Wind (Hastings' Dictionary)

ln Palestine the life of man and beast durin" the rainless summer dejiends upon the sujiply of water in the fountains for drinking, and in the brooks and streams for purposes of irrigation. This supply is in propor- tion to the amount of rain and snow deposited upon the mountains during the previous winter. As the rain is borne inland by the wind, the winds become of the highest importance, and are char- acterized by their power to produce or prevent rain.

Hence the wonderlulness of water supjdied indei)endently of both wind and rain (2 K 3"), and the unnaturalness of wind and clouds tliat do not produce rain (Pr 25", Jude '-). i. The Fouk Winds.— Winds claim attiintion by the periodicity that rules amid continual change, as well as on account of the heat and cold, dryness and moisture, connected with tlicni.

The Bible frequently refers to the four winds (Ezk 37", Dn 8», Zee 2«, Mt 24»>, Rev 7'), and the diversity of specilic influence gives individuality to each, and prepares the way for the figurative use of their leading characteristics. (1) North wind (|i!:>""n ruali ziipMn). — This is distinguished by its coldness and its power of dis- ])ersing rain. 'Fair weather (RV 'golden splen- dour') Cometh out of the north' (Job 37-'-).

In Job 37' (' cold out of the north ') the literal mean- ing, unless a special constellation be referred to, is mit of the scatlerinr; winih (RVni). In Pr25'-^'The north wind driveih away (S'?inn) rain,' RV gives ' bringeth forth rain,' the testiinoiiy of the climate, however, being with the former [although the con- text demands the latter. Perhaps the text is corrupt; cf. Tarj;. ad luc.]

In a day of gloom and persistent ram, if one cloud can be seen moving from the north it is known that in less than an hour the clouds will break up and the sunshine will return. (2) Houth wind (e'iiVt ri'iuh dOrOm). — This wind, whether tempestuous (Is 21', Zee !l") or gentle (Ac 27"), is always warm, dry if inclined to S.E., and moist if from S.W. Umicr the S.

wind every- thing is warm to the touch, and, if it prevails for a day or two, all living things become silent under its oppressive heal (.lob 37"). lu Lk 12" it ia referred to as ii sure sign of heat. (3) East wind (o'-is '"> rCah Ifddim). —This la 924 WINDOW WISDOM sometimes called a wind from the vrildernf^s (Job 1", Jer 4'' IS-) ; it is described as strong and gusty (Ex 14-', Job 27' SS*-", Is 278, Jer IS"), and its destructive power was felt at sea (Ps 48', Ezk 27-").

It is referred to in Ja 1", where the expression ' with a burning heat ' (aiiv ri} (cai/trun) is correctly rendered by liV 'with the scorching wind' (see Driver on Am 4" and Hos 13'°, with references). During summer a light land-breeze usually prevails from sunrise to 9 A.M., and rapidly grows hot under the increasing power of the sun. (4) IVest wind (d; 'i riiah yam). — This is a moist and refreshingly cool breeze. The W. and S.W. winds are the bringers of rain ( 1 K IS^- ", Lk 12=^).

If blowing freshly for several days in succession, they will cause a shower to fall even during the dry summer months. In NT various terms are used to describe the violence of the wind; e.g. 'a great wind' [ifcfios M^yas, Jn 6") ; ' a storm of wind ' (XatXa^ di'ifi.ov, Lk S'^) ; ' a great storm of wind ' (XaiXo^i' a.Wij.ov fieydX-ri, Mk 4''') ; 'a great tempest' (<7eio-/uis M^vas, Mt 8*). ' Tempest is the translation also of Xupuii' (Ac 27'), eOeXka (He I2'«). The 'tempes- tuous wind' {dvcfw!

Tv<puvi.Kb%, Ac 27'''), called Euroclydon, RV ' Euraquilo,' is the E.N.E. gale now called levanter,\i\dc[\ prevails over the eastern half of the Mediterranean. In ancient times it troubled the ships of Tarshish (Ps 48') when return- ing deeply laden to Tyre. See EUKAQUILO. li. Figurative Suggestions. —Wind is the symbol of (1) vacuity and nothingness : Job 6-' 15-, Pr 11=, Is 41=3, Jer 5'', Hos 8' 12'. (2) Brevity: Job 7', Ps S^ 103i« 104. (3) Freedom : Pr 27'« 30^ Ec 1", Eph 4".

(4) Puivcr: Job 21'8 27=', Ps 1* 35» 83", Is 41"' 57'" 64«, Jer i9^, ^ 51', Ezk IS"-'^; Dn 2^, Ja 1» 31 (5) The will of God : Ps 18'»- "■ : 104' 148". G. M. Mackie.