This verse echoes the thought of such passages as Exodus 34.6 and Numbers 14.18. It gives a picture of the LORD’s character which is complementary to the picture of anger in verse 2. The opening words say literally that the LORD is “long of nostril.” In Hebrew the nostrils are associated with anger, and to be “long of nostril” means to be slow to anger. Good News Translation puts this into more natural English as “The LORD does not easily become angry.” If translators have some figurative expression in their language which carries the meaning of “slow to get angry,” this is a good place to use it. In certain languages this idea may be expressed as “does not become angry quickly” or “does not burst into anger.” In other languages one may say “his heart (or, liver) does not rise (or burn, or pain) quickly.” It is also possible in some languages to use the expression “has a cool heart.” However, any expression used here must not sound disrespectful when applied to God.
In other places where the LORD is spoken of as slow to anger, the description usually goes on to say that he is “of great mercy” (Neh 9.17; Psa 86.15; 103.8; Joel 2.13; Jonah 4.2). Accordingly some scholars have suggested that the same Hebrew words “of great mercy” should be inserted here to correct the text (compare Moffatt’s translation [Moffatt]). However, the Hebrew text (of great might) makes perfectly good sense as it stands, and there is no need to emend it. In fact a similar expression occurs in Numbers 14.17 in a somewhat similar context. There the LORD’s power seems to refer to his ability to keep his anger in check, and some commentators think it has the same meaning here. However, Good News Translation links its equivalent phrase “he is powerful” with the next part of the verse (compare New American Bible), and this may be a useful example for translators to follow. Great might (Good News Translation “powerful”) here does not refer primarily to physical strength but rather to God’s ruling power and authority as judge over the earth. Therefore translators should choose a term in the receptor language which is normally used to refer to the “greatness,” “majesty,” or “sovereignty” of a god, or of a political ruler such as a king or chief.
The LORD will by no means clear the guilty is translated in Good News Translation as “he … never lets the guilty go unpunished.” This expression also occurs in earlier parts of the Old Testament (Exo 34.7; Num 14.18). In many languages it may be better to drop the double negative and say something like “he always punishes guilty people for their sins” or “he always punishes people who have done evil things.”
The first half of verse 3, which has already been discussed, is linked in thought with verse 2 as a description of the character of the LORD. The latter half of verse 3 goes more closely in thought with verses 4-6, as it is part of a description of the effect of the LORD’s presence on the world of nature. This is the reason why Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation start a new paragraph in the middle of verse 3.
The first part of the new paragraph says literally His way is in whirlwind and storm. Good News Translation translates the two terms whirlwind and storm by the single word “storms” and turns the noun phrase His way into a verbal expression, “Where the LORD walks.” The picture in the prophet’s mind is of the LORD treading on the mountain tops (compare Micah 1.3) and thus causing storms (“storms arise” in Good News Translation). In many languages storms do not “arise” but they “begin to blow.” The Hebrew use of the word whirlwind provides the picture of a strong whirling wind. So a translator may render this sentence as “Where the LORD walks, great storms begin to blow” or “Where the LORD walks, a great whirling wind blows.”
This picture is maintained in the last line of the verse, which says the clouds are the dust of his feet. Just as the approach of a traveler on the dry roads of Palestine could be seen by the dust clouds his feet raised, so the progress of the LORD along the mountain tops is said to be seen by observing the clouds which clustered around them. The prophet is of course using figurative language here to create a poetic effect. He did not really think of the LORD as a huge giant walking on the mountain tops. Since this type of picture language is quite common in the Old Testament, the translator should keep it if at all possible. Good News Translation makes clear that dust of his feet means “dust raised by his feet.” One may also render this phrase as “dust which his feet stir up.”
Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A . A Handbook on the Book of Nahum. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1989. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .