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Jonah 3:6

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For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

For word {H1697} came {H5060} unto the king {H4428} of Nineveh {H5210}, and he arose {H6965} from his throne {H3678}, and he laid {H5674} his robe {H155} from him, and covered {H3680} him with sackcloth {H8242}, and sat {H3427} in ashes {H665}.

When the news reached the king of Ninveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes.

When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Commentary

Jonah 3:6 describes the immediate and profound response of the King of Nineveh to the prophetic message delivered by Jonah. This verse highlights the astonishing humility and repentance displayed by a powerful pagan monarch, setting an example of true contrition.

Historical and Cultural Context

The city of Nineveh was the capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire, known for its immense power, wealth, and often brutal warfare. For a prophet like Jonah to bring a message of impending doom ("Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown") to such a formidable city was a dangerous task. What makes the king's reaction so remarkable is that he, along with his people, took the warning seriously. This wasn't merely a political gesture; it was a deep spiritual response. The custom of "sackcloth and ashes" was a common practice throughout the ancient Near East, signifying profound grief, mourning, and repentance. Kings, even powerful ones, would sometimes adopt these humble signs to express national sorrow or appeal to divine mercy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Radical Repentance: The king's actions signify a complete stripping away of his royal status and pride. He "arose from his throne" and "laid his robe from him," exchanging symbols of power for symbols of abasement. This physical act underscored a deep internal change, illustrating that genuine repentance involves abandoning one's position of authority or self-reliance before God.
  • Profound Humility: By covering himself with sackcloth and sitting in ashes, the king demonstrated ultimate humility. This act placed him on the same level as the lowliest citizen, acknowledging that all, from king to commoner, stood equally guilty before God. This mirrors the kind of humility God seeks from His people, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
  • God's Sovereignty and Mercy: The king's response, following the immediate belief of the people (Jonah 3:5), demonstrates God's sovereign power to move hearts. Even in a seemingly ungodly empire, God's word had transformative power. This paved the way for God to show His great mercy, as described later in Jonah 3:10.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sackcloth and ashes" is a vivid idiom for extreme sorrow, mourning, and repentance. Sackcloth was a coarse, dark fabric, often made of goat's hair, uncomfortable to wear. Ashes, a symbol of desolation and finality, were either sprinkled on the head or sat in. Together, they represented a complete abandonment of comfort and status, a visible declaration of penitence before God. This was a universally understood sign of distress and appeal for divine favor in the ancient world, practiced by figures like Daniel and King Ahab at different times.

Practical Application

The King of Nineveh's response serves as a powerful reminder for believers today. True repentance is not merely acknowledging sin but involves a radical change of heart and action, a willingness to lay aside pride, status, or self-sufficiency before God. It calls for genuine humility, a recognition that our standing before God is not based on earthly position but on our response to His word. God is always ready to extend mercy to those who humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, just as He did for Nineveh, demonstrating His boundless compassion for all humanity (Luke 13:3).

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • James 4:6 (6 votes)

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

  • James 4:10 (6 votes)

    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

  • Esther 4:1 (6 votes)

    ¶ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

  • Esther 4:4 (6 votes)

    So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not.

  • Daniel 9:3 (4 votes)

    And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

  • Job 2:8 (4 votes)

    And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

  • James 1:9 (3 votes)

    Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: