Topical Bible: The Wind: West

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In biblical literature, the west wind holds significant symbolic and practical importance. The west wind is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, often associated with change, divine intervention, and the natural order established by God.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 10:19 · "And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind, which caught up the locusts and carried them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust was left anywhere in Egypt."
In this passage, the west wind is depicted as an instrument of God's deliverance. After the plague of locusts had devastated Egypt, it was the west wind that God used to remove the locusts, demonstrating His power over nature and His ability to bring relief and restoration.

2. Psalm 78:26 · "He stirred the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south wind by His power."
While this verse primarily mentions the east and south winds, it is part of a broader context where the winds are seen as tools in God's hands. The west wind, by implication, is also under divine control, serving God's purposes in the natural world.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the biblical worldview, winds are often seen as manifestations of God's sovereign will. The west wind, in particular, is associated with the removal of plagues and the bringing of rain, as it typically comes from the Mediterranean Sea, bringing moisture to the arid lands of Israel. This aligns with the understanding of God as the provider and sustainer of life, using natural elements to fulfill His promises and care for His people.

The west wind's role in the Exodus narrative highlights its function as a means of divine intervention. It serves as a reminder of God's ability to reverse circumstances and bring about His desired outcomes, reinforcing the theme of deliverance and redemption that runs throughout the Bible.

Cultural and Geographical Context:

In the ancient Near East, the direction of the wind was significant for agricultural and daily life. The west wind, coming from the sea, was often welcomed for its cooling and refreshing qualities, as well as its potential to bring rain. This practical understanding of the west wind would have been well-known to the original biblical audience, adding depth to its symbolic use in Scripture.

Theological Implications:

The west wind, as part of the created order, reflects the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over creation. It serves as a testament to His power and authority, as well as His intimate involvement in the affairs of the world. The use of the west wind in biblical narratives underscores the belief that God is actively working in history, guiding and directing events according to His divine plan.

In summary, the west wind in the Bible is more than a mere meteorological phenomenon; it is a symbol of God's providence and a tool of His will, demonstrating His control over nature and His commitment to the well-being of His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 10:19
And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek

5566. choros -- the northwest wind
... the northwest wind. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: choros Phonetic
Spelling: (kho'-ros) Short Definition: the north-west wind Definition: the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5566.htm - 6k

3047. lips -- the southwest wind
... the southwest wind. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: lips Phonetic
Spelling: (leeps) Short Definition: the south-west wind Definition: the south ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3047.htm - 6k

3558. notos -- the south wind, hence the southern quarter
... south wind. Of uncertain affinity; the south(-west) wind; by extension, the southern
quarter itself -- south (wind). (noton) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3558.htm - 6k

Library

Preaching in a North Wind
... Sunday, 20."About one I preached on West Bromwich heath; in the evening, near the
preaching-house in Wednesbury. The north wind cut like a razor; but the ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/preaching in a north wind.htm

Political and Religious Life of the Jewish Dispersion in the West ...
... The seer in the Book of Enoch beholds Israel in the Messianic time as coming in
carriages, and as borne on the wings of the wind from East, and West, and South ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi political and religious.htm

Acts XXVII
... east side of Cape Matala, which they would have to round in order to reach Phoenix;
but it could not be rounded in the face of a north-west wind, hence they ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxvii.htm

The South Wind: a Fisherman's Blessings
... O blessed drums of Aldershot! O blessed South-west train! ... O blessed smelling grass!
O bless'd South wind that toots his horn Through every hole and crack! ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the south wind a fishermans.htm

Marries his Brother
... felt before. But it was not long before the wind sprang up west, which
obliged us to stand away for the Skerries. When we wanted ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/marries his brother.htm

First Withdrawal from Herod's Territory and Return.
... [That is, it blew from the west, the direction toward which the disciples were rowing.]
^b 48 And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxiii first withdrawal from herods 3.htm

The First Year --Society and Climate.
... When the west wind is blowing freshly, it is brought with most pleasant coolness
into the house through platted screens of scented grass, on which water is ...
/.../chapter vi the first yearsociety.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... Yet these West Indians only mourn over its desolation and disfigurement; and point
to ... of the bamboo clumps, as they creak and rattle sadly in the wind, and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

On Heavenly Objects
... The right wind is the same as the north wind; in Solomon: a hard wind is from the ...
assumes that name of good, or because of the right would be the west, that is ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/ii on heavenly objects.htm

Sowing in the Wind, Reaping under Clouds
... of the wind. Who manages the wind? You distrust him who is Lord of the
north, and south, and east, and west. If you cannot reap ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/sowing in the wind reaping.htm