Rain

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the “latter rain” (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, “the rains.” The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Cant. 2:11. The “early” or “former” rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp. Jer. 3:3), and continue to fall heavily for two months. Then the heavy “winter rains” fall from the middle of December to March. There is no prolonged fair weather in Palestine between October and March. The “latter” or spring rains fall in March and April, and serve to swell the grain then coming to maturity (Deut. 11:14; Hos. 6:3). After this there is ordinarily no rain, the sky being bright and cloudless till October or November. Rain is referred to symbolically in Deut. 32:2; Ps. 72:6; Isa. 44:3, 4; Hos. 10:12.

In the Bible “early rain” signifies the rain of the autumn, (11:14) and “latter rain” the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, “any particular periods of rain or succession of showers which might be regarded as distinct rainy seasons. The whole period from October to March now constitutes only one continued season of rain, without any regularly-intervening term of prolonged fine weather. Unless therefore, there has been some change in the climate, the early and the latter rains, for which the husbandman waited with longing, seem rather to hare implied the first showers of autumn—which revived the parched and thirsty soil and prepared it for the seed—and the later showers of spring, which continued to refresh and forward both the ripening crops and the vernal products of the fields.” (James 5:7; Proverbs 16:15)

RAIN. The force of the various allusions to this subject cannot be apprehended without some knowledge of the natural conditions of Palestine. Rain falls very frequently during what we call the cold months, from November to April. Sometimes it rains powerfully for several days, with thunder and lightning and a strong wind. In the summer season, from May to October, the earth is parched, verdure is destroyed, and vegetation languishes. The first rain after the summer drought usually falls in October, and is called the former or autumnal rain, because it precedes seed-time and prepares the earth for cultivation. The latter rain falls in April, just before harvest, and perfects the fruits of the earth. Deut 11:14; Hos 6:3; Joel 2:23. Storms after this time were regarded by the Jews as unseasonable, and even miraculous. Prov 26:1; 1 Sam 12:16-19. The average present rainfall at Jerusalem is 61.6 inches, which is greater than that of almost any part of the United States. See Palestine.

RAIN. The force of the various allusions to this subject cannot be apprehended without some knowledge of the natural conditions of Palestine. Rain falls very frequently during what we call the cold months, from November to April. Sometimes it rains powerfully for several days, with thunder and lightning and a strong wind. In the summer season, from May to October, the earth is parched, verdure is destroyed, and vegetation languishes. The first rain after the summer drought usually falls in October, and is called the former or autumnal rain, because it precedes seed-time and prepares the earth for cultivation. The latter rain falls in April, just before harvest, and perfects the fruits of the earth. Deut 11:14; Hos 6:3; Joel 2:23. Storms after this time were regarded by the Jews as unseasonable, and even miraculous. Prov 26:1; 1 Sam 12:16-19. The average present rainfall at Jerusalem is 61.6 inches, which is greater than that of almost any part of the United States. See Palestine.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

Reign. [Obs.] Spenser.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

Water falling in drops from the clouds; the descent of water from the clouds in drops. Rain is water by the heat of the sun divided into very small parts ascending in the air, till, encountering the cold, it be condensed into clouds, and descends in drops. Ray. Fair days have oft contracted wind and rain. Milton.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To fall in drops from the clouds, as water; used mostly with it for a nominative; as, it rains. The rain it raineth every day. Shak.

2. To fall or drop like water from the clouds; as, tears rained from their eyes.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To pour or shower down from above, like rain from the clouds. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. Ex. xvi. 4.

2. To bestow in a profuse or abundant manner; as, to rain favors upon a person.