Jonah3

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, commanding him to preach to Nineveh. Jonah obeyed, proclaiming that the city would be overthrown in forty days. The people of Nineveh, including the king, believed God, repented with fasting and sackcloth, and turned from their evil ways. Consequently, God saw their actions and relented from the judgment He had threatened.

Jonah Obeys the Second Command

1
the LORD’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, ​
2
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” ​
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So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. ​
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Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” ​

Nineveh Responds to the Warning

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The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. ​
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The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ​
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He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water; ​
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but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. ​
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Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?” ​

God Shows Compassion

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God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it. ​

Study Notes for Jonah 3

Verse 1

The phrase 'the second time' underscores God’s patience and persistence. Even after Jonah’s rebellion and detour (Ch. 1-2), God renews the original call, demonstrating that His mission of mercy remains unchanged.

Verse 2

God specifies that Jonah must preach the exact message ('the preaching that I bid thee'), preventing Jonah from softening or altering the severe warning Nineveh needed to hear.

Verse 3

Nineveh was the capital of the powerful Assyrian Empire. The description of it being 'three days' journey' refers to the vast size of the metropolitan area or the time needed to fully traverse and address its population.

Verse 4

Jonah’s message is exceptionally brief and lacks any explicit call to repentance; it is a declaration of impending judgment. The forty-day grace period offered a clear window for the Ninevites to respond.

Verse 5

The immediate and widespread faith of the Ninevites is remarkable, demonstrating the sovereign power of God’s word even when delivered by a reluctant prophet. Fasting and sackcloth were traditional signs of genuine communal mourning and penitence.

Verse 6

The king's participation legitimizes the city-wide repentance. His removal of royal robes and sitting in ashes symbolized deep personal humility and identification with his people’s desperate plight.

Verse 7

The decree includes even the animals, making the repentance total and symbolic. This extreme measure emphasizes the gravity of their situation and their desire for comprehensive cleansing before God.

Verse 8

The king identifies their primary sins as 'evil way' and 'violence' (*ḥāmās*), suggesting that the judgment was provoked by social injustice and oppression, which were common features of Assyrian power.

Verse 9

The phrase 'Who can tell' expresses hopeful uncertainty, recognizing that mercy is dependent entirely upon God’s sovereign choice and character, not earned by their actions alone.

Verse 10

God's decision to 'repent' (change course) demonstrates that divine judgment is often conditional upon human response. God responds to genuine repentance by withholding the threatened punishment, affirming His desire for mercy over destruction.

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