What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH?
The mention of YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) in the Bible is classically interpreted as a metonymy of the face and/or a metaphor for anger. The reference to their length and even to their elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in this semantic context. If this term is const...
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doaj-a9da7398a0ea4c76838da8dc4b9a91882020-11-24T20:48:01ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442017-09-018919010.3390/rel8090190rel8090190What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH?Nissim Amzallag0Department of Bible, Archaeology and Ancient Near East, The Ben Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer Sheba 84105, IsraelThe mention of YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) in the Bible is classically interpreted as a metonymy of the face and/or a metaphor for anger. The reference to their length and even to their elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in this semantic context. If this term is construed as a tuyère, as is identified in Dan 10:20, the use of ʾapayīm in Ex 15:8 becomes clear. This interpretation also explains the denotation of patience and loving-kindness as ʾerek ʾapayīm (the so-called “long nostrils” of YHWH) because the air pressure generated by a blast from a tuyère (=its power) decreases proportionally to its length. Accordingly, the liturgical formulae that includes this expression (Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Neh 9:17) praise YHWH for the forbearance of voluntarily restraining the power of his reaction to annoying events on earth. This interpretation also clarifies the use of ʾap/ʾapayīm in Isa 48:9; Jer 15:15, and Nah 1:3. Furthermore, these last-mentioned instances reveal that beyond their metaphoric meaning, the divine ʾapayīm evoke an essential attribute of YHWH. The significance of these findings is discussed in view of the duality of anthropomorphic and aniconic representations of YHWH in ancient Israel.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/190body of godnostrilstuyèresmetallurgyancient Yahwismmetaphor theory |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nissim Amzallag |
spellingShingle |
Nissim Amzallag What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? Religions body of god nostrils tuyères metallurgy ancient Yahwism metaphor theory |
author_facet |
Nissim Amzallag |
author_sort |
Nissim Amzallag |
title |
What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? |
title_short |
What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? |
title_full |
What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? |
title_fullStr |
What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? |
title_full_unstemmed |
What Are the “Long Nostrils” of YHWH? |
title_sort |
what are the “long nostrils” of yhwh? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Religions |
issn |
2077-1444 |
publishDate |
2017-09-01 |
description |
The mention of YHWH’s “nostrils” (ʾapayīm) in the Bible is classically interpreted as a metonymy of the face and/or a metaphor for anger. The reference to their length and even to their elongation, however, rules out any entirely satisfying explanation in this semantic context. If this term is construed as a tuyère, as is identified in Dan 10:20, the use of ʾapayīm in Ex 15:8 becomes clear. This interpretation also explains the denotation of patience and loving-kindness as ʾerek ʾapayīm (the so-called “long nostrils” of YHWH) because the air pressure generated by a blast from a tuyère (=its power) decreases proportionally to its length. Accordingly, the liturgical formulae that includes this expression (Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Joel 2:13; Jon 4:2; Pss 86:15; 103:8; 145:8; Neh 9:17) praise YHWH for the forbearance of voluntarily restraining the power of his reaction to annoying events on earth. This interpretation also clarifies the use of ʾap/ʾapayīm in Isa 48:9; Jer 15:15, and Nah 1:3. Furthermore, these last-mentioned instances reveal that beyond their metaphoric meaning, the divine ʾapayīm evoke an essential attribute of YHWH. The significance of these findings is discussed in view of the duality of anthropomorphic and aniconic representations of YHWH in ancient Israel. |
topic |
body of god nostrils tuyères metallurgy ancient Yahwism metaphor theory |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/9/190 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT nissimamzallag whatarethelongnostrilsofyhwh |
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