### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **malqôwsh**, represented by `{{H4456}}`, refers to the **latter rain**. It appears **8 times** in **8 unique verses**, denoting the crucial spring rain essential for maturing crops before the harvest. While its primary meaning is agricultural, it is also used figuratively to represent eloquence or a deeply desired blessing.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4456}}` is a key indicator of God's relationship with Israel. Its provision is a sign of divine favor and faithfulness. God promises to give "the first rain and the **latter rain**" in its season as a reward for obedience, allowing the people to gather their harvest [[Deuteronomy 11:14]]. Conversely, the withholding of the **latter rain** is an act of judgment for sin [[Jeremiah 3:3]]. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a king's life-giving favor, which is like "a cloud of the **latter rain**" [[Proverbs 16:15]], and the way people eagerly awaited Job's counsel [[Job 29:23]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help define the biblical concept of rain and its seasons:
* `{{H3138}}` **yôwreh** (first rain, former (rain)): This term is the direct counterpart to **malqôwsh**, representing the autumn rains that soften the ground for planting. The two are often mentioned together to encompass the full cycle of God's provision for the land [[Jeremiah 5:24]].
* `{{H1653}}` **geshem** (rain, shower): This is a general word for rain. In Joel, God promises to send **geshem**, followed by a specific mention of "the former rain, and the **latter rain**," illustrating how `{{H4456}}` is a specific type of this broader blessing [[Joel 2:23]].
* `{{H4306}}` **mâṭar** (rain; rain): Another general term for rain. The people are instructed to ask the Lord for **mâṭar** specifically "in the time of the **latter rain**," highlighting that God is the source of this critical seasonal event [[Zechariah 10:1]].
* `{{H7241}}` **râbîyb** (shower): This word for showers is linked to `{{H4456}}` in Jeremiah's prophecy, where the withholding of **râbîyb** results in "no **latter rain**" [[Jeremiah 3:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4456}}` is centered on God's covenant and sovereignty over nature.
* **Covenant Blessing:** The timely arrival of the **latter rain** is presented as a tangible outcome of Israel's faithfulness to the covenant, ensuring a bountiful harvest and national prosperity [[Deuteronomy 11:14]]. The people are to recognize God as the one who gives both the former and **latter** rain in its season [[Jeremiah 5:24]].
* **Divine Presence:** The coming of the Lord himself is compared to the rain, specifically "as the **latter** and former rain unto the earth" [[Hosea 6:3]]. This metaphor frames God's arrival as a refreshing, life-sustaining, and restorative event.
* **Figurative Favor:** The positive and essential nature of the **latter rain** makes it a powerful symbol for any welcome and beneficial influence, from the wisdom of a righteous man to the favor of a king ([[Job 29:23]], [[Proverbs 16:15]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4456}}` is more than a simple word for spring rain. It is a cornerstone of the agricultural and theological landscape of the Old Testament, acting as a barometer of God's blessing and judgment. It illustrates a direct link between the natural cycle of the seasons and the spiritual state of the nation. Whether as a literal shower for the harvest or a metaphor for divine favor, the **latter rain** represents a crucial, life-giving gift from God.
TRV