Biblical Hebrew Forum

["James Spinti" <JSpinti AT Eisenbrauns.com>]

Apparently no one bothered to look up the reference, because there is no 
Exodus 43:6. Exodus ends at chapter 40 :)

But, on the whole concept of 'ap: it is very frequent for the HB to use 
anthropomorphisms about divine beings, including YHWH. 

Here is an excerpt from TWOT (via Accordance--BibleWorks gives the same text):

By the act of breathing, emotions can be expressed. Perhaps it was observed 
that the nose dilates in anger. God is said to be “‏אֶרֶךְ־אַפַּיִם‎“ (lit. 
“long of anger,” i.e. long before getting angry) in such passages as Ex 34:6; 
Num 14:18; Ps 86:15; Neh 9:17. The thought is that God takes a long, deep 
breath as he holds his anger in abeyance, A ruler is said to be persuaded by 
a display of forbearance, patience, i.e. “the long of breath” (Prov 25:15).
        The main use of ‏אַף‎ is to refer to the anger of men and of God. 
This anger is expressed in the appearance of the nostrils. ‏אַף‎ gives 
specific emphasis to the emotional aspect of anger and wrath, whereas its 
synonyms and terms related to them give particular expression to other 
aspects.

Or, this from Jenni-Westermann (via Accordance):
Much more frequently ʾap  indicates “anger,” with an easily understood 
development of meaning from “nose” to the gesture of “snorting” (in anger), 
which manifests itself in this body part (cf. Dhorme 80f.; Ug.: WUS  no. 345; 
? Aram. Cowley, no. 37.8; cf. DISO  21). In almost half the passages that 
treat human wrath, ʾap  is associated with the verb → ḥrh  “to become 
inflamed” (or the subst. ḥᵒrî;  primarily in narrative literature: Gen 
30:2; 39:19; 44:18; Exod 11:8; Num 22:27; 24:10; Judg 9:30; 14:19; 1 Sam 
11:6; 17:28; 20:30, 34; 2 Sam 12:5; Isa 7:4; Psa 124:3; Job 32:2[bis], 3, 5; 
2 Chron 25:10[bis]). A holy wrath seizes a person when the Spirit of Yahweh 
comes over him (Judg 14:19; 1 Sam 11:6). Wrath can turn away (šûb  Gen 
27:45); this is esp. the merit of discerning patterns of behavior (Prov 29:8).
        4. (a) That the gods’ noses (Psa 115:6), indeed even Yahweh’s (Deut 
33:10; 2 Sam 22:9, 16 = Psa 18:9, 16; on Ezek 8:17 txt? cf. Zimmerli, Ezek,  
Herm, 1:222, 244f.; the dual in Exod 15:8) can also be mentioned reflects the 
OT’s anthropomorphic conceptualization.
        (b) Indeed, most instances of ʾap  refer to divine anger (168x). All 
cases of the verb ʾnp  qal/hitp. describe divine anger, as does the statement 
in the Mesha inscription (KAI  no. 181.5; DISO  19; ANET  320b): the god 
Chemosh is angy with his people.  

A quick look at the various lexica shows no related words in Hebrew or 
cognate languages to back up Karl's suggestion of a related root. And, the 
fact that it occurs in the Mesha stela (Moabite) makes me more than a little 
suspicious of a separate root.

Hope that helps,
James

________________________________
James Spinti
Marketing Director, Book Sales Division
Eisenbrauns, Good books for more than 30 years
Specializing in Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Studies
jspinti at eisenbrauns dot com
Web: http://www.eisenbrauns.com
Phone: 574-269-2011 ext 226
Fax: 574-269-6788 

-----Original Message-----
From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org 
[mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Olivier Randrianjaka
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 10:24 AM
To: uir.domini AT yahoo.co.uk; b-hebrew Forum
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] A Strange Question with regards to Exodus 43:6


Hi, literally the Hebrew expression erekh 'apai'm means "long nostrills", I 
will appreciate if anybody here could explain it.

Olivier Randrianjaka

> Date: Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:20:13 -0700
> From: uir.domini AT yahoo.co.uk
> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [b-hebrew] A Strange Question with regards to Exodus 43:6
> 
> Hello Everybody,
>  
> I have a question with regards to Exodus 34:6 that might sound very strange?
>  
> I came across this sermon on a website that can be found below:
>  
> http://www.mecmalvern.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=54
>  
> It is the sermon on the 14th of March 2010 by Lewis, bout 8:22 mins to 
> 10:01 mins into the talk he claims that the Hbrew words "slow to anger" 
> originally means "long of nose."
>  
> I would be very grateful if someone could please help me with this and 
> clarify if its true or not?
>  
> Thank you,
>  
> Take Care,
>  
> >From Andrew Pike
>  
>  
> 
> 
>       
> _______________________________________________
> b-hebrew mailing list
> b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
                                          
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail : une messagerie fiable avec une protection anti-spam performante
https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx?id=60969
_______________________________________________
b-hebrew mailing list
b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew