the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Snow
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
(5) God's power over the elements of Nature is often brought out in the Old Testament: "For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth" (Job 37:6 ); but man cannot fathom the works of God: "Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow?" (Job 38:22 ). "The snowy day" (1 Chronicles 11:22; 2 Samuel 23:20 ) and the "fear of snow" (Proverbs 31:21 ) are figurative uses describing winter and cold. "Snow in summer" ( Proverbs 26:1 ) would be most out of place, yet it might be most refreshing to the tired workmen in the time of harvest.
(6) Snow is the symbol of purity and cleanness, giving us some of our most beautiful passages of Scripture: "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7 ); "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18 ). Carrying the figure farther, snow-water might be expected to have a special value for cleansing: "If I wash myself with snow-water" (Job 9:30 ). The most common use in Scripture is to denote whiteness in color and implying purity as well: "His raiment was white as snow" (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3; Mark 9:3; Revelation 1:14 ).
(7) The whiteness of leprosy is compared to snow (Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27 ).
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Snow'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​s/snow.html. 1915.