righteousness, because I go to my father, and ye shall see me no more: And of judgment, because the chief ruler of this world is judged already.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as it had been the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat.
And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, many took counsel to depart thence, if by any means they might attain to Phoenix and there to winter, which is a haven of Crete, and serveth to the southwest, and northwest wind.
But anon after there arose, against their purpose, a flaw of wind out of the northeast.
For it is God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, which hath shined in our hearts, for to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
And of the angels he saith, "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers flames 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 suddenly there came a mighty great wind out of the South, and smote the four corners of the house: which fell upon thy children, so that they are dead, and I alone am gotten away, to tell thee."
A vehement wind carrieth him hence, and departeth: a storm plucketh him out of his place.
And how thy clothes are warm, when the land is still through the South wind?
By what way is the light parted, and the heat dealt out upon the earth?
Thou shalt break the ships of the sea, through the east wind.
Up thou North wind, come thou South wind, and blow upon my garden, that the smell thereof may be carried on every side: yea, that my beloved may come into my garden, and eat of the fruits and apples that grow therein.
Every man recompenseth with the measure that he receiveth: He museth upon his sore wind, as upon the days of extreme heat.
And I will shoot them one against another; yea, the fathers against the sons, sayeth the LORD. I will not pardon them, I will not spare them, nor have pity upon them: but destroy them.'"
"'Thy mariners were ever bringing unto thee out of many waters. But the east wind shall overbear thee into the midst of the sea:
Then said he unto me, "Thou son of man, prophesy thou toward the wind: prophesy, and speak to the wind, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Come, O thou air, from the four winds, and blow upon these slain, that they may be restored to life.'"
The goat waxed exceedingly great, and when he was at the strongest, his great horn was broken also. Then grew there another four such like in the stead, toward the four winds of the heaven.
"O get you forth! O flee from the land of the north, sayeth the LORD; ye whom I have scattered into the four winds under heaven, sayeth the LORD.
And he shall send his angels with the great voice of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
And there arose a great storm of wind, and dashed the waves into the ship, so that it was full.
And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
And when ye se the south wind blow, ye say, 'We shall have heat,' and it cometh to pass.
But anon after there arose, against their purpose, a flaw of wind out of the northeast.