What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH?

What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? Nissim Amzallag Article Article Article What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? What What AreAre thethe “Long “Long Nostrils” Nostrils” of YHWH? of YHWH? Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East, The Ben Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer Sheba 84105, Israel; religions Nissim Amzallag Received: 14 July 2017; Accepted: 9 September 2017; Published: date Nissim Nissim Amzallag Amzallag Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East, The Ben Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Sheba 84105, Israel; Department Department of Bible, ofin Bible, Archaeology Ancient and Ancient Near Near East, The East,as Ben The Ben Gurion University University of theof Nege the Abstract: The mention Beer of YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) the Archaeology Bible isand classically interpreted a Gurion Article Article Article Beerfor Sheba Beer Sheba 84105, 84105, Israel; Israel; metonymy of the face and/or a metaphor anger. The reference to their lengthdate and even to their Received: 14 July 2017; Accepted: 9 September 2017; Published: Article elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in9 this If this Received: Received: 14 July 142017; July 2017; Accepted: Accepted: September 9semantic September 2017;context. 2017; Published: Published: date date Abstract: mention in of Dan YHWH’s in Ex the15:8 Bible is classically interpreted as a term is construed as a tuyère, as The is identified 10:20,“nostrils” the use of(ʾapayīm) ʾapayīm in becomes Nissim Nissim Amzallag Amzallag Nissim Amzallag Abstract: Abstract: The amention The of YHWH’s YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) (ʾapayīm) in length theinBible the Bible iseven classically is to classically i clear. This interpretation also explains the denotation ofmention patience and loving-kindness astheir ʾerek metonymy of the face and/or metaphor forofanger. The “nostrils” reference to and theirinterp Nissim Amzallag Department Department of Bible, ofDepartment Bible, Archaeology Archaeology and nostrils” Ancient and Ancient Near Near East, East, Thebecause Ben The Gurion Ben Gurion University University of the Negev, the Negev, POB 653, 653, ʾapayīm (the so-called “long ofmetonymy YHWH) the air pressure generated by aof blast from elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in this semantic If length this metonymy of the offace the and/or face and/or a metaphor a of metaphor forPOB anger. for anger. The reference The reference to context. their to their length and ev an of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East, The Ben Gurion University the Negev, POB 653, Beer Beer Sheba 84105, 84105, Israel; ofhowever, Bible, Archaeology and Ancient East, Theexplanation BeninGurion University of con the BeerIsrael; Sheba 84105, Israel; a Sheba tuyère (=its power) decreases proportionally to however, its as length. Accordingly, the liturgical formulae term is construed asDepartment a tuyère, is identified Dan 10:20, theNear use ofexplanation ʾapayīm Ex becomes elongation, elongation, rules rules out in any out entirely any entirely satisfying satisfying in 15:8 this in semantic this semantic Beer Sheba 84105, Israel; that this expression 34:6; Num 14:18; 2:13; Jon 4:2; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Neh 9:17) clear. This interpretation also explains the denotation of patience loving-kindness ʾerek term term isPublished: construed isJoel construed as a tuyère, as a tuyère, as is as identified is identified in Dan in and Dan 10:20, 10:20, the use theof use ʾapayīm of as ʾapayīm in Exin15E Received: Received: 14 includes July 14 2017; July 2017; Accepted: Accepted: 9 September 9(Ex September 2017; 2017; Published: date date Received: 14 July 2017; Accepted: 9 September 2017; Published: 15 September 2017 praise YHWH for the forbearance voluntarily restraining the power of his reaction to annoying ʾapayīm (theofso-called “long nostrils” of YHWH) because the air pressure generated by a blast from clear.Received: clear. This This interpretation interpretation also also explains explains the denotation the denotation of patience of patience and loving-kindne and loving-ki 14 July 2017; Accepted: 9 September 2017; Published: date events earth. This interpretation clarifies the use in Isa Jer 15:15, Nah tuyère (=its power) decreases proportionally to its48:9; length. Accordingly, liturgical formulae ʾapayīm ʾapayīm (the (the so-called “long “long nostrils” nostrils” of YHWH) ofclassically YHWH) because air thepressure air generated by a Abstract: Abstract: Theon The mention mention of YHWH’s ofaYHWH’s “nostrils” “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) (ʾapayīm) inso-called the inof Bible the Bible is classically is interpreted interpreted as and a because as athe the Abstract: The mention ofalso YHWH’s “nostrils” ( ʾap/ʾapayīm apayı̄m) inclassically the Bible is interpreted as pressure a generated 1:3. Furthermore, these last-mentioned instances reveal that beyond their metaphoric meaning, the this (Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; 9:17) aanger. tuyère a tuyère (=its (=its power) power) decreases proportionally proportionally to its to length. its length. Accordingly, Accordingly, liturgica the litui Abstract: The mention of YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) in Bible Neh is the classically metonymy metonymy of the ofmetonymy face the face and/or and/or metaphor aincludes metaphor for for anger. The The reference reference to their todecreases their length length and and even even to their to their ofathat the face and/or aexpression metaphor for anger. The reference to their length and even tothe their Article divine ʾapayīm evoke an essential attribute of YHWH. The significance of these findings is praise YHWH for the forbearance of voluntarily restraining the power of his reaction to annoying that includes that includes this expression this expression (Ex 34:6; (Ex 34:6; Num Num 14:18; 14:18; Joel 2:13; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Jon Pss 4:2; 86:15; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 103:8; 145:8 elongation, elongation, however, however, rules rules out any out any entirely entirely satisfying satisfying explanation explanation in this in this semantic semantic context. context. If this If this metonymy of the face and/or a metaphor for anger. The reference their length an elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in this semantic context. If this Article inasview the of anthropomorphic and aniconic representations ofbecomes YHWH inexplanation events on This interpretation also clarifies the use of ʾap/ʾapayīm in 15:8 Isa 48:9; Jer and Nah praise praise YHWH YHWH for the for forbearance the forbearance ofuse voluntarily voluntarily restraining restraining the power the15:15, power of ofreaction his reacti to termterm isdiscussed construed is construed a is as tuyère, aoftuyère, asduality isas identified is identified inasDan in Dan 10:20, 10:20, the use the of use ʾapayīm of ʾapayīm in Ex inof 15:8 Ex 15:8 becomes elongation, however, rules out any (...truncated)