During the first semester of my freshman year in college, I was required to take a natural science course. During one class, the professor asked the students to measure their noses. Though I don’t remember the point of this strange exercise, which might have been about understanding terms like “mean,” “mode,” and “average,” I do remember that I was the proud possessor of the shortest nose in the class.
'Long of Nose' in the Bible
Though I haven’t thought of that incident for many years, the memory returned once I began studying the biblical meaning of the Hebrew idiom for patience, which can also be translated as “longsuffering” or “slow to anger.” The phrase is ’erek ’appayim, which is literally translated as “long of nose.” Armed with that information, you now realize that Exodus 34:6 could be translated like this:
"Yahweh! The LORD!
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am long of nose
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Exodus 34:6)
"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalm 103:8)
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Hebrew Vs. English Meaning
In English, having a long nose means you have a habit of lying. But in Hebrew, it means you have a habit of being patient. Though God’s nature is to be patient, he can be provoked. Consider Psalm 18:7, which depicts God’s anger, saying, “Smoke poured from his nostrils.” The psalmist evokes the image of flared nostrils and a nose that’s red with rage. Because God is slow to anger, it takes a long time for his nose to get red.
According to Proverbs, having a long nose is associated with wisdom and great understanding. It also enables the wise person to calm those who are quarreling. By contrast, those with a qebar ’appayim, a short nose, are quick-tempered and impatient. They are hotheads and fools.
The next time you feel your face flushing scarlet or your nose turning red, remember the phrase “long of nose.” Allow yourself to enjoy the humor of that image. It may prevent you from becoming impatient and doing something foolish. Remember that frustration, irritation, annoyance, and anger are not God’s default settings. Patience is. When he looks at you and others, his heart is filled with so much love and faithfulness that he is always ’erek ’appayim.
