Winds
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Smith's Bible Dictionary
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. (Ezekiel 37:9; Daniel 8:8; Zechariah 2:6; Matthew 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 (Solomon 4:16) It is described in (Proverbs 25:23) 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." (Job 1:19; Jeremiah 13:14) It blows with violence, and is hence supposed to be used generally for any violent wind. (Job 27:21; 38:24; Psalms 48:7; Isaiah 27:8; Ezekiel 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; Luke 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, (Mark 4:37; Luke 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 (Acts 27:12) and Euroclydon , a wind of a very violent character coming from east-northeast. (Acts 27:14)

ATS Bible Dictionary
Winds

Matthew 24:31. The winds which most commonly prevail in Palestine are from the western quarter, more usually perhaps from the southwest, Luke 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 Proverbs 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, Genesis 41:6 Ezekiel 17:10 19:12, and also as blowing with great violence, Psalm 48:7 Ezekiel 27:26 Jonah 4:8. It is also the "horrible tempest" literally the glow-wind, of Psalm 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," Joel 2:30,31 Acts 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.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Blowing from the four quarters of heaven (Jeremiah 49:36; Ezek. 37:9; Dan. 8:8; Zechariah 2:6). The east wind was parching (Ezek. 17:10; 19:12), and is sometimes mentioned as simply denoting a strong wind (Job 27:21; Isaiah 27:8). This wind prevails in Palestine from February to June, as the west wind (Luke 12:54) does from November to February. The south was a hot wind (Job 37:17; Luke 12:55). It swept over the Arabian peninsula. The rush of invaders is figuratively spoken of as a whirlwind (Isaiah 21:1); a commotion among the nations of the world as a striving of the four winds (Dan. 7:2). The winds are subject to the divine power (Psalm 18:10; 135:7).
Greek
4151. pneuma -- wind, spirit
... Word Origin from pneo Definition wind, spirit NASB Word Usage breath (3), Spirit
(241), spirit (101), spirits (32), spiritual (1), wind (1), winds (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4151.htm - 8k

417. anemos -- wind
... them" (). Word Origin from a prim. root ane- (to blow, breathe) Definition
wind NASB Word Usage wind (20), winds (11). wind. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/417.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
7307. ruach -- breath, wind, spirit
... 1), side (4), sides (2), Spirit (76), spirit (127), spirits (3), strength (1), temper
(2), thoughts* (1), trustworthy* (1), wind (98), winds (7), windy (2 ...
/hebrew/7307.htm - 6k

5591b. searah -- a tempest, storm wind
... Word Origin from saar Definition a tempest, storm wind NASB Word Usage storm (6),
storm winds (1), stormy (2), tempest (2), violent (2), whirlwind (3). ...
/hebrew/5591b.htm - 5k

7308. ruach -- wind, spirit
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to ruach Definition wind, spirit NASB Word
Usage spirit (9), wind (1), winds (1). mind, spirit, wind. ...
/hebrew/7308.htm - 6k

Library

Detained by Contrary Winds
... Wesley Collects Money for the Poor; Visits the House of Lords; His Reasons for his
Long Life; "How is the Tide Turned;" Last Entries Detained by Contrary Winds. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/detained by contrary winds.htm

Concerning Air and Winds.
... Book II. Chapter VIII."Concerning air and winds. Air is the most subtle ...
the winds get their names. There are in all twelve winds. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter viii concerning air and winds.htm

Come from the Four Winds, O Breath!
... Come from the Four Winds, O Breath! A Sermon (No.2246). Intended for Reading on
Lord's-Day, March 6th, 1892,. ... We cannot rule the winds, nor create them. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/come from the four winds.htm

"And He Arose and Rebuked the Winds and Sea. "
... PHILANTHROPIC SUBJECTS. 824. " "And he arose and rebuked the winds and sea.". 824.
7s. M. Milman. "And he arose and rebuked the winds and sea.". 1 Lord! ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/824 and he arose.htm

Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds and Waves with Moses' ...
... Chapter XX."Comparison of Christ's Power Over Winds and Waves with Moses'
Command of the Waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xx comparison of christs power.htm

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany. And He Said unto Them, Why are Ye ...
... Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ... Then
He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/fourth sunday after epiphany and.htm

"They that Go Down to the Sea in Ships. " 1 Lord of the Wide ...
... Whose power the winds and seas controls. ... Whose power the winds and seas controls,
Whose hand doth earth and heaven sustain, Whose spirit leads believing souls; ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/825 they that go.htm

If any one Wishes to Hear the Arrangements for My Journey from ...
... In the month of August, when the etesian winds were blowing, accompanied by the
reverend presbyter Vincentius and my young brother, and other monks who are now ...
/.../22 if any one wishes.htm

Essay vi. "The Way of Ancient Ordinance, Though it Winds, is yet ...
... ESSAY VI. "The way of ancient ordinance, though it winds, Is yet no devious way.?
"The way of ancient ordinance, though it winds, Is yet no devious way. ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay vi the way of.htm

The vision
... seventh, which is that of the trumpets, is about to begin,) "I saw four angels standing
upon the four corners of the earth, restraining the four winds of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the vision .htm

Thesaurus
Winds (35 Occurrences)
... The rush of invaders is figuratively spoken of as a whirlwind (Isaiah 21:1); a
commotion among the nations of the world as a striving of the four winds (Dan. ...
/w/winds.htm - 18k

Storm-winds (3 Occurrences)
Storm-winds. Storm-wind, Storm-winds. Stormy . Multi-Version
Concordance Storm-winds (3 Occurrences). Psalms 50:3 Our ...
/s/storm-winds.htm - 7k

Phoenix (2 Occurrences)
... The Alexandrian corn ship carrying Paul and the author of Acts, after it left Myra
in Lycia, was prevented by adverse winds from holding a straight course to ...
/p/phoenix.htm - 12k

Four (3139 Occurrences)
... We have the four rivers of Paradise (Genesis 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Ezekiel
37:9 Daniel 7:2; Daniel 8:8; Daniel 11:4 Zechariah 6:5, the Revised ...
/f/four.htm - 15k

Rush (35 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A moving forward with rapidity and force or eagerness; a violent motion
or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds; a rush of water. ...
/r/rush.htm - 20k

Rose (279 Occurrences)
... Matthew 7:25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on
that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. (See NIV). ...
/r/rose.htm - 37k

Blast (28 Occurrences)
... blast'-ing (shiddaphon-root, shadhaph, literally "scorching"): This is the effect
produced upon grain or other plants by the hot east winds which blow from the ...
/b/blast.htm - 20k

Blasting (4 Occurrences)
... blast'-ing (shiddaphon-root, shadhaph, literally "scorching"): This is the effect
produced upon grain or other plants by the hot east winds which blow from the ...
/b/blasting.htm - 10k

Calm (18 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Freedom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or absence of
that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or waves; tranquility ...
/c/calm.htm - 11k

Wind (180 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To go to the one side or the other; to move this way and that; to
double on one's course; as, a hare pursued turns and winds. ...
/w/wind.htm - 45k

Resources
What does the Bible mean when it refers to the four winds? | GotQuestions.org

What is the location of the Garden of Eden? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be doers of the Word in James 1:22? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Winds (35 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:25
The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 7:27
The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell-and great was its fall."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
(KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 8:27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
(KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:31
He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 13:27
Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 8:25
He said to them, "Where is your faith?" Being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, "Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 27:4
Putting to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 14:9
And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.
(WEY)

Hebrews 1:7
Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire."
(WEB WEY ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Jude 1:12
These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Revelation 7:1
After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
(See NIV)

Genesis 2:13
The name of the second river is Gihon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush.
(See NIV)

Job 28:25
To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.
(KJV WBS)

Job 37:9
From the chamber of the south cometh the whirlwind; and cold from the winds of the north.
(DBY YLT RSV NIV)

Job 38:24
By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
(See NIV)

Psalms 104:4
He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 135:7
He makes the mists go up from the ends of the earth; he makes thunder-flames for the rain; he sends out the winds from his store-houses.
(BBE)

Psalms 148:8
Fire and hail, snow and vapour, stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 49:32
Their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their livestock a spoil: and I will scatter to all winds those who have the corners of their hair cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 49:36
On Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 5:10
Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of you, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments on you; and the whole remnant of you will I scatter to all the winds.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 5:12
A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of you; and a third part shall fall by the sword around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 12:14
And all who are round about him to help him, and all his bands, I do scatter to every wind, and a sword I draw out after them.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 13:11
Say to those daubing with chalk -- It falleth, There hath been an overflowing shower, And ye, O hailstones, do fall, And a tempestuous wind doth rend,
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 17:21
And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Ezekiel 37:9
Then said he to me, Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 7:2
Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 8:8
The male 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 the sky.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 11:4
When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Amos 1:14
And I have kindled a fire against the wall of Rabbah, And it hath consumed her palaces, With a shout in a day of battle, With a whirlwind in a day of hurricane,
(See NIV)

Zechariah 2:6
Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,' says Yahweh;'for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,' says Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 6:5
The angel answered me, "These are the four winds of the sky, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE RSV)

Zechariah 9:14
Yahweh will be seen over them; and his arrow will go flash like lightning; and the Lord Yahweh will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Winds

Related Terms

Storm-winds (3 Occurrences)

Phoenix (2 Occurrences)

Four (3139 Occurrences)

Rush (35 Occurrences)

Rose (279 Occurrences)

Blast (28 Occurrences)

Blasting (4 Occurrences)

Calm (18 Occurrences)

Wind (180 Occurrences)

Stormy (12 Occurrences)

Dispersed (28 Occurrences)

Scatter (65 Occurrences)

Blow (124 Occurrences)

Rain (118 Occurrences)

Quarters (17 Occurrences)

Orders (736 Occurrences)

Outcasts (13 Occurrences)

Waves (43 Occurrences)

Wanderers (13 Occurrences)

Waters (386 Occurrences)

Fell (331 Occurrences)

Floods (37 Occurrences)

Full (1047 Occurrences)

Falls (79 Occurrences)

Torrents (17 Occurrences)

Thereof (845 Occurrences)

Elam's (1 Occurrence)

Descended (64 Occurrences)

Dew (35 Occurrences)

Driving (144 Occurrences)

Descend (34 Occurrences)

Marvelled (27 Occurrences)

Blew (37 Occurrences)

Beat (85 Occurrences)

Swollen (7 Occurrences)

Slammed (3 Occurrences)

Saints (117 Occurrences)

Streams (80 Occurrences)

Driven (128 Occurrences)

Arisen (24 Occurrences)

Points (18 Occurrences)

Contrary (77 Occurrences)

Angels (99 Occurrences)

Sky (278 Occurrences)

Uprooted (29 Occurrences)

Elect (32 Occurrences)

Messengers (182 Occurrences)

Flames (54 Occurrences)

Shephelah (2 Occurrences)

Astonished (92 Occurrences)

Heavy (110 Occurrences)

Amazed (75 Occurrences)

Exiles (46 Occurrences)

Wonder (148 Occurrences)

Jordan (188 Occurrences)

Ends (108 Occurrences)

Ones (687 Occurrences)

Storm-wind (19 Occurrences)

Gather (251 Occurrences)

Plucked (46 Occurrences)

Corners (56 Occurrences)

Moved (316 Occurrences)

Music (143 Occurrences)

Holding (62 Occurrences)

Windows (27 Occurrences)

Manner (351 Occurrences)

Tower (74 Occurrences)

Agriculture

Chosen (197 Occurrences)

Yet (1244 Occurrences)

Qualm (1 Occurrence)

Kidron (11 Occurrences)

Notable (7 Occurrences)

Northeast (1 Occurrence)

Unrestrained (3 Occurrences)

Unsheathe (4 Occurrences)

Uttermost (48 Occurrences)

Overcame (84 Occurrences)

Launched (5 Occurrences)

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