(5.) And rises (i.e. ‘bursts out’ or ‘irradiates’) the sun, and sets the sun (as ‘sun’ is repeated, the second is equivalent to that same sun) and towards his place panting (this word ‘pant,’ שאף, occurs Job vii. 2; Psalm lvii. 3; Psalm cxix. 131, and denotes earnest desire: the metaphor is a very beautiful one in this context)——rising (irradiating) is he there.
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.
III. Going southwards, and twisting northwards, twisting, twisting goes the blast; and so with all its twistings the wind returns.
(6.) Going (i.e. ‘walking,’ ‘proceeding,’ as in verse 4) towards the south (the quarter of warm winds), and turning round towards the north (the place of cold), turning turns, going the wind (there is in the Hebrew a concourse of sibilant letters imitating the sound of the wind, which is attempted to be rendered in the paraphrase), and in its turnings returns the wind (that is, ever goes round in the same circuits, as the Authorized Version translates). Thus we have an allusion to the four cardinal points of the universe, North, South, East, and West.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they [¹]return again.
[¹] Hebrew return to go.