סְתָיו

From the study of Song of Songs 2:11

Range of meaning

The winter or rainy season. It covers the cool, wet months of the Levantine year, from the onset of the 'early rains' (yoreh) in autumn through the 'latter rains' (malqosh) of March–April. It names a season by its weather, not by a calendar date.

Against the English

Every major English version says 'winter', which is correct as a season name. But English 'winter' usually brings to mind snow, frozen ground and dead stillness. In the hill country of Israel, winter meant mostly cold rain, wind, mud and short days. Snow fell only occasionally on the highest ground.

How it drifted

English 'winter' grew up in northern European climates where the season is defined by cold and snow. The Levantine season is defined by rain.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is the only occurrence in the Hebrew Bible (a 'hapax', a word found once). The word is well attested in Aramaic: Targumic and Syriac sitwā mean 'winter'. It is also common in later Mishnaic Hebrew for the rainy season. The ordinary older Hebrew word for winter is ḥoref (e.g. Gen 8:22; Amos 3:15, 'winter house'). The Septuagint has cheimōn, the standard Greek word for winter and stormy weather.