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אָרֵךְ

𐤀𐤓𐤊

ʼârêk

H750 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ארך to be long, extend, prolong

Definition

Primarily, 'long, extended; slow to anger, patient.' The adjective אָרֵךְ describes something that is extended in duration, length, or quality, and is often used in reference to human characteristics, particularly describing a person who is patient or slow to anger. In certain contexts, it may also mean 'slow' in a temporal sense or 'long' in a physical or metaphorical sense.

Semantic Range

long (in duration or length), patient, slow to anger, slow (to react), forbearant

Root / Etymology

From the root אָרַךְ (ארך), meaning 'to be long, prolong, lengthen.' The adjective form אָרֵךְ is derived directly from this root, conveying the core idea of extension or lengthening, whether of time, quality, or disposition.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָרֵךְ is most frequently used in the phrase אָרֵךְ אַפַּיִם ('slow to anger'), a phrase characterizing the divine quality of patience and restraint, notably in Exodus 34:6 and similar passages. While modern English translations often render this as 'patient' or 'long-suffering,' in its original context the term speaks more about a delay of anger's onset, i.e., a deliberate slowness to react with wrath. The use of 'long(-winged)' derived from an interpretive expansion in later Jewish literature (cf. Targumic and rabbinic sources), but this sense is not original to the biblical period. Outside of the phrase with אַפַּיִם, the word can broadly mean 'long,' but this usage is rare. The concept contrasts with rapid anger (e.g., קֵצֶף, 'wrath, rage'), highlighting a measured, forbearing disposition. The English translation 'long-suffering' reflects later interpretive traditions rather than the immediate Hebrew meaning, which focuses on the idea of extended restraint or elongated temper. In post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, the abstracted sense of 'patience' as a virtue was increasingly emphasized.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from אָרַךְ; long; long(-suffering, -winged), patient, slow (to anger).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ארך (ʾ-r-k) — to be long, extend, prolong

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H216 אוֹר length of
H724 אֲרוּכָה restored wholeness
H748 אָרַךְ I will lengthen
H749 אֲרַךְ sufficient
H751 אֶרֶךְ and Erek

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H750-01 אֶ֥רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc long long-of 13
H750-03 וְ/אֶ֥רֶך veerekh HC/Aamsc but long long 1
H750-02 לְ/אֶ֥רֶךְ leerekhe HR/Aamsc to length to longness of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H750-01 Exodus 34:6 אֶ֥רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc long long-of
H750-01 Numbers 14:18 אֶ֤רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc long long-of
H750-02 Jeremiah 15:15 לְ/אֶ֥רֶךְ leerekhe HR/Aamsc to length to longness of
H750-01 Ezekiel 17:3 אֶ֣רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc long long-of
H750-01 Joel 2:13 אֶ֤רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc long long-of
H750-01 Jonah 4:2 אֶ֤רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc slow long-of
H750-01 Nahum 1:3 אֶ֤רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc slow long-of
H750-01 Psalms 86:15 אֶ֥רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc slow long-of
H750-01 Psalms 103:8 אֶ֖רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc slow long-of
H750-01 Psalms 145:8 אֶ֥רֶךְ erekhe HAamsc slow to long-of
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