Rain

Rain as a natural phenomenon

2 Samuel 21:10; 1 Kings 18:41, 1 Kings 18:44; Ezra 10:9; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Isaiah 4:6; Luke 12:54; Hebrews 6:7

Associated with cold weather

Acts 28:2

The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

God controls the rain

Genesis 2:5; Jeremiah 51:16 See also 1 Kings 18:1; Job 5:10, Job 28:26, Job 37:6, Job 38:25; Psalm 68:8, Psalm 135:7, Psalm 147:8; Jeremiah 10:13, Jeremiah 14:22

Now no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth, nor had any plant of the field sprouted, for the LORD God had not yet sent rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.

When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

God's bounty in giving rain to Israel

Deuteronomy 28:12 See also Leviticus 26:4; Deuteronomy 11:14

The LORD will open the heavens, His abundant storehouse, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none.

God's bounty in giving rain to all humanity

Matthew 5:45; Acts 14:17 See also Zechariah 10:1

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

God's punishment through rain and flood

Genesis 7:4 See also Exodus 9:33–34; 1 Samuel 12:17–18; Ezekiel 38:22

For seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living thing I have made.”

God's punishment through drought

Deuteronomy 11:17 See also 1 Kings 8:35–36 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:26–27; 1 Kings 17:1; Isaiah 5:6; Amos 4:7; Zechariah 14:17–18; James 5:17; Revelation 11:6

or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you. He will shut the heavens so that there will be no rain, nor will the land yield its produce, and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is giving you.

Rain as a symbol of spiritual truth

God's power to save

Isaiah 55:10–11 See also 2 Samuel 23:4; Isaiah 45:8

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

God's powerful anger

Ezekiel 13:11–13 See also 2 Samuel 22:12; Job 20:23; Isaiah 28:2

tell those whitewashing the wall that it will fall. Rain will come in torrents, I will send hailstones plunging down, and a windstorm will burst forth. Surely when the wall has fallen, you will not be asked, ‘Where is the whitewash with which you covered it?’ Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: In My wrath I will release a windstorm, and in My anger torrents of rain and hail will fall with destructive fury.

Power of circumstances

Matthew 7:27 See also Matthew 7:25

The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell— and great was its collapse!”

Rain in other imagery

Ability to satisfy: Deuteronomy 32:2; Job 29:23; Psalm 72:6; Proverbs 16:15; Proverbs 25:14; Jude 1:12; Proverbs 25:23, Proverbs 26:1

The rainbow

Genesis 9:14–16 a sign of God's covenant; Ezekiel 1:28; Revelation 4:3, Revelation 10:1