Jonah 1:2

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Arise {H6965}, go {H3212} to Nineveh {H5210}, that great {H1419} city {H5892}, and cry {H7121} against it; for their wickedness {H7451} is come up {H5927} before {H6440} me.

"Set out for the great city of Ninveh, and proclaim to it that their wickedness has come to my attention."

“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”

Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Commentary

Jonah 1:2 (KJV): Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Context

This verse marks the beginning of the book of Jonah, introducing the prophet Jonah son of Amittai and the divine command he receives. The setting is the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the reign of Jeroboam II (8th century BC). God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh, the capital of the powerful and often brutal Assyrian empire, which was a major enemy of Israel. The task was daunting and likely unwelcome to Jonah, requiring him to deliver a message of judgment to a foreign, hostile nation. This immediate call sets the stage for Jonah's subsequent disobedience and the unfolding drama of the book.

Key Themes

  • Divine Commission: God initiates the action, commanding Jonah to undertake a specific mission. This highlights God's active involvement in the affairs of the world and His use of human messengers, similar to His call to other prophets.
  • God's Awareness of Sin: The phrase "their wickedness is come up before me" emphasizes God's full knowledge and awareness of the sin and corruption within Nineveh. It signifies that their actions have reached a point requiring divine response, a concept found elsewhere when wickedness is described as "crying out" to God (see Genesis 18:21).
  • The Scope of God's Concern: Although Nineveh was an enemy nation, God sends a prophet to them. This foreshadows God's ultimate concern for all nations and His desire that they turn from their wicked ways, not just Israel.
  • Impending Judgment: The command to "cry against it" indicates that Nineveh's wickedness warrants judgment. The message Jonah was to deliver was one of impending doom unless there was repentance.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "great city" (Hebrew: 'iyr haggᵉdôlâ) is used to stress Nineveh's immense size and importance, making the task of prophesying against it particularly significant and perhaps intimidating.
  • "Cry against it" (Hebrew: ûqᵉrâ 'ālêhā) implies a public, forceful proclamation, not just a quiet word. It's a prophetic act demanding attention and confronting the city with its sin.
  • "Come up before me" (Hebrew: 'ālṯâ lᵉpānay) is an anthropomorphic expression signifying that their wickedness has ascended to God's presence, becoming a matter of divine attention and requiring action.

Reflection and Application

Jonah 1:2 reminds us that God sees and is fully aware of all sin, whether in our lives or in the world around us. It also highlights that God often calls His people to uncomfortable or challenging tasks – to go to difficult places or speak hard truths, even to those we might consider enemies. Our obedience to God's call to share His message, whether of judgment or mercy, is paramount, regardless of our personal feelings toward the recipients. The verse implicitly raises the question of our willingness to step outside our comfort zones for God's purposes, recognizing that His concern extends far beyond our immediate community.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 10:11 (7 votes)

    Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,

  • Nahum 1:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

  • Isaiah 58:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

  • Genesis 18:20 (6 votes)

    And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

  • Genesis 18:21 (6 votes)

    I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

  • Jonah 4:11 (5 votes)

    And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and [also] much cattle?

  • Jonah 3:2 (5 votes)

    Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.