An unlawful wind as an air of the spirit

That Greek word for "wind" often indicates the work of "Satan" or the "devil" and can be a play on words or pun for the Greek word for "not lawful" or "against the law". When the "law" is taken as God's laws the play on words is especially interesting.

The Greek of the GNT (Greek New Testament) has a word for "wind" and a word for "spirit". Sometimes these words are not translated consistently. The possible reasons for this are interesting. Might there be a connection with the confusion of the words "wind" and "spirit"?

The ancient Greek word "ἄνεμος" ≈ "wind" and is related to the Latin word "animus" ≈ "mind, spirit, breath, etc." and is the source of "animus". The breath part is the origin of the English word "animal".

The modern Greek word "άνεμος" (A-neh-mos) ≈ "wind".

The Greek word for "wind" has a negative connotation in the GNT.

Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! [kjv]

οι δε ανθρωποι εθαυμασαν λεγοντες ποταπος εστιν ουτος οτι και οι ανεμοι και η θαλασσα αυτω υπακουουσιν [gnt]

After this verse, the story or parable of the herd of "swine" appears in Matthew 8. Mark 5 and Luke 8 have similar stories. Do the winds obey man?

More: Have you heard of the herd of swine? Did they sea it?

Benjamin Franklin (American scientist, inventor, philosopher, statesman) had a bamboo cane with a hidden trigger and hollow body that he could use to dispense oil that would "calm" water in front of him to impress other people with that ability.

More: Benjamin Franklin

Matthew 8:27

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KJV: But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Greek: οι δε ανθρωποι εθαυμασαν λεγοντες ποταπος εστιν ουτος οτι και οι ανεμοι και η θαλασσα αυτω υπακουουσιν αυτω

At some point in the Middle Ages, the Catholic church wanted each parish church (area around the church) to have a rooster to remind everyone of Peter's denial. Eventually, this often became a weather vane.

The modern Greek word "ανεμοδείκτης" (a-neh-mo-THEE-ktees) ≈ "weather vane" is, literally, a "wind pointer" where the prefix is the modern Greek word "άνεμος" (A-neh-mos) ≈ "wind"

More: Parish the neighborhood thought

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; [kjv]

ινα μηκετι ωμεν νηπιοι κλυδωνιζομενοι και περιφερομενοι παντι ανεμω της διδασκαλιας εν τη κυβεια των ανθρωπων εν πανουργια προς την μεθοδειαν της πλανης [gnt]

Paul talks of deception in various ways in Ephesians 4:14. The ancient Greek word "μέθοδος" ≈ "following after, pursuit" and is used here for as "deception". The KJV (King James Version) translates this as "lie in wait". Who are the "they"?

The ancient Greek word "πλάνη" ≈ "wandering, roaming" and, figuratively, "going astray" or "in error". as in wandering off-target.

The ancient Greek word "πανοῦργος" ≈ "ready to try anything" and is often translated as "crafty".

More: Ready to try anything crafty

The following is conducive to a play on words in the Greek. Paul appears to do this once in Ephesians 4:14. The Greek for "doctrine" is that of "teaching".

"ἄνεμος" ≈ "wind, breeze, gale" and often used in verses with Satin or the devil as "accuser" throwing/breathing accusations.
"ἄνομος" ≈ "without law" which could be "lawless", "impious", "unmusical", "illegal", etc.
English: ... carried about by every wind of teaching.
Play on words: ... carried about by every without-law teaching.

Any teaching that goes against "Loving God" or "Loving neighbor as yourself" would be "without-law" or "against-law".

More: Ephesians 6: Defending the full armor of God

Ephesians 4:14

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KJV: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Greek: ινα μηκετι ωμεν νηπιοι κλυδωνιζομενοι και περιφερομενοι παντι ανεμω της διδασκαλιας εν τη κυβεια των ανθρωπων εν πανουργια προς την μεθοδειαν της πλανης

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [kjv]

ενδυσασθε την πανοπλιαν του θεου προς το δυνασθαι υμας στηναι προς τας μεθοδειας του διαβολου [gnt]

The ancient Greek word "μέθοδος" ≈ "following after, pursuit".

The "wiles of the devil" might be thought of as the "methods of the devil" as in a trap to deceive those. In both cases in Ephesians, the word for "method" is not used in a positive light. Deception has been an important part of military operations since time began.

This analogy would be familiar to any soldier of the time as deception was common in military operations. Alexander the Great made great use of deception since he usually had a much smaller force than his opponents. The Romans were deceived at a devastating ambush at Teuteburg Forest about 9 A.D.

More: Streets: Flowing after a path into a plaza

More: Ephesians 6: Defending the full armor of God

Paul uses another pun about the law and pipes in Romans

The following appear to differ only in the space in the text - there are none in the original Greek. Both are objects in accusative case ending. Accents were added later.

The ancient Greek word "υπό νόμον" ≈ "under (the) law".
The ancient Greek word "ὑπόνομον" ≈ "underground passage, mine, water-pipe, conduit, sewer, vein of minerals".

Romans 6:14 … ye are not under the law, but under grace. [kjv]

αμαρτια γαρ υμων ου κυριευσει ου γαρ εστε υπο νομον αλλα υπο χαριν [gnt]

Paul can be saying (at least) two things (and all can be true).

... you are not under law but under grace.

... you are not sewer pipes but under purpose.

This appears to be the main emphasis of Romans. The word for "grace" is that of "favor" and can be translated as "purpose".

More: Romans: Under the law as in sewer pipes

Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. [kjv]

ανατελλων αυτος εκει πορευεται προς νοτον και κυκλοι προς βορραν κυκλοι κυκλων πορευεται το πνευμα και επι κυκλους αυτου επιστρεφει το πνευμα [lxx]

Ecclesiastes has (at least) three verses that talk about wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:6

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KJV: The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Hebrew: הולך אל דרום וסובב אל צפון סובב סבב הולך הרוח ועל סביבתיו שב הרוח׃

Greek: ανατελλων αυτος εκει πορευεται προς νοτον και κυκλοι προς βορραν κυκλοι κυκλων πορευεται το πνευμα και επι κυκλους αυτου επιστρεφει το πνευμα

Ecclesiastes 5:16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? [kjv]

και γε τουτο πονηρα αρρωστια ωσπερ γαρ παρεγενετο ουτως και απελευσεται και τις περισσεια αυτω η μοχθει εις ανεμον [lxx]

Ecclesiastes 5:16

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KJV: And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

Hebrew: וגם זה רעה חולה כל עמת שבא כן ילך ומה יתרון לו שיעמל לרוח׃

Greek: και γε τουτο πονηρα αρρωστια ωσπερ γαρ παρεγενετο ουτως και απελευσεται και τις περισσεια αυτω η μοχθει εις ανεμον

Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. [kjv]

τηρων ανεμον ου σπερει και βλεπων εν ταις νεφελαις ου θερισει [lxx]

The "wind" may be related to the "birds" who do not "sow" neither do they "reap".

More: Matthew 6: The missing part worked out for the birds

Ecclesiastes 11:4

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KJV: He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Hebrew: שמר רוח לא יזרע וראה בעבים לא יקצור׃

Greek: τηρων ανεμον ου σπερει και βλεπων εν ταις νεφελαις ου θερισει