Jonah 3:4

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.

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}.

Yonah began his entry into the city and had finished only his first day of proclaiming, 'In forty days Ninveh will be overthrown,'

On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”

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.

Commentary

Jonah 3:4 marks a pivotal moment in the book of Jonah, as the reluctant prophet finally carries out God's command to warn the wicked city of Nineveh.

Context of Jonah 3:4

After being swallowed by a great fish and miraculously delivered onto dry land, Jonah receives a second, identical command from the Lord to go to Nineveh (Jonah 3:1). Unlike his initial flight (Jonah 1:3), he now obeys. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, a powerful and notoriously cruel empire, despised by Israel. The phrase "a day's journey" suggests the immense size of the city, indicating Jonah began to penetrate its vastness, proclaiming his message publicly as he entered.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Mercy and Patience: Even for a city as wicked as Nineveh, God extends a chance for repentance, demonstrating His profound mercy and reluctance to bring judgment without warning. This highlights a core aspect of God's character as slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
  • The Power of Prophetic Warning: Jonah's stark, concise message – "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" – is a direct declaration of impending divine judgment. It is a clear ultimatum, designed to provoke an immediate response.
  • Obedience, Even If Reluctant: Despite Jonah's personal feelings towards Nineveh (which become evident later in the book), he carries out the Lord's instruction. This emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's call, regardless of our understanding or agreement with His methods.
  • A Call to Repentance: Though not explicitly stated as a call to repent in this verse, the warning of overthrow implicitly serves as an opportunity for the Ninevites to change their ways, setting the stage for their remarkable response in Jonah 3:5.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cried" is qara' (קָרָא), which means to proclaim, summon, or call out loudly. This wasn't a quiet whisper but a public, authoritative declaration, suitable for a prophet delivering God's message in a large city. The term "overthrown" is haphak (הָפַךְ), often used to describe a complete reversal or destruction, such as the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The "forty days" often represents a period of testing, trial, or divine probation in biblical narratives, such as the forty days of rain in Noah's flood, or the forty days of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.

Practical Application

Jonah 3:4 reminds us of several timeless truths. Firstly, God is persistent in His call and patient in His mercy, even towards those who seem furthest from Him. Secondly, a simple, clear message delivered in obedience to God can have profound impact, regardless of the messenger's personal struggles. Finally, it underscores the critical role of warning and the opportunity for repentance that God extends before judgment. It challenges us to consider if we are willing to be messengers of God's truth, even when the message or the recipients are difficult, trusting in His ultimate plan.

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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 18:22 (7 votes)

    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 (6 votes)

    [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 (6 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    ¶ 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 (3 votes)

    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.