The meaning of Tempest in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
tem'-pest (ce'-arah, or se'-arah, "a whirlwind," zerem, "overflowing rain"; cheimon, thuella): Heavy storms of wind and rain are common in Palestine and the Mediterranean. The storms particularly mentioned in the Bible are: (1) the 40 days' rain ofthe great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); (2) hail and rain as a plague in Egypt (Exodus 9:18); (3) the great rain after the drought and the contest of Elijah on Carmel (I Kings 18:45); (4) the tempest on the sea in the story of Jonah (Jonah 1:4); (5) the storm on the Lake of Galilee when Jesus was awakened to calm the waves (Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23); (6) the storm causing the shipwreck of Paul at Melita (Acts 27:18). Frequent references are found to God's power over storm and use of the tempest in His anger: "He maketh the storm a calm" (Psalms 107:29); He sends the "tempest of hail, a destroying storm" (Isaiah 28:2). See also Job 9:17; Job 21:18; Isaiah 30:30. Yahweh overwhelms His enemies as with a storm: "She shall be visited of Yahweh of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest" (Isaiah 29:6). Yahweh is a "refuge from the storm" (Isaiah 25:4; Isaiah 4:6).
Alfred H. Joy
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
