FROST

frost (kephor, "hoar-frost," Exodus 16:14 Job 38:29; chanamal, perhaps "the aphis," Psalm 78:47; qerach, "cold," Genesis 31:40 Job 37:10 the King James Version; Jeremiah 36:30):

1. Formation:

A temperature of freezing or lower is called frost. Dew forms when the temperature is decreased; and if below freezing, the dew takes the form of a white film or covering over rocks and leaves. This white covering is called hoar-frost. Like dew it is the result of condensation of the moisture of the air on objects which radiate their heat quickly. In order that condensation may take place the atmosphere must be saturated. Frost may be expected on clear, still nights when the radiation is sufficient to reduce the temperature below the freezing-point.

In Syria and Palestine frost is a very rare occurrence at sea-level; but on the hills and elevated plains it is usual in winter, beginning with November, and on the highest elevations throughout the year. Late spring frosts in March or early April do great damage to fruit.

2. In Syria and Palestine:

In clear weather there is often a great variation in the temperature of the day and the night, especially on the inland plains, so that literally, as Jacob said to Laban, "In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night" (Genesis 31:40); "In the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost" (Jeremiah 36:30; compare Jeremiah 22:19), a passage which suggests that Jehoiakim's corpse was left unburied.

3. In Egypt:

The meaning of chanamal, translated "frost" in Psalm 78:47 (see above), "He destroyed. their sycomore-trees with frost" (m "great hail stones"), is uncertain. "Frost is unknown in Egypt, and Gesenius suggests `ants,' comparing it with Arabic namal" (Temple, BD, S.V.).

4. Figurative Uses:

The manna in the wilderness is compared to hoarfrost. "A small round thing, small as the hoarfrost" (Exodus 16:14). Manna is occasionally found in Syria now as a flaky, gelatinous substance formed on bushes and rocks. The elements of Nature are indications of God's power, and are referred to as signs of His might: "By the breath of God frost is given" (Job 37:10 the King James Version). "The hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?" (Job 38:29); "He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-trees with frost" (Psalm 78:47); "He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes" (Psalm 147:16).

Alfred H. Joy

(Hebrews kerah, from its smoothness) Job 37:10 (R.V., "ice"); Genesis 31:40; Jeremiah 36:30; rendered "ice" in Job 6:16, 38:29; and "crystal" in Ezek. 1:22. "At the present day frost is entirely unknown in the lower portions of the valley of the Jordan, but slight frosts are sometimes felt on the sea-coast and near Lebanon." Throughout Western Asia cold frosty nights are frequently succeeded by warm days.

"Hoar frost" (Hebrews kephor, so called from its covering the ground) is mentioned in Exodus 16:14; Job 38:29; Psalm 147:16.

In Psalm 78:47 the word rendered "frost" (R.V. marg., "great hail-stones"), hanamal, occurs only there. It is rendered by Gesenius, the Hebrew lexicographer, "ant," and so also by others, but the usual interpretation derived from the ancient versions may be maintained.

1. (n.) The act of freezing; -- applied chiefly to the congelation of water; congelation of fluids.

2. (n.) The state or temperature of the air which occasions congelation, or the freezing of water; severe cold or freezing weather.

3. (v. i.) Frozen dew; -- called also hoarfrost or white frost.

4. (v. i.) Coldness or insensibility; severity or rigidity of character.

5. (v. t.) To injure by frost; to freeze, as plants.

6. (v. t.) To cover with hoarfrost; to produce a surface resembling frost upon, as upon cake, metals, or glass.

7. (v. t.) To roughen or sharpen, as the nail heads or calks of horseshoes, so as to fit them for frosty weather.

2602. chanamel -- perhaps frost
... << 2601, 2602. chanamel. 2603 >>. perhaps frost. Transliteration: chanamel
Phonetic Spelling: (khan-aw-mawl') Short Definition: frost. ...
/hebrew/2602.htm - 5k

7140. qerach -- frost, ice
... << 7139, 7140. qerach. 7141 >>. frost, ice. Transliteration: qerach Phonetic Spelling:
(keh'-rakh) Short Definition: ice. ... crystal, frost, ice. ...
/hebrew/7140.htm - 6k

3713. kphowr -- a bowl
... << 3712, 3713. kphowr. 3713a >>. a bowl. Transliteration: kphowr Phonetic Spelling:
(kef-ore') Short Definition: bason. bason, hoary frost ...
/hebrew/3713.htm - 5k

3713b. kephor -- hoarfrost
... hoarfrost. Transliteration: kephor Short Definition: frost. Word Origin from the
same as kephor Definition hoarfrost NASB Word Usage frost (3). << 3713a, 3713b. ...
/hebrew/3713b.htm - 5k