The Wind: Variable Nature of
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Topical Encyclopedia
The wind, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted element of creation that serves various symbolic and literal purposes. Its variable nature is often used to illustrate the power and sovereignty of God, as well as the transient and unpredictable aspects of life.

Symbol of Divine Power and Presence

The wind is frequently associated with the presence and power of God. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "ruach" is used to denote both "wind" and "spirit," highlighting the divine connection. In Genesis 1:2 , the Spirit of God is described as hovering over the waters, indicating the creative force of God at work. Similarly, in Exodus 14:21 , the Lord uses a strong east wind to part the Red Sea, demonstrating His control over nature to deliver His people.

Instrument of Judgment and Blessing

The wind is also portrayed as an instrument of God's judgment and blessing. In the book of Jonah, God sends a great wind upon the sea, causing a tempest that threatens the ship Jonah is on (Jonah 1:4). This serves as a divine intervention to redirect Jonah's path. Conversely, in the New Testament, the wind is used to illustrate the blessings of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:2 , the Holy Spirit's arrival is described as a sound like a mighty rushing wind, signifying the empowering presence of God among the believers.

Metaphor for Human Life and Experience

The variable nature of the wind is often used metaphorically to describe the fleeting and unpredictable aspects of human life. In Ecclesiastes 1:14 , the Preacher observes, "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and a chasing after the wind." This reflects the transient nature of earthly pursuits and the elusive search for meaning apart from God.

Illustration of Spiritual Truths

Jesus uses the wind to illustrate spiritual truths in His teachings. In John 3:8 , He explains to Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." Here, the wind's unpredictability is likened to the mysterious and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit in the process of spiritual rebirth.

Expression of God's Sovereignty

Throughout Scripture, the wind serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over creation. In Psalm 135:7 , it is written, "He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He sends forth lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses." This passage underscores God's ultimate authority over the natural world, including the winds that He commands according to His purposes.

In summary, the wind in the Bible is a powerful symbol of God's presence, judgment, blessing, and sovereignty. Its variable nature serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life and the mysterious workings of the Holy Spirit, reminding believers of the divine power that governs all creation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Ecclesiastes 1:6
The wind goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter clxix. (AD 415. )
... cloven tongues like as of fire," [2801] in which something like wind and like ... for
the worse or for the better, or to anything whatever of a variable nature. ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter clxix a d 415.htm

A Word to the Wavering Ones
... is driven to and fro by every wind of doctrine ... announcing, as it always does, the
nature of things ... our disposition and feelings are the most variable things in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 12 a word to.htm

God's Will About the Future
... yesterday, so exactly does it describe human nature as it ... we worshipped, there came
a breath of wind; and on ... the clouds, their laws are so variable, and their ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/gods will about the future.htm

A Rash Vow
... divinely inspired emotion may be, in its nature it is ... like a ship in that belt of
variable winds that ... get into the steady 'trades,' where the wind blows with ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/a rash vow.htm

The Rest Giver
... the point where it began, as being the law for nature and the ... 'All is vanity, and
striving after wind.'. ... object of trust, and not to a poor, variable human heart ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the rest giver.htm

All the Bells were Ringing the Angelus. ...
... forth melodiously, floating with sweet and variable tone far ... pure of heart and simple
in nature, that the ... and swaying gently with every little breath of wind. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/i all the bells were.htm

Encouragement for the Depressed
... of Satan have not assailed you"the wind has been ... and, that faith being small, your
feelings are very variable. ... scrap of it is of the same nature as the Koh-i ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/encouragement for the depressed.htm

The Gentle Boy
... infant, so soon the victim of his own heavenly nature. ... And sometimes, when the wind
struck the hill at a ... Pearson, with the impatience of a variable spirit. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the gentle boy.htm

Useful Phrases
... hooligan wind. hopelessly befogged. ... unyielding nature. uproarious laughter. ... vapid
generalities [vapid = lacking liveliness, interest; dull]. variable temperament. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

The First Blast to Awake Women Degenerate.
... hath declared them to be vnconstant, variable, cruell and ... aboue man, is amonstre
in nature, contumelie to God ... or turne at the vehemencie of the vnconstant wind. ...
/.../knox/the first blast of the trumpet/the first blast to awake.htm

Resources
What is the meaning of “chasing the wind” in Ecclesiastes? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of chaff in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Wind: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

The Wind of False Doctrines

The Wind of Iniquity Which Leads to Destruction

The Wind of Molten Images

The Wind of Terrors Which Pursue the Soul

The Wind of the Life of Man

The Wind of the Operations of the Holy Spirit

The Wind of the Speeches of the Desperate

The Wind: (Bringing Forth) of Disappointed Expectations

The Wind: (Chaff or Stubble Before) of the Wicked

The Wind: (Feeding Upon) of Vain Hopes

The Wind: (Sowing) a Course of Sin

The Wind: (When Destructive) the Judgments of God

The Wind: (Without Rain) One Who Boasts of a False Gift

The Wind: Accomplishes the Purposes of God

The Wind: Drying Nature of

The Wind: East

The Wind: Euroclydon

The Wind: Frequently Brings Rain

The Wind: from the North Drives Away Rain

The Wind: God: Assuages

The Wind: God: Brings Forth, out of his Treasuries

The Wind: God: Changes

The Wind: God: Created

The Wind: God: Gathers, in his Hand

The Wind: God: Raises

The Wind: God: Restrains

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Calmed by Casting out Jonah

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Calmed by Christ

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Locusts Brought By

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Locusts Removed By

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Quails Brought By

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Raises on Account of Jonah

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Red Sea Divided By

The Wind: Miracles Connected With: Rocks and Mountains Rent By

The Wind: Movement of the Leaves of Trees By, Noticed

The Wind: North

The Wind: Often Blighting

The Wind: Purifying Nature of

The Wind: South

The Wind: Tempestuous: Destroys Houses

The Wind: Tempestuous: Drives About the Largest Ships

The Wind: Tempestuous: Raises the Sea in Waves

The Wind: The Simoom or Pestilential Wind

The Wind: The Whirlwind

The Wind: Theory of, Above Man's Comprehension

The Wind: Variable Nature of

The Wind: West

The Wind: when Violent Called: Fierce Wind

The Wind: when Violent Called: Great and Strong Wind

The Wind: when Violent Called: Mighty Wind

The Wind: when Violent Called: Rough Wind

The Wind: when Violent Called: Storm

The Wind: when Violent Called: Stormy Wind

The Wind: when Violent Called: Tempest

The Wind: when Violent Called: Windy Storm

Wind

Wind of Heresy

Wind of the Judgments of God

Wind of the Spirit

Wind: Blasting

Wind: East in Canaan

Wind: East in the Valley of the Euphrates River

Wind: East: At the City of Nineveh

Wind: East: Hot and Blasting in Egypt

Wind: East: Tempestuous in the Land of Uz

Wind: Figurative

Wind: North: Free from Humidity in Canaan

Wind: South: Purifying

Wind: South: Soothing

Wind: South: Tempestuous

Wind: West: Took Away the Plague of Locusts from the Land of Egypt

Related Terms

Lord'the (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

The (669438 Occurrences)

Oak-the (1 Occurrence)

Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence)

Ko'hathites (19 Occurrences)

Kohathite (18 Occurrences)

Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences)

Zin (9 Occurrences)

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)

Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences)

Vintage (14 Occurrences)

Kore (4 Occurrences)

Knives (12 Occurrences)

Zidonians (11 Occurrences)

Kareah (14 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Kanah (3 Occurrences)

Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences)

Vicinity (18 Occurrences)

Zeboim (7 Occurrences)

Kadeshbarnea (9 Occurrences)

Kare'ah (14 Occurrences)

Volition

Kol

Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences)

Vashti (10 Occurrences)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knitted (9 Occurrences)

Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)

Home-born (14 Occurrences)

Kingship (17 Occurrences)

Kadesh-barnea (9 Occurrences)

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

Knowledge

Knelt (20 Occurrences)

Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

Zebadiah (9 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Kenite (9 Occurrences)

Kick (8 Occurrences)

Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Wind: Theory of, Above Man's Comprehension
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