Jonah 4:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, [It is] better for me to die than to live.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then, when the sun rose, God prepared a scorching east wind; and the sun beat down on Yonah's head so hard that he grew faint and begged that he could die, saying, "I would be better off dead than alive."

Berean Standard Bible:

As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

American Standard Version:

And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And it came to pass, when the sun^{H8121} did arise^{H2224}, that God^{H430} prepared^{H4487} a vehement^{H2759} east^{H6921} wind^{H7307}; and the sun^{H8121} beat^{H5221} upon the head^{H7218} of Jonah^{H3124}, that he fainted^{H5968}, and wished^{H7592} in himself^{H5315} to die^{H4191}, and said^{H559}, It is better^{H2896} for me to die^{H4194} than to live^{H2416}.

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Commentary for Jonah 4:8

Jonah 4:8 is part of the conclusion to the Book of Jonah, which is set during the reign of Jeroboam II (786–746 BCE) and reflects the geopolitical context of the time, with Assyria being a dominant power and Nineveh, its capital, being a city of great significance. The book is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jonah, who is called by God to preach against Nineveh for their wickedness.

In this verse, Jonah is experiencing the consequences of his disobedience to God's command. After initially fleeing from God's presence to avoid delivering His message to Nineveh, Jonah eventually goes to Nineveh, delivers the message, and witnesses the city's repentance. However, Jonah is displeased when God shows mercy to the city, revealing his own lack of compassion and understanding of God's mercy.

The verse in question describes a moment after Jonah has left the city, camping to the east in hopes of seeing its destruction. Instead, God causes a plant to grow and provide shade for Jonah, which brings him comfort. Then, as described in Jonah 4:8, God appoints a worm to destroy the plant, followed by a scorching east wind and intense sun, which cause Jonah to suffer from the heat. The harsh conditions lead Jonah to become so distressed that he desires death over life, highlighting his emotional instability and self-centered perspective.

The themes present in this verse include God's sovereignty over nature, the hardships that can come from divine chastisement, and the complexities of human emotion and understanding in relation to God's will. Jonah's despair reflects his struggle to reconcile his own desires with God's plans, which is a recurring theme throughout the book. The verse also underscores the lesson that God's compassion extends beyond the boundaries of Israel, and that His ways are higher and more encompassing than human expectations or desires. This narrative moment serves as a powerful illustration of the human tendency to focus on immediate personal comfort rather than the broader divine purposes, as well as the need for patience and trust in God's wisdom.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8121
   There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁמֶשׁ
   Transliteration: shemesh
   Pronunciation: sheh'-mesh
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement; [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2224
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָרַח
   Transliteration: zârach
   Pronunciation: zaw-rakh'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to irradiate (or shoot forth beams), i.e. to rise (as the sun); specifically, to appear (as a symptom of leprosy); arise, rise (up), as soon as it is up.
   
3. Strong's Number: H430
   There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
   Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
   Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
   Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4487
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָנָה
   Transliteration: mânâh
   Pronunciation: maw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to weigh out; by implication, to allot or constitute officially; also to enumerate or enroll; appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2759
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֲרִישִׁי
   Transliteration: chărîyshîy
   Pronunciation: khar-ee-shee'
   Description: from חָרַשׁ in the sense of silence; quiet, i.e. sultry (as feminine noun, the sirocco or hot east wind); vehement.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6921
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָדִים
   Transliteration: qâdîym
   Pronunciation: kaw-deem'
   Description: or קָדִם; from קָדַם; the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind); east(-ward, wind).
   
7. Strong's Number: H7307
   There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רוּחַ
   Transliteration: rûwach
   Pronunciation: roo'-akh
   Description: from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
   
8. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7218
   There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֹאשׁ
   Transliteration: rôʼsh
   Pronunciation: roshe
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5968
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָלַף
    Transliteration: ʻâlaph
    Pronunciation: aw-laf'
    Description: a primitive root; to veil or cover; figuratively, to be languid; faint, overlaid, wrap self.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7592
    There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁאַל
    Transliteration: shâʼal
    Pronunciation: shaw-al'
    Description: or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish.
    
13. Strong's Number: H5315
    There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
    Transliteration: nephesh
    Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
    Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
    
14. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
    
15. 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.
    
16. Strong's Number: H2896
    There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: טוֹב
    Transliteration: ṭôwb
    Pronunciation: tobe
    Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).
    
17. Strong's Number: H4194
    There are 155 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָוֶת
    Transliteration: mâveth
    Pronunciation: maw'-veth
    Description: from מוּת; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin; (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d).
    
18. Strong's Number: H2416
    There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חַי
    Transliteration: chay
    Pronunciation: khah'-ee
    Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.