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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comFausset Bible Dictionary: Winds
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The four represent the four quarters (; ; ; ). The N. wind was coldest (). The N. wind "awakes," i.e. arises strongly; the Holy Spirit as the Reprover of sin (-11). The S. wind "comes" gently; the Comforter (). The W. wind brings rain from the sea (-45); its precursor is cloud (), prevailing in Palestine from November to February. The E. wind is tempestuous () and, withering (). The N. wind is first invoked () to clear the air (); then the warm S. wind (; ); 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 (), causing the graces to exhale their odor.
In "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" (; ; ). It is parching and penetrating, like the sirocco (). 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 (). The E. wind meant in ; 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 ; . 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 ; . (See EUROCLYDON.) The E. wind symbolizes empty violence (; ; Israel "followeth after" not only vain but pernicious things) and destruction (; ). Wind indicates speed (; ), transitoriness (; ), the Holy Spirit (; ; margin).