So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
So Jonah {H3124} arose {H6965}, and went {H3212} unto Nineveh {H5210}, according to the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}. Now Nineveh {H5210} was an exceeding {H430} great {H1419} city {H5892} of three {H7969} days {H3117}' journey {H4109}.
So Yonah set out and went to Ninveh, as ADONAI had said. Now Ninveh was such a large city that it took three days just to cross it.
This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey.
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days’ journey.
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Genesis 22:3
¶ And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. -
Psalms 80:10
The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof [were like] the goodly cedars. -
Matthew 21:28
¶ But what think ye? A [certain] man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. -
Matthew 21:29
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. -
Genesis 30:8
And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali. -
Psalms 36:6
Thy righteousness [is] like the great mountains; thy judgments [are] a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. -
2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Jonah 3:3 marks a pivotal turning point in the prophet Jonah's story, showcasing his renewed obedience to God's command after his dramatic experience in the belly of the great fish. This verse also introduces the immense scale of Nineveh, the city to which Jonah was sent.
Context
Following his initial rebellion against God's call to preach to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3) and his subsequent miraculous rescue from the sea (Jonah 2:10), Jonah receives the word of the LORD a second time. This verse highlights his immediate compliance. Nineveh was the capital of ancient Assyria, a powerful and often brutal empire, known for its formidable walls and vast population. Its strategic location made it a significant center in the ancient Near East.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "exceeding great city" (Hebrew: gadol le'Elohim) can be literally translated as "great to God" or "divinely great." This expression signifies not just its physical size but its immense importance in God's eyes, perhaps due to its population or its wickedness, making God's concern for it even more profound. The "three days' journey" likely refers to the time it would take to traverse the city's main areas or circuit its walls, underscoring its enormous scale and the extensive effort required for Jonah to deliver his message throughout.
Practical Application
Jonah's journey from rebellion to obedience offers a powerful message for believers today. It reminds us that God is a God of second chances, always ready to restore us when we repent and choose to follow His will. Just as God persisted with Jonah, He persists with us, calling us to fulfill our unique purposes. Furthermore, the vastness of Nineveh reminds us that God's compassion extends to all people, regardless of their background or perceived wickedness, urging us to participate in His global mission of sharing His truth and love, even in seemingly overwhelming circumstances. Ultimately, this verse sets the stage for the remarkable repentance of Nineveh, demonstrating the transformative power of God's word when faithfully proclaimed.