Nature
Winds in the Bible
32 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.
East wind
- Pharaoh’s dream: heads of grain scorched by the east windGen 41:6, Gen 41:23
- An east wind blew a day and a night and brought the locustsExod 10:13
The verses
Exod 10:13So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and throughout that day and night the LORD sent an east wind across the land. By morning the east wind had brought the locusts.
- A strong east wind drove back the sea all nightExod 14:21
The verses
Exod 14:21Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind that turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided,
- A scorching east wind and the sun made Jonah faintJonah 4:8
The verses
Jonah 4:8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
- The east wind wrecks ships at seaPs 48:7, Ezek 27:26
The verses
Ps 48:7With a wind from the east You wrecked the ships of Tarshish.
Ezek 27:26Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will shatter you in the heart of the sea.
Other winds
- A very strong west wind carried the locusts into the Red SeaExod 10:19
The verses
Exod 10:19And the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not a single locust remained anywhere in Egypt.
- “The north wind brings forth rain”Prov 25:23
The verses
Prov 25:23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.
- Cold comes from the driving north windsJob 37:9
The verses
Job 37:9The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
- Clothes grow hot when the land lies hushed under the south windJob 37:17
The verses
Job 37:17You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
- “When the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot’”Luke 12:55
The verses
Luke 12:55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.
- After the wind sweeps the skies clean, no one can gaze at the sunJob 37:21
The verses
Job 37:21Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
In the stories
- A wind passed over the earth, and the flood waters began to subsideGen 8:1
The verses
Gen 8:1But God remembered Noah and all the animals and livestock that were with him in the ark. And God sent a wind over the earth, and the waters began to subside.
- A wind drove in quail from the seaNum 11:31
The verses
Num 11:31Now a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea, and brought them near the camp, about two cubits above the surface of the ground, for a day’s journey in every direction around the camp.
- A desert wind struck the four corners of the house of Job’s childrenJob 1:18–19
The verses
Job 1:18–19While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
- At Horeb a great wind shattered the rocks, then came an earthquake1 Kgs 19:11
The verses
1 Kgs 19:11Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
- A great wind on the sea nearly broke Jonah’s ship apartJonah 1:4
The verses
Jonah 1:4Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
- Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calmMatt 8:24–27
The verses
Matt 8:24–27Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
- The disciples strained at the oars, because the wind was against themMark 6:48, Matt 14:24, John 6:18
The verses
Mark 6:48He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,
Matt 14:24but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
John 6:18A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.
- A gentle south wind, then a cyclone called the NortheasterActs 27:13–15
The verses
Acts 27:13–15When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had their opportunity. So they weighed anchor and sailed along, hugging the coast of Crete. But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island. Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.
- With a south wind Paul’s ship went from Rhegium to Puteoli in two daysActs 28:13
The verses
Acts 28:13From there we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day, a south wind came up, and on the second day we arrived at Puteoli.
Sayings
- “The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls”Eccl 1:6
The verses
Eccl 1:6The wind blows southward, then turns northward; round and round it swirls, ever returning on its course.
- “He who watches the wind will fail to sow”Eccl 11:4
The verses
Eccl 11:4He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
- “You do not know the path of the wind”Eccl 11:5
The verses
Eccl 11:5As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
- “The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound”John 3:8
The verses
John 3:8The 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.”
- Like chaff driven off by the windPs 1:4
The verses
Ps 1:4Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.
- “A reed swaying in the wind?”Matt 11:7
The verses
Matt 11:7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
- Large ships driven by strong winds are steered by a small rudderJas 3:4
The verses
Jas 3:4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
- “A wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind”Jas 1:6
The verses
Jas 1:6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Sources
From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain