Arek (אֶרֶךְ) means "long" or "extended," but when used in the phrase erek appayim (long of nostrils/face), it describes patience — being "slow to anger." This phrase is one of the key attributes in God's self-revelation to Moses (Exodus 34:6) and became a standard part of Israel's description of God's character.
God's patience (erek appayim) is not weakness — it is the long-suffering of infinite holiness choosing to defer judgment in order to give space for repentance. Paul unpacks this in Romans 2:4: God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, and 2 Peter 3:9 declares He is patient "not wishing that any should perish." This divine attribute, rooted in arek, is the ground of every believer's salvation.