LONGSUFFERING (אֶ֥רֶכְ אַפַּ֖יִם, slow to anger; LXX (1) μακροθυμία, G3429, patience, endurance, steadfastness; forbearance, longsuffering; (2) μακρόθυμος, even-tempered, patient, forbearing. NT (1) μακροθυμέω, G3428, have patience, wait; slow to punish, be longsuffering; (2) μακροθυμία, ας, ἡ (3) μακροθύμως, G3430, patiently.) Longsuffering means (1) long and patient endurance of provocation or trial; (2) showing patience under long provocation.

’Erek^e ’appayim means lit. “length of noses” or “faces.” Hence “length of wrath” (or “slowness of anger”) because anger is manifested by violent, rapid breathing through one’s nostrils. Makrothumía is lit. “long of mind” or “soul” (considered as the locus of the emotions); opposed to shortness of soul or mind, i.e., impatience, intolerance.

“Longsuffering” is not found in the RSV but occurs seventeen times in the KJV. God’s longsuffering is that divine attribute (Exod 34:6; Num 14:18; Pss 86:15; 103:8, 9; Joel 2:13) which delays the punishment of wicked and rebellious men (Rom 9:22; 1 Pet 3:20). Divine justice would long ago have swept the ungodly into perdition, but Jehovah is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ps 86:15).

The purpose of God’s longsuffering is to lead men to repentance (Rom 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9, 15); but when the wicked despise (Rom 2:4) and abuse (Neh 9:28-31; Eccl 8:11; Matt 24:48, 49) they are punished (Neh 9:30; Matt 24:50, 51; Rom 2:5). The longsuffering of God is not infinite (Gen 6:3; Jer 44:22); it is tempered with justice (Prov 1:24-27; 29:1; Isa 42:14; Rev 2:21, 22).

The divine longsuffering is illustrated by (1) the song of the vineyard (Isa 5:1-7), and two parables, viz., (2) the wicked husbandmen (Matt 21:33-41), and (3) the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9).

Examples are God’s treatment of (1) the antediluvian world (1 Pet 3:20); (2) Pharaoh (Rom 9:17, 22); (3) heathen nations (Acts 14:16), esp. (4) the Amorites (Gen 15:16); (5) Manasseh (2 Chron 33:10-13); (6) Israel (Neh 9:31; Ps 78:38; Isa 30:18; 48:9, 11; Jer 7:13, 23-25; 11:7; Ezek 20:17; Matt 19:8; 23:37; Acts 17:30); (7) Jerusalem (Matt 23:37); and (8) Paul (1 Tim 1:16).

Christians ought to imitate God’s long-suffering (Rom 15:5) and plead it in prayer (Jer 15:15). In the NT longsuffering is a virtue which enables the disciple to carry his cross patiently (2 Cor 6:6; Eph 4:2; 2 Tim 4:2). See Patience.

Bibliography A. Clarke, A Commentary and Critical Notes, I (n.d.), 68; J. Owen, “Of Communion With God The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” Works, II (1850-1853), 85f.; J. Wesley, “Sermon XXII Upon Our Lord’s Sermon On The Mount,” Works, V (1872), 276; J. T. Mueller, Christian Dogmatics (1934), 174f.; J. Smith and R. Lee, Handfuls On Purpose, I (1947), 247; F. Pieper, Christian Dogmatics, I (1950), 461; P. Melanchthon, “Apology Of The Augsburg Confession,” The Book of Concord (c. 1959), IV. 160. 345; L. Berkhof, Manual of Christian Doctrine (1965), 67f.