apparently from זָרָה; properly, a scatterer, i.e. the north wind (as dispersing clouds; only in plural); north.
Transliteration:mᵉzâreh
Pronunciation:mez-aw-reh'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma מְזָרֶה (mᵉzâreh), Strong's number `{{H4215}}`, is a masculine plural noun derived from the verb זָרָה (zârah), `{{H2219}}`, meaning "to scatter," "to disperse," or "to winnow." As such, מְזָרֶה literally signifies "scatterers" or "dispersers." In its specific biblical usage, it refers to the "north wind," understood as the wind that disperses clouds and brings clear, often cold, weather. By extension, it can also denote the cardinal direction "north" as the origin of these dispersing winds. The plural form suggests a collective force or perhaps an intensified sense of the scattering action.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word מְזָרֶה (mᵉzâreh) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Job:
* **[[Job 37:9]]**: "Out of the south comes the storm, and out of the north the cold." (ESV)
* The Hebrew text reads: מִן־הַחֶדֶר תָּבֹא סוּפָה וּמִמְּזָרִים קָרָה (min-hakhéder tāḇō’ sûphāh ûmimməzārîm qārāh).
* Here, וּמִמְּזָרִים (ûmimməzārîm) is translated as "and from the north" or "from the north winds."
* In this context, Elihu is delivering a discourse on the majestic power of God, particularly as manifested in natural phenomena. The verse presents a clear parallelism: the south (חֶדֶר, `{{H2315}}`, often associated with a chamber or inner room, here referring to the source of the south wind) brings forth storms, while the "scatterers" (מְזָרֶה, the north winds) are the source of cold (קָרָה, `{{H7120}}`).
* This passage highlights the predictability and distinct characteristics of winds from different directions in the ancient Near East, with the north wind typically bringing clear, cold air by dispersing cloud cover.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verbal root from which מְזָרֶה is derived:
* **זָרָה (zârah)**, `{{H2219}}`: This verb is fundamental to understanding מְזָרֶה. It encompasses a wide range of "scattering" actions, from winnowing grain ([[Ruth 3:2]]) and scattering dust ([[Exodus 9:8]]) to God's act of scattering peoples ([[Leviticus 26:33]]; [[Ezekiel 5:2]]). This underlying meaning informs the concept of the north wind as a "scatterer" of clouds.
Other related concepts include:
* **Winds and Directions:** The Bible frequently refers to the four cardinal directions and their associated winds, which held significant meteorological and sometimes symbolic meaning.
* **רוּחַ (ruach)**, `{{H7307}}`: The general term for "wind," "spirit," or "breath."
* **צָפוֹן (tzaphon)**, `{{H6828}}`: The more common and general term for the cardinal direction "north." While `{{H4215}}` specifically denotes the *type* of wind or the north as a source of dispersing winds, `{{H6828}}` is the standard geographical term.
* **קָדִים (qadim)**, `{{H6921}}`: "East wind," often associated with heat and desiccation.
* **דָּרוֹם (darom)**, `{{H1864}}`: "South," or "south wind."
* **יָם (yam)**, `{{H3220}}`: "West" (literally "sea," referring to the Mediterranean Sea to the west of Israel).
### Theological Significance
The singular appearance of מְזָרֶה in [[Job 37:9]] serves a profound theological purpose within Elihu's discourse:
* **Divine Sovereignty over Creation:** The primary theological insight is the affirmation of God's absolute control over natural phenomena. Elihu attributes the origin of specific weather patterns—storms from the south and cold from the north—directly to God's command. This stands in contrast to pagan beliefs that attributed such forces to various deities or arbitrary chance. For Elihu, the "scatterers" (north winds) are not independent forces but instruments in the hand of the Almighty, demonstrating His omnipotence and precise ordering of creation.
* **The Incomprehensibility of God's Ways:** Within the broader context of Job, descriptions of the natural world, including the winds, serve to highlight the vast chasm between human understanding and divine wisdom. Just as humans cannot fully comprehend the mechanisms of the winds, so too can they not fully grasp the ways of God. The north wind, as a "scatterer," is a tangible manifestation of God's active presence in the world, bringing about specific conditions.
* **God as Disperser and Orderer:** While the direct reference is to a meteorological phenomenon, the root meaning of "scattering" (`{{H2219}}`) resonates with broader theological themes of God's judgment and dispersion of nations, as well as His sovereign ability to bring order out of chaos. The north wind's action of scattering clouds to bring cold, clear air can be seen as a micro-example of God's powerful, purposeful activity in creation.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מְזָרֶה (mᵉzâreh), `{{H4215}}`, is a unique plural noun derived from the verb "to scatter" (זָרָה, `{{H2219}}`). It appears exclusively in [[Job 37:9]], where it denotes "the north" or "north winds," specifically highlighting their characteristic action of dispersing clouds and bringing cold. In its singular biblical occurrence, מְזָרֶה serves to underscore the majestic power and precise control of God over all natural phenomena. Elihu's use of this term, alongside the description of the south wind, emphasizes that all elements of creation, including the powerful and distinctive winds, operate under divine command, revealing the incomprehensible wisdom and sovereignty of the Creator.
TRV