Topical Encyclopedia
Winter, the coldest season of the year, is mentioned in the Bible in various contexts, often symbolizing a time of dormancy, hardship, or preparation. In the ancient Near East, where the biblical narrative unfolds, winter was characterized by cooler temperatures and the rainy season, which was crucial for agriculture.
Biblical References:1.
Seasonal Change and Agriculture: Winter is implicitly referenced in the context of agricultural cycles. In
Genesis 8:22, God promises Noah, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease." This verse underscores the reliability of seasonal cycles as part of God's covenant with creation, ensuring the continuity of life and sustenance.
2.
Weather and Travel: The Apostle Paul, in his travels, makes mention of winter in relation to travel plans. In
2 Timothy 4:21, he urges Timothy, "Do your best to come to me before winter." This request highlights the practical challenges posed by winter, such as difficult travel conditions and the need for warmth and shelter.
3.
Symbolism of Hardship: Winter can also symbolize times of difficulty or spiritual barrenness. In the
Song of Solomon 2:11, the transition from winter to spring is used metaphorically: "For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone." This passage reflects a time of renewal and hope following a period of dormancy or trial.
4.
Preparation and Provision:Proverbs 6:6-8 uses the ant as an example of wisdom in preparation: "Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer, or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest." This passage implies the importance of preparing during times of plenty for the challenges of winter.
Cultural and Historical Context:In biblical times, winter was a season that required preparation and foresight. The agrarian society depended heavily on the cycles of nature, and winter rains were essential for the success of future crops. The rainy season, typically from October to April, was a time when farmers would rely on stored provisions and prepare for the planting season that followed.
Theological Implications:Winter, as part of God's created order, serves as a reminder of His faithfulness and the natural rhythms He established. It is a time that calls for trust in God's provision and wisdom in stewardship. The biblical narrative often uses the imagery of winter to convey deeper spiritual truths about endurance, preparation, and the hope of renewal.
In summary, winter in the Bible is more than just a season; it is a symbol of God's covenant with creation, a metaphor for spiritual realities, and a practical consideration in the lives of biblical characters.
ATS Bible Dictionary
WinterSeeCANAAN.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The season of the year in which the sun shines most obliquely upon any region; the coldest season of the year.
2. (n.) The period of decay, old age, death, or the like.
3. (v. i.) To pass the winter; to hibernate; as, to winter in Florida.
4. (v. i.) To keep, feed or manage, during the winter; as, to winter young cattle on straw.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WINTERwin'-ter (choreph, from charaph, "to inundate," "overflow"): The rainy season, also the autumn harvest season (Genesis 8:22Psalm 74:17Zechariah 14:8). It is also the time of cold (Jeremiah 36:22Amos 3:15). The verb "to winter" occurs inIsaiah 18:6. Cethaw has the same meaning as Choreph (Songs 2:11). cheimon, corresponds to choreph as the rainy season, and the verb paracheimazo, signifies "to pass the winter" (Acts 27:12), the noun from which is paracheimasia (same place).
SeeSEASONS.
Greek
3914. paracheimazo -- towinter at... to
winter at. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paracheimazo Phonetic Spelling:
(par-akh-i-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I pass the
winter Definition: I pass
...5494. cheimon --winter, a storm
...winter, a storm. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: cheimon Phonetic
Spelling: (khi-mone') Short Definition: a tempest, the rainy season Definition...
5493. cheimarros -- flowing inwinter, a torrent
... flowing inwinter, a torrent. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
cheimarros Phonetic Spelling: (khi'-mar-hros) Short Definition: awinter torrent...
5492. cheimazo -- to expose towinter cold, to drive with storm
... to expose towinter cold, to drive with storm. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
cheimazo Phonetic Spelling: (khi-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I am storm...
3915. paracheimasia -- a wintering
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paracheimasia Phonetic Spelling: (par-akh-i-mas-
ee'-ah) Short Definition: wintering Definition: wintering, spending thewinter....
3653. olunthos -- an unripe fig
... Spelling: (ol'-oon-thos) Short Definition: an unripe fig Definition: an unripe fig,
one which, not ripening in due time, grows through thewinter and falls off...
4145. plousios -- wealthy
... [The dictionary and R.Winter's view the root of 4145 () to be 4130 ("filled,
full") -- but prefers ("many in " which is more likely)....
5327. pharagx -- a chasm, ravine
... valley. Properly, strengthened from the base of peran or rather of rhegnumi; a gap
or chasm, ie Ravine (winter-torrent) -- valley. see GREEK rhegnumi....
Strong's Hebrew
5638. sethav --winter... 5637, 5638. sethav. 5639 .
winter. Transliteration: sethav Phonetic
Spelling: (seth-awv') Short Definition:
winter. Word Origin
...1189. Baal Tsephon -- "Baal ofwinter," a place in Egypt
... Baal Tsephon. 1190 . "Baal ofwinter," a place in Egypt. Transliteration: Baal
Tsephon Phonetic Spelling: (bah'-al tsef-one') Short Definition: Baal-zephon....
2779. choreph -- harvest time, autumn
... 2778c, 2779. choreph. 2780 . harvest time, autumn. Transliteration: choreph
Phonetic Spelling: (kho'-ref) Short Definition:winter.... cold,winter house, youth...
392. Akzib -- "deceptive," two places in Palestine
... Achzib. From 'akzab; deceitful (in the sense of awinter- torrent which fails in
summer); Akzib, the name of two places in Palestine -- Achzib....
1516. gay -- a valley
... by transmutation) from the same root as gevah (abbreviated); a gorge (from its lofty
sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully orwinter-torrent) -- valley....
5158. nachal -- torrent, torrent-valley, wadi
... Psalm 124:4) {nakh'-law}; or nachalah (Ezekiel 47:19; 48:28) {nakh-al-aw'}; from
nachal in its original sense; a stream, especially awinter torrent; (by...
1004. bayith -- a house
... especially family, etc.) -- court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of,
X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside...
2778. charaph. -- to reproach
... specifically, to betroth (as if a surrender); figuratively, to carp at, ie Defame;
denominative (from choreph) to spend thewinter -- betroth, blaspheme, defy...
Library
Winter and Summer
... FOR THE CHILDRENWINTER AND SUMMER. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899.... In the glory
of songs and of flowers,. Whilst here it iswinter for thee....
Winter
... HYMNS after Sermons to young people, on new-years evenings, suited to the subjects.
Hymn 30Winter. John Newton...Winter [20]. See, how rudewinter's icy hand....
Winter.
... THE SEASONS, ANNUAL OCCASIONS, ETC. 866. "Winter. 866. CM Watts.Winter.
1 The hoary frost, the fleecy snow, Descend, and clothe...
For Lo! theWinter is Past, the Rain is Over and Gone.
... 11. For lo! thewinter is past, the rain is over and gone. There are two winters,
one external, the other internal, and these two are reciprocally opposed....
See, Amid theWinter's Snow
... No. 5 See, amid thewinter's snow. CHRISTMAS See, amid thewinter's
snow. Rev. E. Caswall Traditional Melody. Allegretto...
As inWinter Green Trees Cannot be Distinguished from Withered, So...
... Similitude Third. As inWinter Green Trees Cannot Be Distinguished from Withered,
So in This World Neither Can the Just from the Unjust....
Psalm 147:2. Second Part. Summer andWinter.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 147:2. Second Part. Summer andwinter.
A song for Great Britain. 1 O Britain, praise thy mighty...
Psalm 147 Part 2 Summer andWinter.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 147 PART 2 Summer andwinter. LM Summer andwinter.
A Song for Great Britain. O Britain, praise thy mighty God,....
Constantine Having Settled all Things at Rome, Went to Milan About...
... Chap. XLV. Constantine having settled all things at Rome, went to Milan
about the beginning ofwinter.? Constantine having settled...
In the Bitter Cold ofWinter the Trees Stand Bare of Leaves...
... V. THE CROSS AND THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING SECTION II 1. In the bitter
cold ofwinter the trees stand bare of leaves? 1. In the...
Thesaurus
Winter (22 Occurrences)... 3. (vi) To pass the
winter; to hibernate; as, to
winter in Florida. 4. (vi) To keep,
feed or manage, during the
winter; as, to
winter young cattle on straw.
...Winter-house (2 Occurrences)
Winter-house. Winterhouse,Winter-house. Wintering . Int. Standard
Bible EncyclopediaWINTER-HOUSE. (beth ha-choreph (Jeremiah...
Seasons (43 Occurrences)
... se'-z'nz (summer: qayits, Chaldaic qayiT (Daniel 2:35); (theros;winter: cethaw)
(Songs 2:11), (choreph; cheimon): The four seasons in Palestine are not so...
Phoenix (2 Occurrences)
... Thence, in spite of Paul's advice towinter in Fair Havens, it was decided to sail
to Phoenix (eis Phoinika, limena tes Kretes) bleponta kata liba kai kata...
Inches (1 Occurrence)
... to warmer levels, where the moisture is easily held in the form of vapor so that
no rain falls and few clouds are seen, except in the cold mid-winter months....
Rainfall
... to warmer levels, where the moisture is easily held in the form of vapor so that
no rain falls and few clouds are seen, except in the cold mid-winter months....
Autumn (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The third season of the year, or the
season between summer andwinter, often called the fall....
Snow (25 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Common in Palestine inwinter (Psalm 147:16).
The snow on the tops of the Lebanon range is almost always...
Cold (25 Occurrences)
... The sun is always bright and warm, and nearly always shines for part of the day,
even inwinter. After sunset the people wrap themselves up and go to sleep....
Summer (28 Occurrences)
... Genesis 8:22 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat,
and summer andwinter, and day and night shall not cease." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE...
Resources
Is the phoenix mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWas Jesus actually born in September? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Feast of Dedication? | GotQuestions.orgWinter: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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