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Jonah 3

BSB·10 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Then the wordדְבַר־ḏə·ḇar- — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → cameוַיְהִ֧יway·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Jonahיוֹנָ֖הyō·w·nāh — DoveH3124 — Full Word Study → a second timeשֵׁנִ֥יתšê·nîṯ — second; again; another; otherH8145 — Full Word Study →: 2Get upק֛וּםqūm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →! Goלֵ֥ךְlêḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the greatהַגְּדוֹלָ֑הhag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → cityהָעִ֣ירhā·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → of Ninevehנִֽינְוֵ֖הnî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study → and proclaimוִּקְרָ֤אwiq·rå̄ — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → to itאֵלֶ֙יהָ֙’ê·le·hā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the messageהַקְּרִיאָ֔הhaq·qə·rî·’āh — Proclamation, preaching, or public announcementH7150 — Full Word Study → thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → Iאָנֹכִ֖י’ā·nō·ḵî — I, myself (first-person singular pronoun)H595 — Full Word Study → giveדֹּבֵ֥רdō·ḇêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → youאֵלֶֽיךָ׃’ê·le·ḵā — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →.” 3This time Jonahיוֹנָ֗הyō·w·nāh — DoveH3124 — Full Word Study → got upוַיָּ֣קָםway·yā·qām — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → and wentוַיֵּ֛לֶךְway·yê·leḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Ninevehנִֽינְוֶ֖הnī·nə·wɛh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study →, in accordance with the wordכִּדְבַ֣רkiḏ·ḇar — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. Now Ninevehוְנִֽינְוֵ֗הwə·nî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study → wasהָיְתָ֤הhā·yə·ṯāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → an exceedinglyלֵֽאלֹהִ֔יםlê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → greatגְּדוֹלָה֙gə·ḏō·w·lāh — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → cityעִיר־‘îr- — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study →, requiring a three-day journeyמַהֲלַ֖ךְma·hă·laḵ — journey; a way or path traveledH4109 — Full Word Study →. 4On the firstאֶחָ֑ד’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → dayי֣וֹםyō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of his journeyמַהֲלַ֖ךְma·hă·laḵ — journey; a way or path traveledH4109 — Full Word Study →, Jonahיוֹנָה֙yō·w·nāh — DoveH3124 — Full Word Study → set outוַיָּ֤חֶלway·yā·ḥel — to profane, defile, or beginH2490 — Full Word Study → into the cityבָעִ֔ירḇā·‘îr — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → and proclaimedוַיִּקְרָא֙way·yiq·rā — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study →, “Fortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים’ar·bā·‘îm — the number forty; a period of testing or judgmentH705 — Full Word Study → moreע֚וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study → daysי֔וֹםyō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → and Ninevehוְנִֽינְוֵ֖הwə·nî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study → will be overturnedנֶהְפָּֽכֶת׃neh·pā·ḵeṯ — to overturn, turn over, transformH2015 — Full Word Study →!” 5And the Ninevitesנִֽינְוֵ֖הnî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study → believedוַֽיַּאֲמִ֛ינוּway·ya·’ă·mî·nū — to trust, believe, be faithfulH539 — Full Word Study → Godבֵּֽאלֹהִ֑יםbê·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. They proclaimedוַיִּקְרְאוּ־way·yiq·rə·’ū- — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → a fastצוֹם֙ṣō·wm — Fasting; abstaining from foodH6685 — Full Word Study → and dressedוַיִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּway·yil·bə·šū — To clothe, dress, or wear garmentsH3847 — Full Word Study → in sackclothשַׂקִּ֔יםśaq·qîm — Coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or repentanceH8242 — Full Word Study →, from the greatestמִגְּדוֹלָ֖םmig·gə·ḏō·w·lām — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study → of them toוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the leastקְטַנָּֽם׃qə·ṭan·nām — Small, little, least, or young in size, number, age, or importanceH6996 — Full Word Study →. 6When wordהַדָּבָר֙had·dā·ḇār — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → reachedוַיִּגַּ֤עway·yig·ga‘ — to touch, reach, strike, or come into contactH5060 — Full Word Study → the kingמֶ֣לֶךmɛ·lɛḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of Ninevehנִֽינְוֵ֔הnî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study →, he got upוַיָּ֙קָם֙way·yā·qām — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → from his throneמִכִּסְא֔וֹmik·kis·’ōw — Throne; seat of authority and rulershipH3678 — Full Word Study →, took offוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רway·ya·‘ă·ḇêr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → his royal robeאַדַּרְתּ֖וֹ’ad·dar·tōw — Garment, robe, or cloak of dignityH155 — Full Word Study →, covered himself with sackclothשַׂ֔קśaq — Coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or repentanceH8242 — Full Word Study →, and satוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבway·yê·šeḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → inמֵֽעָלָ֑יוmê·‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → ashesהָאֵֽפֶר׃hā·’ê·p̄er — Ashes, dust, or residue from fireH665 — Full Word Study →. 7Then he issued a proclamationוַיַּזְעֵ֗קway·yaz·‘êq — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → in Ninevehבְּנִֽינְוֵ֔הbə·nî·nə·wêh — Capital of AssyriaH5210 — Full Word Study →: “By the decreeמִטַּ֧עַםmiṭ·ṭa·‘am — Taste, judgment, discretion, decreeH2940 — Full Word Study → of the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → and his noblesוּגְדֹלָ֖יוū·ḡə·ḏō·lāw — Great, mighty, large in size or significanceH1419 — Full Word Study →: Let noאַֽל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → manהָאָדָ֨םhā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → or beastוְהַבְּהֵמָ֜הwə·hab·bə·hê·māh — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study →, herdהַבָּקָ֣רhab·bā·qār — cattle, herd, ox, bovine livestockH1241 — Full Word Study → or flockוְהַצֹּ֗אןwə·haṣ·ṣōn — flock of sheep or goatsH6629 — Full Word Study →, tasteיִטְעֲמוּ֙yiṭ·‘ă·mū — to taste; to perceive or discernH2938 — Full Word Study → anything at allמְא֔וּמָהmə·’ū·māh — anything, something, aughtH3972 — Full Word Study →. They must notאַ֨ל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → eatיִרְע֔וּyir·‘ū — to shepherd; to tend, feed, or pasture a flockH7462 — Full Word Study → or drinkיִשְׁתּֽוּ׃yiš·tū — to drink; consume liquidH8354 — Full Word Study →. 8Furthermore, let both manהָֽאָדָם֙hā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study → and beastוְהַבְּהֵמָ֔הwə·hab·bə·hê·māh — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study → be coveredוְיִתְכַּסּ֣וּwə·yiṯ·kas·sū — to cover, conceal, hideH3680 — Full Word Study → with sackclothשַׂקִּ֗יםśaq·qîm — Coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or repentanceH8242 — Full Word Study →, and have everyone call outוְיִקְרְא֥וּwə·yiq·rə·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → earnestlyבְּחָזְקָ֑הbə·ḥā·zə·qāh — Strength, force, or mighty power; vigorous actionH2394 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →. Let each oneאִ֚ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → turnוְיָשֻׁ֗בוּwə·yā·šu·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → fromוּמִן־ū·min- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → his evilהָֽרָעָ֔הhā·rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → waysמִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmid·dar·kōw — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → and from the violenceהֶחָמָ֖סhe·ḥā·mās — Violence, cruelty, or wrongful harmH2555 — Full Word Study → in his handsבְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃bə·ḵap·pê·hem — Palm of the hand; hollow of anything; power or controlH3709 — Full Word Study →. 9Whoמִֽי־mî- — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → knowsיוֹדֵ֣עַyō·w·ḏê·a‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study →? Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → may turnיָשׁ֔וּבyā·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → and relentוְנִחַ֖םwə·ni·ḥam — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study →; He may turnוְשָׁ֛בwə·šāḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → from His fierceמֵחֲר֥וֹןmê·ḥă·rō·wn — Burning anger, fierce wrathH2740 — Full Word Study → angerאַפּ֖וֹ’ap·pōw — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study →, so that we will notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → perishנֹאבֵֽד׃nō·ḇêḏ — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study →.” 10When Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → sawוַיַּ֤רְאway·yar — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → their actionsמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔םma·‘ă·śê·hem — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study →thatכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → they had turnedשָׁ֖בוּšā·ḇū — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → from their evilהָרָעָ֑הhā·rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → waysמִדַּרְכָּ֣םmid·dar·kām — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study →—He relentedוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםway·yin·nā·ḥem — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study → fromעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the disasterהָרָעָ֛הhā·rā·‘āh — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → He had threatenedדִּבֶּ֥רdib·ber — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → to bringלַעֲשׂוֹת־la·‘ă·śō·wṯ- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → upon them.
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Chapter Commentary — Jonah 3
Chapter Overview

Overview

Chapter 3 marks the dramatic reversal of Jonah's disobedience and the stunning response of Nineveh's people to God's word. After his miraculous deliverance from the great fish, Jonah finally obeys the Lord's command to preach repentance to this great enemy city. What unfolds is one of Scripture's most remarkable accounts of genuine corporate repentance, from the greatest to the least, including the king himself. This chapter demonstrates the power of God's word to transform hearts, the readiness of sinners to turn from evil when confronted with truth, and God's mercy toward those who genuinely repent.

Verses 1–3: The Second Call and Jonah's Obedience

The Lord speaks to Jonah a second time with the same commission: go to Nineveh and preach. Notice that God does not scold or explain; He simply renews His call. This reflects God's persistent mercy and patience with His servants. Jonah, humbled by his experience in the fish's belly, now arises and goes. The text emphasizes Nineveh's size—"an exceeding great city of three days' journey"—underscoring both the magnitude of the task and the Lord's concern for this massive population. What fear or reluctance Jonah may still harbor is overcome by obedience to God's clear word. The lesson is simple: when we have heard God's call, delayed obedience is disobedience, but renewed obedience is always welcomed by our gracious God.

Verses 4–5: The Preaching and the People's Response

Jonah enters the city and proclaims his stark message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Remarkably, his sermon is brief—just eight words in the original language. There is no appeal to emotion, no extended argument, no promise of blessing if they repent. Yet the people of Nineveh believed God. This phrase is crucial: they did not merely believe Jonah's words; they believed God Himself, recognizing His authority and justice behind the message. Verse 5 describes an immediate, comprehensive response: they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. This outward expression of inward repentance swept through the entire city, transcending social hierarchy. Their actions demonstrate genuine repentance—a turning away from sin expressed in visible humility.

Verses 6–9: The King's Decree and Intercession

When the king of Nineveh hears of the preaching, he does not dismiss it with royal pride. Instead, he removes his royal robe, covers himself with sackcloth, and sits in ashes—the ancient Near Eastern signs of deep mourning and repentance. He then issues a decree commanding that all people and animals fast and refrain from eating and drinking, and that everyone cry mightily unto God and turn from evil and violence. Notice verse 8: the call is not merely to ritual behavior but to genuine transformation—"turn every one from his evil way." In verse 9, the king expresses a beautiful uncertainty: "Who can tell if God will turn and repent?" This is not doubt but humble hope, acknowledging that repentance does not obligate God to forgive but appeals to His mercy. The king's intercession models a correct understanding of human responsibility and divine sovereignty.

Verse 10: God's Response and Repentance

God saw their works—their genuine turning from evil. In response, God "repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them." This does not mean God changed His mind capriciously; rather, His conditional threat of judgment (dependent on their continued sin) was averted by their repentance. God's character is consistent: He judges sin but receives the repentant with mercy. The city was spared.

Application for Today

Nineveh's repentance challenges us to ask: Do we take God's word seriously? Are we quick to repent when confronted with sin? The chapter reminds us that no one is beyond God's reach and that genuine repentance—turning from evil—always moves the heart of our merciful God. Like Jonah, we are called to proclaim God's truth faithfully, trusting Him with the results.

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