Hebrew Idiom

A gem from my NET notes on Jonah's assessment of the Lord:

"...because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment. So now, Lord, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!” The Lord said, “Are you really so very angry?”

"Slow to anger" in Hebrew literally means "long of nostrils" --what a word picture!

Psalm 103:8

In contrast, Jonah is angry to the degree that he longs for the Lord to end his own life.  What spite!