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ERECH APAYIM - SLOWNESS TO ANGER
- Petra Hadžidaova
- Feb 1
- 3 min read
"Slowness to anger results in much understanding; impatience brings about folly."
Proverbs 14: 17
(1)
INTRODUCTION
Patience is a virtue. It is a great skill to have. All of us need more of it and require to grow it in our lives. It is an acquired virtue afterall. In the Bible, it is mentioned under the expression erech payim, meaning “slowness to anger”. The word erech is rooted in the Hebrew root aleph-reish-chaf. It means “to lengthen" or "to stretch." The word apayim, on the other hand, derives from the word aph (aleph-fey), which means nose. To conclude, slowness to anger is all about slowing down one’s breath. In modern Hebrew, patience is known as salvanut.
Great is the patience of God. Aren’t we glad for that? None of us would still stand if it weren’t so. Yet, I pray justice does get served according to God’s will and His timing.
THE SLOWNESS FOUND IN ERECH APAYIM
Pinochio. The story of a marionette shaped as a boy. Have you heard of it and his amazing transformation? There are different versions of it, but in most, Pinocchio’s nose elongates when he is caught lying. He also gets in trouble several times during his adventures.
Despite all the times he got into trouble, in the end, he is brought safely home and even transformed into an actual boy. What a miracle. I know the story is a mere fairytale, but it does still speak to us about God’s amazing patience.
In the Bible, the expression used to describe God’s patience is erech apayim. Funnily enough, the word erech is rooted in the Hebrew root aleph-reish-chaf. It means “to lengthen" or "to stretch." The word apayim, on the other hand, derives from the word aph (aleph-fey), which means nose. To conclude, slowness to anger is all about slowing down one’s breath. (2)
SAVLANUT IN MODERN TIMES
In Modern Hebrew, the word ascribed to patience is savlanut. It comes from the root for pain, suffering, hence long-suffering. In Hebrew, it is an act, something you actively do, when seeking a solution rather than simply being passive. (3)
GOD’S LONG-SUFFERING PATIENCE
All the while during our journey of transformation, God is keeping watch over us. His mercies are new every single day. He is slow to anger. And how glad I am of that. Who would still stand if it weren’t so?
As Craig Hill says in His course, Covenant Authority, he does not treat us according to what we deserve, but according to the covenant we are in. That, of course, is not a free pass to sin. A true believer produces good fruit.
It does mean, though, that He never gives up on us. Even more, He promises that He will accomplish His plans for our lives. Did you hear that? He will accomplish.
He remains beside us. He patiently teaches us. His patience is not forever, though. If we remain unrepentant for too long, it will end.
CONCLUSION
God’s patience is long-suffering, though not forever. He is slow to anger. In Hebrew, slowness to anger is erech apayim. The word erech is rooted in the Hebrew root aleph-reish-chaf. It means “to lengthen" or "to stretch." The word apayim, on the other hand, derives from the word aph (aleph-fey), which means nose. To conclude, slowness to anger is all about slowing down one’s breath. In modern Hebrew, the word for patience is savlanut. Savlanut is from the root meaning pain, suffering, hence long-suffering.
Application
Abba, you are the ever merciful, who wishes that none would perish. You are so patient with us. Show me, Abba, what sin I have been unrepentant of for far too long. Show me Abba, for the dead can not give you praise. And Abba, come and empower me to overcome. For where we are weakest, you are strongest.
SOURCES
Image created via canva.com.
Marlene Myerson. Slowness to Anger - Middah Erech Apayim. Available at https://reformjudaism.org/learning/sacred-texts/learn-about-middot/slowness-anger-middah-erech-apayim
Torah Talks. The Life You've Always Wanted: Part 4. February 26, 2023. Available at https://torahtalks.info/lens-230226-Life-Youve-Wanted-04.html
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