King James Bible Dictionary

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons,

1. Yoreh (Hosea 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain.

2. Melqosh, the "latter rain" (Proverbs 16:15).

3. Geshem, the winter rain, "the rains." The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Genesis 7:12; Ezra 10:9; Song of Solomon 2:11. The "early" or "former" rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23; comp. Jeremiah 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 (Deuteronomy 11:14; Hosea 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 Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalms 72:6; Isaiah 44:3, 4; Hosea 10:12.

Forty days of, at the time of the flood
Genesis 7:4; Genesis 7:10-12; Genesis 7:17-24

The plague of, upon Egypt
Exodus 9:22-26; Exodus 9:33-34

Miraculously caused:

By Samuel
1 Samuel 12:16-19

By Elijah
1 Kings 18:41-45

David delivered by
2 Samuel 5:17-21; Isaiah 28:21

North wind unfavorable to
Proverbs 25:23

Withheld as judgment
Deuteronomy 11:17; Deuteronomy 28:24; 1 Kings 8:35; 2 Chronicles 7:13; Jeremiah 3:3; Amos 4:7; Zech 14:17

The earth shall no more be destroyed by
Genesis 9:8-17

Sent by God
Deuteronomy 11:13-14; Job 37:6; Isaiah 30:23; Jeremiah 5:24; Jeremiah 14:22

Contingent upon obedience
Leviticus 26:3-4; Deuteronomy 11:13-14

Prayer for
1 Kings 8:35-36; 2 Chronicles 6:26-27

Answer to prayer for, promised
2 Chronicles 7:13-14; Zech 10:1

Withheld, in answer to prayer
James 5:17-18

Rainy season in Palestine in the ninth month, corresponding to December
Ezra 10:9; Ezra 10:13
Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

Figurative
Psalms 72:6

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, verb intransitive [It seems that rain is contracted from regen. It is the Gr. to rain to water, which we retain in brook, and the Latins, by dropping the prefix, in rigo, irrigo, to irrigate. The primary sense is to pour out, to drive forth. Heb.]

1. To fall in drops from the clouds, as water; used mostly with it for a nominative; as, it rains; it will rain; it rained, or it has rained.

2. To fall or drop like rain; as, tears rained at their eyes.

RAIN, verb transitive To pour or shower down from the upper regions, like rain from the clouds.

Then said the Lord to Moses, behold I will rain bread from heaven for you. Exodus 14:1.

God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. Job 20:23.

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and horrible tempest. Psalms 11:6.

RAIN, noun The descent of water in drops from the clouds; or the water thus falling. rain is distinguished from mist, by the size of the drops, which are distinctly visible. When water falls in very small drops or particles, we call it mist, and fog is composed of particles so fine as to be not only indistinguishable, but to float or be suspended in the air.

RA'INBAT, adjective Beaten or injured by the rain. [Not used.]

Caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the divine faithfulness (Genesis 9:12-17). It existed indeed before, but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others, however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it "appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of heaven." It is argued by those holding this opinion that the atmosphere was differently constituted before the Flood. It is referred to three other times in Scripture (Ezekiel 1:27, 28; Revelation 4:1-3; 10:1).

A token that the earth shall no more be destroyed by flood
Genesis 9:8-16; Ezekiel 1:28

Symbolic
Revelation 4:3; Revelation 10:1
Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

the token of the covenant which God made with Noah when he came forth from the ark that the waters should no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. The right interpretation of (Genesis 9:13) seems to be that God took the rainbow, which had hitherto been but a beautiful object shining in the heavens when the sun's rays fell on falling rain, and consecrated it as the sign of his love and the witness of his promise. Ecclus. 43.11. The rainbow is a symbol of God's faithfulness and mercy. In the "rainbow around the throne," (Revelation 4:3) is seen the symbol of hope and the bright emblem of mercy and love, all the more true as a symbol because it is reflected from the storm itself.

RA'INBOW, noun A bow, or an arch of a circle, consisting of all the colors formed by the refraction and reflection of rays of light from drops of rain or vapor, appearing in the part of the hemisphere opposite to the sun. When the sun is at the horizon, the rainbow is a semicircle. The rainbow is called also iris.

The moon sometimes forms a bow or arch of light, more faint than that formed by the sun, and called lunar rainbow Similar bows at sea are called marine rainbows or sea bows.

RA'IN-DEER, noun

The rane, a species of the cervine genus. [See Rane.]

RA'ININESS, noun [from rainy.] The state of being rainy.

RA'IN-WATER, noun Water that has fallen from the clouds.

RA'INY, adjective Abounding with rain; wet; showery; as rainy weather; a rainy day or season.