proverb · Words worth keeping
God tempers the wind to the shorn sheep.
God tempers the wind to the shorn sheep.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying expresses trust that divine care makes allowance for vulnerability. The shorn sheep and moderated wind picture compassion toward exposed need.
What the words are saying
A sheep without its fleece is given gentler conditions through God’s care. A believer may use the image to express hope during a vulnerable period. It does not prove that harmful weather or hardship will be prevented, or that suffering shows an absence of faith. A careful reading keeps the confidence within its religious frame while recognising the continuing importance of practical help and protection.
Everyday example
A believer expresses hope for care during a difficult transition while accepting practical assistance from friends.
When to use it
Use it to discuss religious hope for compassion toward vulnerability.
What it does not mean
It expresses belief, not a guarantee of protection or an explanation for suffering.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1430 · Shorn sheep
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English