The term "tempestuous" is often used to describe violent or turbulent weather, particularly storms characterized by strong winds and heavy rain. In the biblical context, tempestuous conditions are frequently employed as metaphors for divine judgment, human trials, or the overwhelming power of God. The Bible uses such imagery to convey the might and majesty of the Creator, as well as the chaos and peril that can accompany life in a fallen world.

Biblical References:

1. Jonah 1:4 : "Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart." In this passage, the tempestuous sea serves as a direct intervention by God to redirect Jonah, who is fleeing from God's command. The storm is both a literal and symbolic representation of divine displeasure and the consequences of disobedience.

2. Psalm 107:29 : "He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed." Here, the psalmist praises God's sovereign power over nature. The calming of the tempestuous sea illustrates God's ability to bring peace and order out of chaos, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

3. Acts 27:14 : "But it was not long before a tempestuous wind called the Northeaster swept down across the island." The Apostle Paul, on his journey to Rome, encounters a fierce storm that threatens the ship and its passengers. This narrative highlights themes of faith and divine providence, as Paul reassures those aboard of God's promise of safety despite the tempest.

Theological Significance:

Tempestuous conditions in the Bible often symbolize the trials and tribulations faced by believers. They serve as reminders of human vulnerability and the need for reliance on God's strength and protection. The imagery of storms is used to depict both the wrath of God against sin and the peace that comes from trusting in His deliverance.

Symbolism and Metaphor:

In biblical literature, storms are frequently employed as metaphors for spiritual and emotional turmoil. The tempestuous sea can represent the inner struggles of the soul, the chaos of a world in rebellion against God, or the refining process of faith through adversity. The calming of such storms by divine intervention underscores the peace and assurance found in a relationship with God.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to find solace in God's sovereignty over the tempestuous circumstances of life. Just as Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39), He offers peace to those who call upon Him in times of trouble. The biblical portrayal of tempestuous events serves as a call to trust in God's unfailing love and power, even amidst life's fiercest storms.(a.) Resembling a tempest; turbulent; violent; stormy; as, tempestuous weather; a tempestuous night; a tempestuous debate.5189. tuphonikos -- tempestuous
... tempestuous. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tuphonikos Phonetic Spelling:
(too-fo-nee-kos') Short Definition: violent, tempestuous Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5189.htm - 6k8175. sa'ar -- to sweep or whirl away
... to sweep or whirl away. Transliteration: sa'ar Phonetic Spelling: (saw-ar') Short
Definition: afraid. be horribly afraid, fear, hurl as a storm, be tempestuous ...
/hebrew/8175.htm - 5k

5590. saar -- to storm, rage
... stormed (1), stormier (1), stormy (1). be toss with tempestuous, be sore, troubled,
scatter with a whirlwind. A primitive root; to rush ...
/hebrew/5590.htm - 6k

8175a. saar -- to sweep or whirl away
... root Definition to sweep or whirl away NASB Word Usage away with a whirlwind (1),
storm (1), sweep them away (1), tempestuous (1), whirls him away (1). ...
/hebrew/8175a.htm - 5k

5511. Sichon -- a king of the Amorites
... Sihon. Or Ciychon {see-khone'}; from the same as Cuwach; tempestuous; Sichon,
an Amoritish king -- Sihon. see HEBREW Cuwach. 5510, 5511. ...
/hebrew/5511.htm - 6k

8164. sair -- rain (drop)
... small rain. Formed the same as sa'iyr; a shower (as tempestuous) -- small rain.
see HEBREW sa'iyr. 8163c, 8164. sair. 8165 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8164.htm - 6k

On the History of Jonah.
... and hard life in the present time; just as though we had turned and removed from
that blessed and secure life, to that which was most tempestuous and unstable ...
/.../methodius/the writings of methodius fragments/on the history of jonah.htm

The Notes of a True Catholic. ...
... nor suffers to live. O wretched condition! With what surging tempestuous
cares are they tossed about! One while, the error being ...
/.../vincent/the commonitory of vincent of lerins/chapter xx the notes of.htm

Guilty Silence and Its Reward
... Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be
calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.12. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/guilty silence and its reward.htm

"Nineveh, that Great City"
... "Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may
be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 22 nineveh that great.htm

Introduction.
... And then, in strange contrast with the meditative quiet and lowly duties of these
first years, came the crowded vicissitudes of the tempestuous course through ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/i introduction.htm

The Mediator --The Interpreter
... Of these tempestuous manifestations of the Lord to our hearts I am going to speak
at this time; and may the heavenly Comforter use it to the spiritual profit ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the mediatorthe interpreter.htm

John's Rebuke of Herod.
... Successful it was, because it appealed to all the deepest wants of the human heart.
It told of peace to those who had been agitated by tempestuous passion. ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xxi johns rebuke of herod.htm

The Voyage and Shipwreck
... harbor. "But not long after there arose . . . a tempestuous wind;" "the ship
was caught, and could not bear up into the wind.". Driven ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 42 the voyage and.htm

Christian Behavior
... It may be a tempestuous passage in the dim twilight, as it was with him but it is
safe and leads to the fountain of happiness the source of blessedness the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

God's Barriers against Man's Sin
... When we know that the sea, however tempestuous, is entirely submissive to the behests
of God; that when he saith, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/gods barriers against mans sin.htm

Tempestuous (8 Occurrences)
... (a.) Resembling a tempest; turbulent; violent; stormy; as, tempestuous weather;
a tempestuous night; a tempestuous debate. ...Tempestuous (8 Occurrences). ...
/t/tempestuous.htm - 9k

Flooding (4 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/f/flooding.htm - 8k

Euroclydon (1 Occurrence)
... It is called a "tempestuous wind," ie, as literally rendered, a "typhonic wind,"
or a typhoon. It is the modern Gregalia or Levanter. (Comp. Jonah 1:4.). ...
/e/euroclydon.htm - 7k

Windy (3 Occurrences)
... exposed to wind. 2. (superl.) Next the wind; windward. 3. (superl.) Tempestuous;
boisterous; as, windy weather. 4. (superl.) Serving ...
/w/windy.htm - 7k

Wild (147 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Not submitted to restraint, training, or regulation; turbulent;
tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious; inordinate; disorderly; irregular ...
/w/wild.htm - 50k

Tempest (30 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Psalms 50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall
devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. ...
/t/tempest.htm - 17k

Tempest-tossed (1 Occurrence)
Tempest-tossed. Tempest, Tempest-tossed. Tempestuous . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Tempest, Tempest-tossed. Tempestuous . Reference Bible.
/t/tempest-tossed.htm - 6k

Rough (24 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) Austere; harsh to the taste; as, rough wine. 11. (n.) Tempestuous;
boisterous; stormy; as, rough weather; a rough day. 12. ...
/r/rough.htm - 15k

Regain (12 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Jonah 1:13 But the men rowed hard to regain the land; but they could
not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. (DBY). ...
/r/regain.htm - 10k

Rugged (7 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; -- said of temper, character, and the like,
or of persons. 5. (n.) Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude. ...
/r/rugged.htm - 9k

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