Hoarfrost is a thin, icy coating that forms on surfaces during cold weather when temperature and humidity conditions are just right. It forms through the process of deposition, where water vapor in the air freezes directly into ice crystals on the surface.
In the Bible, hoarfrost is mentioned several times as a metaphor for God’s power over nature and as a symbol of the fleetingness of life. Here is an overview of the main biblical references to hoarfrost:
Job 38:29-30
The most well-known mention of hoarfrost in the Bible is in the book of Job. In Job 38, God is responding to Job’s complaints about his suffering with a series of rhetorical questions about God’s power over creation. Verses 29-30 say:
“From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.”
Here, God points to the hoarfrost as evidence that He has power over the natural world to freeze water in midair. The hoarfrost comes from no human “womb” – it is created by God alone. This passage emphasizes God’s sovereignty over the natural world.
Psalm 147:16-17
Psalm 147 praises God’s provision and power over the natural world. Verses 16-17 say:
“He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?”
Here, the psalmist uses hoarfrost and frost as examples of God’s activity in changing the weather from season to season. The frost covers the ground like “wool” and “ashes.” God is in control of the cold weather.
Proverbs 25:13
Proverbs 25:13 makes an observation about the fleeting reliability of a messenger:
“Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.”
The verse compares a faithful messenger to the refreshing cold of snow at harvest time. However, the cold snow is only temporary, as is the reliability of the messenger. This proverb uses hoarfrost/snow to symbolize the transience of life and human relationships.
Exodus 16:14
When God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, Exodus 16:14 describes it appearing after the dew had evaporated:
“And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.”
The thin, flaky covering of manna is compared to hoarfrost on the wilderness ground. This emphasizes the supernatural origins of the manna, like hoarfrost coming out of thin air. God miraculously provided for his people.
Job 37:9-10
Job 37 continues God’s monologue about His sovereignty. Verses 9-10 say:
“From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.”
This passage talks about the cold “whirlwind” that God generates, freezing bodies of water with His breath. Again, hoarfrost is attributed to the direct action and breath of God, showcasing His complete power over the weather.
Psalm 148:8
Psalm 148 is a call for all of creation to praise the Lord. Verse 8 says:
“Fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!”
Here, snow and hoarfrost are mentioned as parts of God’s creation that follow His commands and therefore should praise Him.
Daniel 5:6
When the hand of God wrote a message on the wall pronouncing judgment on King Belshazzar, Daniel 5:6 records Belshazzar’s reaction:
“Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.”
The phrasing “his limbs gave way” may refer to limbs going numb or stiff from terror, in the same way that limbs grow stiff in extreme cold. This could be an image of his terror freezing over him like hoarfrost.
Psalm 147:17
Psalm 147:17 also makes the observation:
“He casts forth his ice like morsels; who can stand before his cold?”
The verse poetically describes God throwing pieces of ice/hoarfrost to the earth. The psalmist confirms that no human can withstand the cold that God administers.
Isaiah 55:10
Speaking of the effectiveness of God’s word, Isaiah 55:10 states:
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater…”
Here, snow and rain are compared to how God’s word waters the earth and causes growth. Snow/frost are part of God’s provision in the weather cycle.
Psalm 148:7
In this psalm about universal praise to God, verse 7 parallels frost with fire and hail:
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!”
All three have the potential for destruction, but are under God’s control.
Proverbs 20:4
On laziness, Proverbs 20:4 remarks:
“The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.”
The verse implies that not preparing ahead of winter will lead to having no food. There is a narrow window between harvest and the coming of frost when preparation must be made.
Zechariah 14:6-7
Speaking of the day of the Lord, Zechariah 14:6-7 states:
On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost. And there shall be a unique day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.
This foretells an age where normal weather patterns and seasons will be suspended. Light and warmth will overcome the dark and cold.
Genesis 31:40
Genesis 31:40 records Jacob describing his time of labor:
“These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.
Jacob worked through all kinds of adverse weather conditions, including frost and cold. His labor continued in spite of the seasons.
Job 6:16
In Job 6:16, Job laments:
“which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.”
This figuratively describes his misfortunes concealing hope from him, like ice covering streams and snow obscuring the landscape.
Ezekiel 1:22
Describing his vision of the glory of God, Ezekiel 1:22 states:
“Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.”
The shining expanse above the angels is compared to the shining crystal appearance of hoarfrost. This emphasizes the brilliant radiance of God’s glory.
Job 37:10
Within God’s monologue in Job 37, verse 10 remarks:
“By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.”
The verse directly attributes hoarfrost and ice to the breath and agency of God. He controls winter weather.
Psalm 148:3
Psalm 148:3 calls on nature to praise the Lord:
“Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!”
The psalm calls on all of creation, including cold frost and ice, to praise God’s name.
Isaiah 28:17
Isaiah 28:17 uses frost as a metaphor in saying:
“And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
God’s standards of justice and righteousness will overwhelm and defeat wickedness. Frost and hail serve as metaphors for God judging sin.
Exodus 9:22-26
In the plague of hail in Egypt, Exodus 9:22-26 describes:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man and beast and every plant of the field, in the land of Egypt.” Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. There was hail and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.
This plague demonstrated God’s complete control over the weather, unleashing destructive hail and frost unlike anything seen before. It showcased God’s power over Egypt and protection of His people from the elements.
Psalm 147:16
Psalm 147:16 praises God’s provision of frost and snow:
He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
Snow and frost are described as gifts from God that blanket the earth, providing moisture and protecting roots and soil.
Genesis 31:42
When Jacob left Laban’s household, Genesis 31:42 recounts:
“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”
Jacob notes God watching over him through his hard labor and through all the adverse conditions like frost he had worked through over the years.
Ezekiel 37:12
Amid the vision of the valley of dry bones, Ezekiel 37:12 records God saying:
“Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.
This promise of national restoration for Israel uses resurrection imagery. God can revive even the deadest, driest bones, just as He can bring life from frost and cold.
Psalm 33:9
Psalm 33:9 declares of God:
For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
God’s word is powerful and He actualizes whatever He declares. By His command, frost forms in the winter season each year.
Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 43:19 contains a promise of God doing new things:
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Though intense cold may turn a landscape barren, God promises to bring forth streams of water even in frozen places.
Conclusion
In summary, the Bible uses hoarfrost and frost as symbols of God’s complete dominion over the natural world. The freezing, midair formation of frost is attributed directly to God’s control and intent. Frost reminds us of the passingness of life, the necessity of wisdom and preparation, and the fleetingness of human strength. It is a meteorological manifestation of God’s might. Yet the Bible also promises that God’s grace and power can bring life from cold barrenness, offering hope of restoration. As a complex natural phenomenon, hoarfrost displays the beauty, power, and sovereignty of the Creator who rules over all.