אָרֵךְ
long
Definition
The Hebrew word אָרֵךְ primarily means 'long' in a physical sense, such as describing length or duration. Its most significant and frequent usage, however, is in the idiomatic phrase 'אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם' (ʾereḵ ʾappayim), literally 'long of nostrils' or 'long of face,' which figuratively means 'slow to anger,' 'patient,' or 'longsuffering.' This metaphorical use describes God's patient forbearance with humanity, as powerfully declared in Exodus 34:6. The word can also describe physical attributes, like the 'long wings' of the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2.
Biblical Usage
This word is used 15 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in poetic and prophetic books. Its most important pattern is its use in descriptions of God's character. The phrase 'longsuffering' or 'slow to anger' appears in key confessional texts about God's nature, including Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalms 86:15, 103:8, 145:8, and Nehemiah 9:17. It is also applied to human virtue in Proverbs 14:29 and 15:18, advocating for patience and a calm spirit. The physical sense is rare, seen only in Isaiah 6:2.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb אָרַךְ (ʾāraḵ, H748), which means 'to be long' or 'to prolong.' The noun form אָרֵךְ carries the core idea of extended length, whether in space or time. This root connection highlights how the concept of physical length was naturally extended to the metaphorical realm of enduring patience over a long period.
Semantic Range
This word is profoundly important theologically. It is a cornerstone of the biblical revelation of God's character, specifically His covenant mercy and patience. The repeated declaration that God is 'slow to anger' (e.g., Exodus 34:6) is central to understanding His grace and willingness to withhold deserved judgment. For humans, it describes the fruit of wisdom and self-control (Proverbs 14:29). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by connecting God's patience to the tangible idea of a long, steady breath, contrasting with the 'shortness' of hot-tempered anger.
The idiom 'long of nostrils' (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) is rooted in ancient Near Eastern physiology, where anger or fury was associated with rapid, snorting breath and flaring nostrils. To be 'long of nostrils' pictured someone whose breath remains slow and steady, not quickening in rage. This cultural image powerfully communicates self-restraint and deliberate calmness, a virtue highly valued in wisdom literature.
סָבַל (sāḇal, H5445) — to bear, carry, endure; focuses more on the burden of patience. כַּפְרִית (kap̄rîṯ, H374) — forbearance, a rarer synonym for patience. אֹרֶךְ (ʾōreḵ, H753) — another noun for length; more strictly physical or temporal.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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