The Hebrew verb arak means to be or become long, to prolong, or to make something extended in length — whether physical objects, time, or actions. It commonly appears in the phrase 'length of days' (orek yamim) describing longevity as a blessing, and in the divine quality of being 'slow to anger' (erek appayim, 'long of nose/nostrils').
The most theologically rich use of arak is in the divine attribute 'long-suffering' or 'slow to anger' (erek appayim, literally 'long of nose' — the nose flaring with anger slowly rather than quickly). This phrase appears in God's self-disclosure to Moses (Exodus 34:6) as a foundational characteristic of the covenant God, and is cited throughout the Old Testament (Numbers 14:18; Psalms 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3). It describes God's patient restraint before judgment — not weakness, but active mercy. James 5:7 picks up this patience theme, using the farmer waiting for rain as the model for Christian endurance.