H0639 H0639
Nostril, nose, face; by metonymy anger or wrath; in the dual idiom 'erekh appayim, slow to anger.
Few Hebrew words illustrate the body-to-emotion pathway as vividly as 'ap. It begins with the physical nostril — the organ through which God breathes life into Adam (Gen 2:7) and through which the hot wind of divine fury blasts forth (Exod 15:8). From flaring nostrils the word slides naturally into 'anger,' its most frequent sense by far, appearing in the thunderous phrase charon 'ap ('burning of anger') over forty times. The dual form 'appayim can mean 'face' (the two-sided countenance one bows before a superior) or serve as the second element in the great divine self-description 'erekh 'appayim — 'slow to anger,' literally 'long of nostrils,' first revealed at Sinai (Exod 34:6) and echoed across Psalms, Prophets, and Wisdom. Arabic anf, Aramaic 'anpin, and Ethiopic 'anf all preserve the nasal root, while every target language independently splits the anatomical and emotional senses — Spanish ira versus nariz, Korean 코 versus 분노, Swahili hasira versus pua — confirming that this is not just a translation convention but a genuine polysemy recognized across language families.
Senses
1. [split] anger, wrath — The dominant metaphorical sense: anger, wrath, fury — 210 of 276 occurrences. The underlying image is of nostrils flaring and breath coming in hot blasts, but the anatomical origin is entirely bleached in most contexts. The phrase charon 'ap ('burning anger') appears overwhelmingly of divine wrath (Exod 32:12; Num 25:4; Deut 29:24), though human anger also features (Gen 30:2; 49:6). Multilingual evidence uniformly selects dedicated emotion vocabulary — Spanish ira, German Zorn, Korean 분노, Arabic غَضَب, Swahili hasira — never nasal terms, confirming full lexicalization as an emotion word. The construct chain 'ap YHWH ('the anger of the LORD') functions almost as a compound noun in prophetic discourse. 0×
AR["أَنْفُ-", "غَضَبُ", "غَضَبُ-", "غَضَبِ-"]·ben["ক্রোধ", "ক্রোধ-", "ক্রোধের-", "রাগ"]·DE["Zorn-von", "Zorn-von-", "der-Zorn", "der-Zorn-von"]·EN["anger-of", "anger-of-", "the-anger-of"]·FR["colère-de", "colère-de-", "le-colère-de"]·heb["אף", "אף-"]·HI["क्रोध", "क्रोध-", "क्रोध-की", "गुस्स"]·ID["kemarahan", "murka", "murka-"]·IT["il-ira-di", "ira-di", "ira-di-"]·jav["bebendu", "bebendu-", "bebendun", "bebendunipun", "duka"]·KO["그-노여움-이", "노여움이", "분노가", "진노(접)", "진노가", "진노가-", "코(접)-", "코-가", "코-의", "코가", "콧", "콧-의"]·PT["ira-de", "ira-de-"]·RU["гнев", "гнев-", "гнева-"]·ES["ira-de", "ira-de-", "la-ira-de", "nariz-de"]·SW["hasira", "hasira-ya"]·TR["burun", "öfkesi", "öfkesi-", "öfkesinin", "öfkesinin-"]·urd["غصہ", "غصہ-", "غضب", "غضب-"]
1. divine anger, wrath of God — Split from sense 83655. Criteria: Anger or wrath as a divine attribute; 'charon ap YHWH' (the burning anger of the LORD); God's judicial response to sin and covenant violation 169×
AR["أَنْفُ-", "غَضَبُ", "غَضَبُ-", "غَضَبِ-"]·ben["ক্রোধ", "ক্রোধ-", "ক্রোধের-", "রাগ"]·DE["-der-Zorn-von", "Zorn-von", "Zorn-von-", "der-Zorn-von"]·EN["-the-anger-of", "anger-of", "anger-of-", "the-anger-of"]·FR["-le-colère-de", "colère-de", "colère-de-", "le-colère-de"]·heb["אף", "אף-"]·HI["क्रोध", "क्रोध-", "क्रोध-की", "गुस्स"]·ID["kemarahan", "murka", "murka-"]·IT["-il-ira-di", "il-ira-di", "ira-di", "ira-di-"]·jav["bebendu", "bebendu-", "bebendunipun", "duka"]·KO["그-노여움-이", "분노가", "진노(접)", "진노가", "진노가-", "코(접)-", "코-가", "코-의", "코가", "코가-", "콧", "콧-의"]·PT["ira-de", "ira-de-"]·RU["гнев", "гнев-", "гнева-"]·ES["ira-de", "ira-de-", "la-ira-de", "nariz-de"]·SW["hasira", "hasira-", "hasira-ya"]·TR["burun", "öfkesi", "öfkesi-", "öfkesinin", "öfkesinin-"]·urd["غصہ", "غصہ-", "غضب", "غضب-"]
2. nose, nostrils — The literal anatomical sense: nostril, nose, or snout — 30 occurrences preserving the original body-part reference. God breathes into Adam's nostrils (Gen 2:7), the breath of life is in the nostrils of all flesh (Gen 7:22), and Rebekah receives a ring on her nose (Gen 24:47). The dual 'appayim sometimes specifies the two nostrils explicitly. Spanish nariz, Korean 코, and Arabic أَنْف all select nasal vocabulary here rather than emotion terms. In poetic theophany passages like 2 Sam 22:9 and Ps 18:9, smoke goes up from God's nostrils — a liminal context where anatomy and fury merge, the very hinge on which the metaphorical extension turns. 30×
AR["أَنْفٍ", "أَنْفَكِ", "أَنْفَهُ؟", "أَنْفُكِ", "أَنْفِكَ", "أَنْفِكِ", "أَنْفِهِ", "بِ-أَنْفِي", "فِي-أَنفِهِ", "فِي-أَنْفِكَ", "فِي-أَنْفِهِ", "فِي-أَنْفِي", "مِنْ-أَنْفِكُمْ"]·ben["-তার-নাকে", "আপনার-নাকের", "আমার-নাকে", "আমার-নাসায়।", "তাঁর-নাকে", "তাদের-নাকে", "তার-নাক", "তার-নাকের", "তার-নাসিকায়", "তোমাদের-নাক-থেকে", "তোমার-নাক", "তোমার-নাকে", "তোমার-নাকের", "তোমার-নাসিকার", "নাক-তোমার", "নাকের"]·DE["Dein-nostrils", "Zorn", "auch", "dein-nostrils", "in-His-nostrils", "in-dein-Nase", "in-dein-nose", "in-seine-Nase", "in-seiner-Nase", "sein-nose", "von-dein-nostrils"]·EN["Your-nostrils", "from-your-nostrils", "he", "his-nose", "in-His-nostrils", "in-My-nostrils", "in-his-nose", "in-his-nostrils", "in-my-nostrils", "in-your-nose", "into-nostrils-his", "its-nose", "nose-your", "the-nose", "your-nose", "your-nostrils"]·FR["Ton-narines", "colère", "dans-Son-nostrils", "dans-narines-son", "dans-son-narines", "dans-son-nez-lui", "dans-ton-nez", "dans-ton-nose", "de-ton-nez", "de-ton-nostrils", "narine", "nez", "ton-nez"]·heb["אף", "אפו", "אפיך", "אפך", "ב-אף-ו", "ב-אפ-ו", "ב-אפו", "ב-אפי", "ב-אפך", "מ-אפכם"]·HI["अपनी-नाक-में", "उसकी-नाक", "उसकी-नाक-में", "उसकी-नाक-में-है", "उसकी-नाक-से", "उस्की-नाक-मेइन", "तुम्हारी-नाकों-से", "तेरी-नाक", "तेरी-नाक-की", "तेरी-नाक-में", "नाक-का", "नाक-तेरी", "नाक-मेरी-में", "में-उसकी-नाक", "में-नाक-तेरे", "मेरे-नथुनों-में"]·ID["-hidungmu,", "Hidungmu", "dalam-hidung-Ku", "dari-hidung-Nya", "dari-hidungmu", "di-hidung-Ku", "di-hidung-Mu", "di-hidungmu", "di-hidungnya", "hidung", "hidung-Mu", "hidungmu", "hidungnya", "ke-dalam-hidungnya", "napasmu"]·IT["Tuo-nostrils", "da-tuo-nostrils", "in-His-nostrils", "in-ira-suo", "in-nostrils-suo", "in-suo-nostrils", "in-tuo-naso", "in-tuo-nose", "ira", "ira-tua", "nella-mia-ira"]·jav["grana", "grana-panjenengan", "gràna-panjenengan", "grànà-Panjenengan", "grànà-ipun", "ing-grana-Kawula", "ing-grana-Kula", "ing-grana-panjenengan", "ing-grananipun", "ing-irung-Panjenengané", "ing-irung-panjenengan", "irung-panjenengan", "irungipun?", "panglanging-irung-Panjenengan", "saking-grana-panjenengan-sedaya", "saking-granganipun", "wonten-ing-grananipun", "wonten-ing-irungipun"]·KO["그-켧구멍-에", "그것-의-콧-에", "너희의-콧-에서", "네-코-가", "네-코-의", "네-코를", "네-코와", "네-콧구멍에", "에-그의-콧구멍", "에-나의-콧에서", "에-너의-코에", "주의-콧김의", "코-니의-에", "코-의", "코를", "콧-나의-안에서", "콧-의", "콧을"]·PT["de-Seu-nariz", "de-narizes-vossos", "de-tuas-narinas", "do-seu-rosto", "em-nariz-meu", "em-nariz-seu", "em-nariz-teu", "em-seu-nariz?", "nariz", "nariz?", "nas-narinas-dele", "nas-suas-narinas", "nas-tuas-narinas", "no-nariz-teu", "teu-nariz", "tuas-narinas"]·RU["в-гневе-Моём", "в-ноздри-его", "в-ноздри-твои", "в-ноздрях-Его", "в-ноздрях-Моих", "в-ноздрях-его", "в-нос-его", "в-нос-твой", "в-носу-его", "в-ярости", "из-ноздрей-ваших", "ноздрей-Твоих", "нос", "нос-твой", "носа", "носа-своего", "носа-твоего", "перед-носом-Твоим"]·ES["de-vuestras-narices", "en-mi-nariz", "en-mi-nariz.", "en-su-nariz", "en-sus-narices", "en-tu-nariz", "está-en-su-nariz", "nariz", "nariz-de-ti", "su-nariz", "tu-nariz"]·SW["hasira-yako", "katika-pua-yake", "mbele-yako", "pua", "pua-yako", "puani-mwake", "puani-mwako", "puani-mwangu", "puani-mwenu", "uso-wake", "ya-pua-yako"]·TR["-burnuna", "-den-burunlarınızdan", "burnumda", "burnun", "burnuna", "burnunda", "burnunu", "burnunun", "burun-deliklerinde", "öfkemde"]·urd["اس-کے-نثنے-میں", "اُس-کی-ناک", "اُس-کی-ناک-سے", "اُس-کی-ناک-میں", "اپنی-ناک-کے", "تمہاری-ناکوں-سے", "تیری-ناک", "تیری-ناک-میں", "تیری-ناک-کی", "تیری-ناک-کے", "غصے-میرے-میں", "میری-ناک-میں", "میں-ناک-تیری", "میں-نتھنوں-اُس-کے", "ناک-تیری", "ناک-میں-اُس-کی", "ناک-کو", "نتھنوں-تیری"]
Gen 2:7, Gen 7:22, Gen 24:47, Exod 15:8, Num 11:20, Deut 33:10, 2 Sam 22:9, 2 Sam 22:16, 2 Kgs 19:28, Job 27:3, Job 40:24, Job 41:2 (+18 more)
2. human anger, rage — Split from sense 83655. Criteria: Human emotional anger, fury, or indignation; interpersonal conflict and familial rage 41×
AR["أَنْفُهُ", "غَضَباً", "غَضَبٍ", "غَضَبَهُ", "غَضَبُ", "غَضَبُهُ", "غَضَبِ"]·ben["ক্রোধ", "ক্রোধে", "ক্রোধের", "তাঁর-ক্রোধ", "তাঁর-রাগ", "তার-ক্রোধ", "রাগ"]·DE["Zorn", "Zorn-von", "anger-of", "auch", "der-Zorn", "sein-Zorn"]·EN["anger", "anger-of", "his-anger", "the-anger-of"]·FR["aussi", "colère", "colère-de", "nez", "son-colère", "son-nez-lui"]·heb["אף", "אפו", "אפוֹ"]·HI["उसका-क्रोध", "क्रोध", "क्रोध-अपना", "क्रोध-उसका", "क्रोध-में", "क्रोध-से"]·ID["amarah", "amarahnya", "kemarahan", "kemarahannya", "marah", "marahnya", "murka", "murkaNya", "murkanya"]·IT["anche", "ira", "ira-di", "ira-suo", "suo-ira"]·jav["bebendu", "bebendu-nipun", "bebendun", "bendunipun", "duka", "duka-ipun", "dukanipun", "nesu"]·KO["그의-성냄가", "그의-코가", "노가", "노여움-을-그-의", "노여움이", "분노", "분노가", "분노로", "분노의", "성냄가", "진노-그의-가", "진노-를-그-의", "진노를", "코-가", "코가"]·PT["a-ira-de", "ira", "ira-de", "ira-de-", "ira-sua", "ira;", "sua-ira"]·RU["гнев", "гнев-", "гнев-Свой", "гнев-его", "гнева"]·ES["ira", "ira-de", "ira-de-", "la-ira-de", "su-ira"]·SW["hasira", "hasira-ya", "hasira-yake", "kali"]·TR["öfke", "öfkenin", "öfkesi", "öfkesini", "öfkesinin"]·urd["اس کا غصہ", "اُس-کا-غصہ", "شدت-میں", "غصّہ-اُس-کا۔", "غصہ", "غصہ-اُس-کا", "غصہ-میں", "غصے", "غضب", "غضب-اپنا"]
Gen 27:45, Gen 30:2, Gen 39:19, Gen 44:18, Gen 49:6, Gen 49:7, Exod 11:8, Exod 32:19, Exod 32:22, Num 24:10, Judg 9:30, Judg 14:19 (+29 more)
3. face, countenance — The dual form 'appayim used for 'face' or 'countenance' — 21 occurrences concentrated in prostration formulas (naphal 'al 'appayim, 'fell on his face'). The dual ('two-sidedness') naturally extends from nostrils to the whole face. This sense dominates in gestures of reverence: Abraham bows before the Hittites (Gen 23:7), Joseph's brothers before him (Gen 42:6), Balaam before the angel (Num 22:31). Spanish rostro, German Angesicht, and Korean 얼굴 all select face-specific vocabulary, distinguishing this from both the nasal and the emotional senses. The idiom 'by the sweat of your face' (Gen 3:19) belongs here too. 21×
AR["بِ-وَجْهِهِ", "بِ-وُجوهٍ", "بِـ-الْوُجُوهِ", "بِوَجْهِهَا", "بِوَجْهِهِ", "بِوُجُوهِهِمْ", "عَلى-وَجهِ", "عَلى-وَجهِها", "عَلى-وَجهِهِ", "عَلَى-وَجْهِهِ", "لِ-وَجْهِهِ", "وَجهِها-", "وَجهِهِ-", "وَجْهِكَ", "وَجْهِهِ", "وُجُوهًا"]·ben["তাঁর-মুখ", "তাঁর-মুখের-উপর", "তার-মুখের-উপর", "তার-মুখের-কাছে", "তোমার-মুখ", "মুখ", "মুখ-তার", "মুখে"]·DE["Angesicht", "Zorn", "auf-Angesicht", "auf-Angesicht-sein", "auf-Angesicht-von", "auf-sein-Angesicht", "deines-Angesichts", "ihr-Angesicht", "mit-dem-Angesicht", "mit-seinem-Angesicht", "sein-Angesicht"]·EN["face", "face-your", "faces", "her-face", "his-face", "on-face-his", "on-face-of", "on-his-face", "to-face-his"]·FR["colère", "face", "face-ton", "faces", "sa-face", "son-face", "sur-face-de", "sur-face-son", "sur-son-face", "à-face-son"]·heb["אף", "אף-ך", "אפי-ה", "אפי-ו", "אפיו", "אפיים", "אפים", "ל-אף-ו", "ל-אפי", "ל-אפי-ו", "ל-אפיו"]·HI["अपना-मुंह", "अपने-मुँह", "अपने-मुंह", "अपने-मुंह-पर", "अपने-मुख-के", "अपने-मुनह-पर", "मुँह", "मुँह-के-बल", "मुँह-पर", "मुंह", "मुंह-के-बल", "मुख", "मुख-के-बल", "मुनह"]·ID["dengan-muka", "dengan-wajah", "dengan-wajahnya", "di-atas-mukanya", "mukamu", "pada-wajahnya", "wajah", "wajahnya"]·IT["a-volto-suo", "ira", "lei-volto", "su-suo-faccia", "su-volto-di", "su-volto-suo", "suo-volto", "volti", "volto", "volto-tuo"]·jav["Kalayan-pasuryan-ing-bumi", "dhateng-pasuryanipun", "dhateng-rai", "pasuryan", "pasuryan-nipun", "pasuryan-panjenengan", "pasuryanipun", "paséryan", "rai", "wonten-ing-pasuryanipun"]·KO["그-의-콧들-에", "그녀의-얼굴", "그의-얼굴", "그의-얼굴로", "그의-얼굴을", "너의-얼굴", "얼굴", "얼굴들-을", "얼굴들로", "얼굴들을", "얼굴로", "얼굴로-", "얼굴을", "얼굴이", "에-그의-켧", "에-앞에"]·PT["com-sua-face", "do-teu-rosto", "face", "faces", "rosto", "rosto-dela", "rosto-dele", "seu-rosto", "sobre-face-de", "sobre-seu-rosto", "sobre-sua-face", "sua-face"]·RU["-лицо-своё", "лица-твоего", "лицами", "лицо-своё", "лицом", "лицом-своим", "на-лицо-своё", "перед-лицом"]·ES["a-su-rostro", "ante-rostro-de", "rostro", "rostro-de-ella", "rostro-de-él", "rostros", "sobre-rostro-de-él", "sobre-rostro-suyo", "su-rostro", "tu-rostro"]·SW["kifudifudi", "kwa-uso-wake", "nyuso-zao", "uso", "uso-chini", "uso-wake", "uso-wako", "yeye"]·TR["-yüzünün-üzerine", "yuzleri-ustune", "yüzdü", "yüzle", "yüzleri", "yüzleriyle", "yüzlerle", "yüzü", "yüzü-üzerine", "yüzünün", "yüzüstü"]·urd["اپنے-منہ", "اپنے-منہ-پر", "منہ", "منہ-اپنے-کے-بل", "منہ-پر", "منہ-کے-بل", "چہرے", "چہرے-اپنے", "چہرے-اپنے-کے"]
Gen 3:19, Gen 19:1, Gen 42:6, Gen 48:12, Num 22:31, 1 Sam 20:41, 1 Sam 24:8, 1 Sam 25:23, 1 Sam 25:41, 1 Sam 28:14, 2 Sam 14:4, 2 Sam 14:33 (+9 more)
4. slow to anger (idiom) — The frozen idiom 'erekh 'appayim — 'slow to anger,' literally 'long of nostrils' — 14 occurrences, overwhelmingly in liturgical or hymnic contexts describing a divine attribute. First proclaimed at Sinai in God's self-revelation (Exod 34:6), then echoed at Kadesh (Num 14:18), in Nehemiah's prayer (9:17), and across the Psalter (86:15; 103:8; 145:8). The idiom is also applied to human patience in Proverbs (14:29; 15:18; 16:32). Spanish tardo para la ira and Korean 노하기를 더디 하시는 both paraphrase the metaphor rather than preserving it, while the Hebrew freezes the bodily image into a theological formula. This is functionally a lexicalized compound, not a productive combination. 14×
AR["أنْفٍ", "ال-أَنَاةِ", "الأَناة", "الأَناةِ", "الرُّوحِ", "الغَضَبِ", "الْأَنَاةِ", "الْأَنَافِ"]·ben["ক্রোধে", "ক্রোধের", "মেজাজের", "সহিষ্ণুতায়"]·DE["Zorn", "zu-Zorn"]·EN["anger", "patience", "temper", "to-anger"]·FR["colère", "narine", "nez"]·heb["אַפַּיִם", "אף", "אפיים", "אפים"]·HI["क्रोध-करने-में", "क्रोध-के-लिए", "क्रोध-में", "क्रोध-वाला", "धैर्य-की"]·ID["daripada-pahlawan", "marah", "panjang", "sabar"]·IT["ira"]·jav["bebendu", "bebenduning", "bebendunipun,", "duka", "dukanipun", "murka", "sabar"]·KO["노여움-에", "노하기에", "노하시기-에", "노하시기에", "노하시며", "노함-으로", "보다-용사", "진노-에", "코-의", "코의"]·PT["de-narizes", "em-ira", "em-irar-Se", "ira", "iras", "narinas", "para-a-ira"]·RU["гнев", "гневом", "и-многомилостивый", "к-гневу", "лица", "нравом"]·ES["de-iras", "ira", "iras", "narices", "naríz"]·SW["-hasira", "hasira", "na-wingi", "subira", "wa-hasira", "wa-muda-mrefu"]·TR["olan", "sabırlı", "uzun", "öfkelenen", "öfkeli", "öfkeye"]·urd["غصّے-میں", "غصے-میں", "غضب", "غضب-میں", "غضب-کا", "لمبے", "کرنے-والا"]
Exod 34:6, Num 14:18, Neh 9:17, Ps 86:15, Ps 103:8, Ps 145:8, Prov 14:17, Prov 14:29, Prov 15:18, Prov 16:32, Prov 25:15, Joel 2:13 (+2 more)
5. sense 5 — A single disputed occurrence at 1 Sam 1:5 where 'appayim appears to mean 'double' (a double portion). The multilingual evidence — English 'double,' Spanish doble, French double — consistently renders a quantity rather than nose, face, or anger. Some scholars emend or reinterpret this as a different root, but the MT reading stands as a hapax usage of the dual form in a distributive or multiplicative sense, possibly meaning 'a face-portion' (i.e., the honorific share set before the guest's face). The textual difficulty is genuine and unresolved. 1×
AR["مُضَاعَفَةً"]·ben["দ্বিগুণ"]·DE["double"]·EN["double"]·FR["double"]·heb["אפיים"]·HI["दोहरा"]·ID["ganda"]·IT["double"]·jav["tikel-kalih"]·KO["두배의"]·PT["dupla"]·RU["двойную"]·ES["doble"]·SW["mara-mbili"]·TR["çift"]·urd["دوگنا"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. אַף277 n.m. Gn 30:2 nostril, nose, face, anger (Assyrian appu, face Floodiii. 27, 29 cf. Hpt KAT2Gloss, Arabic أَنْفٌ, Ethiopic አንፍ nose; Aramaic ܐܰܦܶܐ, אַנְפִּין face)—abs. ψ 78:21 +; cstr. Gn 27:45 +; sf. אַפִּי Ex 22:23 +, etc.; du. אַפַּיִם Pr 14:17 +; אַפָּיו Gn 2:7 + etc.;—In Hex JE (Jos 7:1 P? 23:16 D?). 1. nostril, as organ of breathing Gn 2:7; 7:22; Jb 27:3 cf. Nu 11:20; 2 S 22:9 = ψ…