Select Page

What is the significance of the East Wind in the Bible?

by | Oct 22, 2019 | Questions, Other

Generally speaking, the east wind in the Bible is a negative thing.  It is associated with the arrival of locusts (Exodus 10:13), the destruction of ships and crew (Psalm 48:7; Ezekiel 27:26), as well as crops (Ezekiel 17:10), with drought (Hosea 13:15), scattering (Jeremiah 18:17), scorching (Genesis 41:6, 23, 27; Jonah 4:8), turning the sea to dry land (Exodus 14:21), being carried away (Job 27:21), and expelling (Isaiah 27:8).  Miscellaneous references include filling oneself with the east wind (Job 15:2), the east wind itself being scattered (Job 27:21), and the east wind bows to the heavens (Psalm 78:26).

So, the east wind generally speaking is a negative thing.  but what about Westwind, Northwind, and Southwind?

West Wind

There is only one mention in the Bible of a west wind which is found in Exodus 10:19, “So the LORD shifted the wind to a very strong west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not one locust was left in all the territory of Egypt.”  Here it is associated with rescuing people from the plague of locusts.

North Wind

There are two references to “Northwind” and they are found in Proverbs 25:23 where it says “the Northwind brings forth terrain,” and the Song of Solomon 4:16 where the north wind is said to awaken and is used poetically as the means by which the fragrance of the garden is spread.

South Wind

There are five instances of the phrase “South wind.”  They speak of the land being still (Job 37:17), that God directed the South when (Psalm 78:26), in reference to discerning times (Luke 12:55), and the driving of a ship by wind (acts 27:13; 28:13).

The following is the list of verses from the NASB 1995 about the East Wind.

  1. Locusts
    • Exodus 10:13, “So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD directed an east wind on the land all that day and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.”
  2. Scorching
    • Genesis 41:6, “Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.”
    • Genesis 41:23, “and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them;”
    • Genesis 41:27, “The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine.”
    • Jonah 4:8, “When the sun came up God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint and begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life.””
  3. Turned the sea to dry land
    • Exodus 14:21, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided.”
  4. Fill himself with the east wind
    • Job 15:2, “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge And fill himself with the east wind?”
  5. Carried away by the East Wind
    • Job 27:21, “The east wind carries him away, and he is gone, For it whirls him away from his place.”
  6. The East Wind that is itself scattered
    • Job 27:21, “The east wind carries him away, and he is gone, For it whirls him away from his place.”
  7. Destroys ships and crew
    • Psalm 48:7, “With the east wind You break the ships of Tarshish.”
    • Ezekiel 27:26, “Your rowers have brought you Into great waters; The east wind has broken you In the heart of the seas.”
  8. East Wind bows to the heavens
    • Psalm 78:26, “He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens And by His power He directed the south wind.”
  9. Expells
    • Isaiah 27:8, “You contended with them by banishing them, by driving them away. With His fierce wind He has expelled them on the day of the east wind.”
  10. The East Wind scatters
    • Jeremiah 18:17, “Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their calamity.’ ””
  11. The East Wind destroys crops
    • Ezekiel 17:10, “Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?”
  12. Brings drought
    • Hosea 13:15, “Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.”
  13. Persuing the East Wind
    • Hosea 12:1, “Ephraim feeds on wind, and pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.”

SUPPORT CARM

Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. We greatly appreciate your consideration!

SCHOOLS USER LOGIN

If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at [email protected].

MATT SLICK LIVE RADIO

Call in with your questions at:

877-207-2276

3-4 p.m. PST; 4-5 p.m. MST;
6-7 p.m. EST

You May Also Like…