Meaning of patience in the Bible

Patience is a virtue that occurs over and over in the Bible. This study on the meaning of patience is short but power-packed.

Let’s jump in!

Patience in the Old Testament 

In the Old Testament, the word patience is not a commonly used word. 

In fact, where the English word patient is used in the Old Testament, it usually means wait.

So I decided to do a different word study for wait.

However there is a phrase that carries the idea of patience.

The common Old Testament expression for patience is the phrase slow to anger.

The Hebrew phrase is arek aph. These two words come together to paint a funny picture. 

Arek means long. Aph means nose or nostril. Together, the phrase literally translates “long nose”.

I couldn’t help but think of Pinocchio. Except this idea of a long nose has nothing to do with telling lies.

In Hebrew culture, the nose was associated with anger. It is pointing to the idea that when someone gets angry, their nostrils might flare.

But the idea of arek aph is that this happens slowly. Extremely slowly. 

In other words, it takes a painfully long time to become angry, hence slow to anger.

Slow to anger means to be patient or longsuffering or to take a long time to become angry.

The phrase slow to anger is a common expression used to describe God’s character.

If you know what a firecracker looks like, you know the fuse is quite short and burns very quickly.

This isn’t God at all.

Let’s look at some examples. 

Moses asked God to see His face. Because God wanted to protect Moses, He decided to allow him to see just a tiny glimpse of His back. 

As God passed by, He declared His character:

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger [arek aph], and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness… (Exodus 34:6, ESV)

Jonah refused to go to Nineveh. Why? Because he knew that God’s character wouldn’t allow Him to destroy them if they repented.

In explaining to God why he didn’t go, Jonah highlights this among the attributes of God:

…That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger  [arek aph], and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster…(Jonah 4:2, ESV)

Many people think the God of the Old Testament is angry and vengeful. But such a conclusion is not true.

God is patient and long-suffering, slow to anger and full of all the good characteristics that give us the space to learn from our mistakes and sins, and be restored to God through His love. 

People can be slow to anger too

Slow to anger can also be a human quality. The Bible describes it as a good virtue that will have positive results. 

Whoever is slow to anger [arek aph], has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29 ESV)

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger [arek aph] quiets contention. (Proverbs 15:18 ESV)

Notice, the opposite of being slow to anger is quick-tempered or hot-tempered.

The Scriptures encourage us to be like God. A wise and godly person is slow to anger. There are many benefits to this character quality. 

Patience in the New Testament 

The Greek word for patience is makrothumeo. 

Makrothumeo refers specifically to dealing with people, not necessarily circumstances or situations.

This word means to endure a long period of being provoked by someone but doing so without retaliation or losing your temper. 

It is the idea of enduring with calm, all the time restraining anger, even while the provocation keeps coming, even when the behavior of the other person doesn’t change.

Another English word used to translate makrothumeo is longsuffering. 

Let’s look at some examples. 

The patience of God 

God is described as being patient. In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul reflects on his own journey with God. 

He tells Timothy about his journey of transformation and how his personal testimony was evidence of God’s patience. 

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience [makrothumeo] as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:16, ESV)

Paul went from being a persecutor, killing the beloved children of God, to being a preacher, partnering with God in saving the lost children of our Saviour. 

This is a powerful story that demonstrates how much and how long God will endure until someone is ready to change. 

Why is God so patient? Because he has a goal and a desire born out of love for us.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient  [makrothumeo] toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)

God wants to ensure everyone has time and opportunities to choose salvation. It is not His desire that anyone misses out on heaven and eternity with Him.

That’s why He’s willing to work with murderers like Paul and Moses, thieves like Zaccheus, unbelievers like the Widow of Zarephath, impulsive natures like Peter, betrayers like Judas and the stubborn and rebellious like me and you.

God is enduring our waywardness that breaks his heart into a million pieces because He wants to give us time to come and be saved.

Patience among people 

In the New Testament, patience among us as humans is a common topic.

Why?

Here’s the thing that we so often miss: people couldn’t get along easily for several different reasons.

When Jesus started the church it was different from any other institution at that time. The church was made up of people from a variety of backgrounds. 

Rich and poor. Educated and illiterate. Jews and Greeks. Slaves and masters. Males and females. The list goes on. (Galatians 3:28)

Because of this diversity, people struggled to see eye to eye. Conflicts were a frequent and regular part of church life.

Therefore, the Apostles regularly encouraged them to be patient with each other. 

For example, Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:

with all humility and gentleness, with patience [makrothumeo], bearing with one another in love… (Ephesians 4:2, ESV)

He also wrote to the church in Thessalonica:

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient [makrothumeo] with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14, ESV)

Today, the church is just as diverse as it was back then, if not more so. We need makrothumeo to get along with each other just as much.

Remember, makrothumeo has little to do with the other person changing and everything to do with the condition of your own heart.

This is why makrothumeo is a fruit of the spirit. 

Patience as a Fruit of the spirit 

In Galatians 5:22, Paul lists patience as a fruit of the spirit. 

The Greek word for patience is makrothumeo.

Because of our fallen, sinful human nature, patience doesn’t come from us naturally. 

It is developed in us over a period of time as we walk with Christ in our Christian journey. 

As we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, work at becoming more and more patient with each other, we are also learning to love like Jesus. 

Patience is one of the fruits of love:

Love is patient [makrothumeo] (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV)

Final words on the meaning of patience in the Bible 

Patience is one indeed a tough virtue to develop. Thanks be to God we don’t have to depend on our will power or strength to bear this fruit. 

Thanks be to God that His patience endures as the Holy Spirit works on each of us to be patient towards others.