Lexical Summary mezareh: Winnowing fork, scatterer Original Word: מְזָרֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance north Apparently from zarah; properly, a scatterer, i.e. The north wind (as dispersing clouds; only in plural) -- north. see HEBREW zarah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as zarah, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overview מְזָרֶה (mezareh) appears once in the Hebrew canon, Job 37:9, where it is rendered “north winds” or “driving winds”. Although lexically related to the idea of scattering, its single biblical use is meteorological, describing the cold carried by a powerful northerly wind. Biblical Context: Job 37:9 “ ‘The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.’ ” In Elihu’s discourse (Job 36–37) the verse stands within a larger argument that God’s governance of creation is manifest in weather phenomena. The chilling force of the mezareh underscores divine sovereignty; the same God who summons storms also ordains their limits (Job 37:10–13). Ancient Near-Eastern Perspective on Winds 1. Cardinal winds were personified powers in surrounding cultures, yet Scripture consistently demythologizes them, presenting wind as a servant of Yahweh (Psalm 148:8). Theological Themes • Sovereign Control: Mezareh illustrates that even chaotic elements obey their Creator (Job 37:12). Related Imagery in Scripture Proverbs 25:23 links the north wind with driving rain, showing its force. Song of Solomon 4:16 pairs north and south winds in a poetic invocation, illustrating their complementary roles in nurturing a garden—imagery that echoes spiritual growth through both discipline and refreshment. Ministry and Devotional Applications 1. Awe and Humility: Teaching Job 37 invites believers to acknowledge limitations and trust the God who commands mezareh. Historical Significance in Interpretation Jewish commentators such as Rashi noted the practical meteorology, while early Christian exegetes (e.g., Gregory the Great) stressed moral symbolism—mezareh as the searching breath that exposes hidden sins. Reformation preachers returned to the literal sense yet drew pastoral comfort from God’s weather-ruling power. Connections to the Wider Biblical Motif of Scattering and Gathering Though mezareh directly describes wind, its root evokes scattering. Scripture often moves from dispersion to restoration (Deuteronomy 30:3; Ezekiel 37:21). The wind that scatters chaff (Psalm 1:4) prefigures the Spirit who regathers in Christ (John 11:52; Acts 2:6). Eschatological Resonance Revelation 7:1 pictures four angels restraining the winds until God’s servants are sealed—a final affirmation that every mezareh-like force remains subject to divine decree, ensuring ultimate safety for the redeemed. Summary Mezareh, though a hapax legomenon, enriches biblical theology by portraying the north wind as a vivid witness to God’s omnipotence. Its single appearance is a reminder that even the rarest word can open windows into the grandeur of the Lord who “does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number” (Job 9:10). Forms and Transliterations וּֽמִמְּזָרִ֥ים וממזרים ū·mim·mə·zā·rîm umimezaRim ūmimməzārîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 37:9 HEB: תָּב֣וֹא סוּפָ֑ה וּֽמִמְּזָרִ֥ים קָרָֽה׃ KJV: and cold out of the north. INT: comes the storm of the north the cold 1 Occurrence |
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