King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yonah began his entry into the city and had finished only his first day of proclaiming, 'In forty days Ninveh will be overthrown,'
Berean Standard Bible:
On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”
American Standard Version:
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Jonah{H3124} began{H2490} to enter{H935} into the city{H5892} a{H259} day's{H3117} journey{H4109}, and he cried{H7121}, and said{H559}, Yet forty{H705} days{H3117}, and Nineveh{H5210} shall be overthrown{H2015}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 18:22
- When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Jeremiah 18:7
- [At what] instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy [it];
Jeremiah 18:10
- If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Jonah 3:10
- And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did [it] not.
2 Kings 20:1
- ¶ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Kings 20:6
- And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
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Commentary for Jonah 3:4
Jonah 3:4 is a pivotal moment in the short Old Testament book of Jonah, which is traditionally ascribed to the prophet Jonah ben Amittai. The historical context of this verse is set within the Assyrian Empire's period of dominance, with Nineveh being one of its prominent cities, known for its wickedness and moral corruption. The Assyrians were also historical adversaries of the Israelites, which adds depth to Jonah's initial reluctance to deliver God's message to them.
In the verse, after initially fleeing from God's command to prophesy to Nineveh, Jonah finally enters the city. The distance he travels, "a day's journey," suggests both the vastness of Nineveh and the urgency of his mission. Upon entering, Jonah delivers a succinct and powerful message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." This proclamation is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates God's mercy, offering a period of grace before the impending doom, allowing time for repentance. Secondly, it highlights the theme of divine judgment, which is a central motif in the prophetic literature of the Bible. Thirdly, it underscores the theme of repentance and God's willingness to relent from punishment if people turn from their wicked ways, as seen in the subsequent verses where the Ninevites, from the king down to the common people, believe God and repent.
The verse encapsulates the broader themes of the book, including obedience to God's will, the scope of God's compassion beyond Israel, and the transformative power of divine warnings. Jonah's message also raises questions about the nature of divine foreknowledge and human free will, as the outcome of the prophecy is contingent upon the response of the Ninevites. The repentance of Nineveh becomes a historical example of how a city known for its moral depravity can avert divine judgment through collective change and reverence for God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3124
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹנָה
Transliteration: Yôwnâh
Pronunciation: yo-naw'
Description: xlit Yônâh corrected to Yôwnâh; the same as יוֹנָה; Jonah, an Israelite; Jonah. - Strong's Number: H2490
There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָלַל
Transliteration: châlal
Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H4109
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַהֲלָךְ
Transliteration: mahălâk
Pronunciation: mah-hal-awk'
Description: from הָלַךְ; a walk, i.e. a passage or a distance; journey, walk. - Strong's Number: H7121
There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H705
There are 178 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְבָּעִים
Transliteration: ʼarbâʻîym
Pronunciation: ar-baw-eem'
Description: multiple of אַרְבַּע; forty; -forty. - Strong's Number: H5210
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נִינְוֵה
Transliteration: Nîynᵉvêh
Pronunciation: nee-nev-ay'
Description: of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of Assyria; Nineveh. - Strong's Number: H2015
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָפַךְ
Transliteration: hâphak
Pronunciation: haw-fak'
Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).