Jonah 3:6

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Jonah 3:6 vividly portrays the immediate and profound response of the King of Nineveh to Jonah's prophetic message. Upon hearing the word of impending judgment, this powerful pagan monarch, without hesitation, abandoned his royal symbols of authority and status—his throne and robe—and publicly adopted the humble posture of repentance by covering himself with sackcloth and sitting in ashes. This radical act of contrition by the highest authority in the formidable Assyrian Empire underscores the transformative power of God's word and sets a striking example of genuine humility and national repentance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment in the book of Jonah, immediately following the people of Nineveh's belief in God and their proclamation of a fast in [Jonah 3:5](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5 - Nineveh's Belief and Fast"). Jonah had just delivered a stark, eight-word Hebrew prophecy: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown" ([Jonah 3:4](/jonah/3-4 "Jonah 3:4 - Jonah's Prophecy to Nineveh")). The king's response in [Jonah 3:6](/jonah/3-6 "Jonah 3:6 - The King of Nineveh's Repentance") elevates the city's widespread repentance to the highest level of authority, demonstrating that the divine message permeated all strata of society. His subsequent decree in [Jonah 3:7-9](/jonah/3-7-9 "Jonah 3:7-9 - The King's Decree for Repentance") mandates and formalizes the city-wide repentance, setting the stage for God's merciful relenting in [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God Relents from Disaster").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nineveh was the magnificent capital of the Assyrian Empire, a dominant and notoriously brutal power in the ancient Near East. The Assyrians were known for their military prowess, vast wealth, and often cruel treatment of conquered peoples. For a Hebrew prophet to deliver a message of doom to such a formidable city, and for its king to respond with such immediate and public humility, was extraordinary. The practice of "sackcloth and ashes" was a widely understood and deeply significant custom 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, appeal to divine mercy, or acknowledge a superior power, demonstrating a cultural understanding of penitential rites.
* **Key Themes:** The king's actions in [Jonah 3:6](/jonah/3-6 "Jonah 3:6 - The King of Nineveh's Repentance") powerfully contribute to several overarching themes in the book of Jonah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Radical Repentance**, illustrating that genuine turning from sin involves a willingness to abandon pride, status, and self-reliance, symbolized by the king's stripping away of his royal regalia. Secondly, it underscores **God's Universal Sovereignty**, demonstrating His ability to move the hearts of even the most powerful pagan rulers and to extend His word's reach beyond the covenant people of Israel. This unexpected response from Nineveh, a city known for its wickedness, paves the way for the profound display of **God's Expansive Mercy**, revealing that His compassion is not limited by national or ethnic boundaries but is available to all who genuinely humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, as seen later in [Jonah 4:11](/jonah/4-11 "Jonah 4:11 - God's Compassion for Nineveh").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** (H1697) This term, often translated as "word," carries a much broader semantic range. It can refer to a matter, thing, affair, report, or even a divine decree. In this context, "word came" signifies not just a spoken utterance but the authoritative, impactful message of God delivered through Jonah, which carried the weight of divine judgment and the potential for a new course of action. It implies the full substance and import of Jonah's prophecy.
* **Robe (Hebrew, _ʼaddereth'_):** (H155) This word denotes something ample, a wide dress, a mantle, or a magnificent robe. Here, it specifically refers to the king's royal garment, a symbol of his authority, wealth, and exalted status. The act of "laying his robe from him" is a powerful visual representation of the king voluntarily divesting himself of his earthly power and pride, signifying a profound act of self-abasement before a higher power.
* **Sat (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** (H3427) This primitive root means "to sit down," but also "to dwell," "to remain," or "to settle." In the context of "sitting in ashes," it implies a deliberate and sustained posture of humility, grief, and repentance. It's not a fleeting gesture but a settled, intentional act of abasement, signifying a deep internal state of contrition and a willingness to remain in that humble state.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For word came unto the king of Nineveh":** This clause establishes the catalyst for the king's actions. The prophetic message of impending doom, delivered by Jonah, reached the highest authority in the land, indicating that the divine warning was not confined to the common people but penetrated the very seat of power.
* **"and he arose from his throne":** This signifies an immediate and decisive break from his position of power and comfort. The throne represents the pinnacle of earthly authority and majesty. By rising from it, the king physically abandons his royal prerogative and steps into a posture of vulnerability and readiness to respond to the divine word.
* **"and he laid his robe from him":** This action further emphasizes the king's radical self-abasement. His royal robe, a visible emblem of his status, dignity, and power, is voluntarily removed. This stripping away of outward symbols mirrors an internal shedding of pride and self-importance, preparing him for a posture of humility.
* **"and covered [him] with sackcloth":** Having divested himself of his royal attire, the king adopts the traditional garment of mourning and repentance. Sackcloth, a coarse, uncomfortable fabric, was universally recognized as a sign of deep distress, sorrow, and penitence, symbolizing a conscious choice to identify with the lowest and most humbled state.
* **"and sat in ashes":** This final action completes the visual tableau of profound humility and contrition. Sitting in ashes, often accompanied by sprinkling ashes on one's head, was the ultimate expression of abasement, desolation, and grief in the ancient world. It demonstrated a complete abandonment of comfort and status, signifying a total surrender and plea for mercy.

#### Literary Devices
Jonah 3:6 is rich with **Symbolism** and **Juxtaposition**. The king's "throne" and "robe" are potent symbols of his immense earthly power, authority, and pride. Their abandonment immediately followed by the adoption of "sackcloth" and "ashes" creates a dramatic **Juxtaposition** between his former state of regal splendor and his newfound posture of profound humility and repentance. Sackcloth and ashes themselves are powerful symbols of mourning, grief, and penitence, universally understood in the ancient Near East. This stark visual contrast underscores the radical nature of the king's response and the transformative power of God's word, which compels even the most powerful to lay aside their earthly glory in recognition of divine sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The King of Nineveh's actions in Jonah 3:6 offer a profound theological statement on the nature of true repentance and God's boundless mercy. His immediate and public act of laying aside his royal symbols and embracing sackcloth and ashes demonstrates that genuine contrition involves a radical reorientation of one's life, a stripping away of pride, self-sufficiency, and earthly status before God. This is not merely an internal change but often manifests in outward, tangible expressions of humility and sorrow for sin. The king's response, astonishing for a pagan ruler, underscores God's sovereign ability to work in any heart, regardless of background or power, and highlights His readiness to extend forgiveness and avert judgment when there is sincere turning from wickedness.

* [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise for Repentance")
* [Isaiah 58:5](/isaiah/58-5 "Isaiah 58:5 - True Fasting and Humility")
* [Matthew 12:41](/matthew/12-41 "Matthew 12:41 - The Men of Nineveh Condemn This Generation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The King of Nineveh's radical and immediate repentance serves as a powerful and challenging example for believers today. In a world that often values status, comfort, and self-reliance, the king's willingness to abandon his throne and robe for sackcloth and ashes calls us to examine our own hearts. True repentance is not merely an intellectual acknowledgment of sin but a profound, heart-felt turning that may require us to "lay aside" our own "thrones" of pride, self-sufficiency, or worldly attachments. It demands a willingness to humble ourselves, to confess our failings, and to embrace a posture of dependence on God, just as the king did. His actions remind us that God is always ready to extend mercy and forgiveness to those who genuinely humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways, demonstrating His boundless compassion for all humanity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "thrones" or "robes"—symbols of status, comfort, or self-reliance—might I be unwilling to lay aside in my pursuit of genuine repentance and humility before God?**
* **How does the King of Nineveh's immediate and radical response challenge my own willingness to respond fully and without delay to God's convicting word?**
* **In what practical ways can I outwardly express my inner humility and repentance before God and others, beyond mere words?**

### FAQ
**Was the King of Nineveh truly converted to the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel?**

Answer: The text of Jonah primarily focuses on the king's and the city's *repentance* from their wicked ways and God's subsequent *mercy* in relenting from the threatened judgment. While the king's actions and decree demonstrate a profound and effective response to God's word—acknowledging His power and the need to appease Him—the book does not explicitly detail a personal conversion to monotheistic Yahwism. The emphasis is on the *national* turning from evil and God's character as a compassionate God who desires all people to turn to Him, rather than on the king's individual theological shift. His actions were sufficient for God to extend grace to the city, demonstrating that God responds to genuine humility and a turning from evil, even if the theological understanding of the Ninevites was incomplete by Israelite standards.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The radical repentance of the King of Nineveh, culminating in his public display of humility, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself points to the Ninevites as a stark contrast to His own generation, stating, "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here" ([Matthew 12:41](/matthew/12-41 "Matthew 12:41 - The Men of Nineveh Condemn This Generation")). If a pagan king could lay aside his throne and robe in response to a reluctant prophet's limited message, how much more should humanity repent and humble itself before Christ, the King of kings, who laid aside His divine glory not merely as a symbolic act, but by emptying Himself and taking on the form of a servant, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:6-8](/philippians/2-6-8 "Philippians 2:6-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation"))? The mercy extended to Nineveh foreshadows the universal offer of salvation found in Christ, who, through His ultimate sacrifice, enables all who repent and believe to be reconciled to God, regardless of their past wickedness, demonstrating God's boundless love and desire for all to come to repentance ([2 Peter 3:9](/2_peter/3-9 "2 Peter 3:9 - God's Patience and Desire for Repentance")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

James 4:6

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

James 4:10

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

Esther 4:1

¶ 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

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

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

Job 2:8

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

James 1:9

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