Jonah 3:7

And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

And he caused it to be proclaimed {H2199} and published {H559} through Nineveh {H5210} by the decree {H2940} of the king {H4428} and his nobles {H1419}, saying {H559}, Let neither man {H120} nor beast {H929}, herd {H1241} nor flock {H6629}, taste {H2938} any thing {H3972}: let them not feed {H7462}, nor drink {H8354} water {H4325}:

He then had this proclamation made throughout Ninveh: "By decree of the king and his nobles, no person or animal, herd or flock, is to put anything in his mouth; they are neither to eat nor drink water.

Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: โ€œBy the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink.

And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

Commentary

Jonah 3:7 records the extraordinary response of the king of Nineveh and his nobles to Jonahโ€™s prophetic warning. Following Jonahโ€™s declaration of impending judgment, the entire city, from the highest authority to the common people, embraced a profound act of repentance, as detailed in this verse.

Context

This verse immediately follows the dramatic turn of events where the people of Nineveh, a powerful and notoriously wicked Assyrian city, believed Godโ€™s message delivered by Jonah (Jonah 3:5). The king, upon hearing the news, descends from his throne, lays aside his royal robes, covers himself with sackcloth, and sits in ashes, a classic demonstration of deep mourning and humility. Verse 7 then outlines the specific and stringent decree he issues, demonstrating the seriousness of their collective repentance.

Key Themes

  • Corporate Repentance: The decree highlights a collective, city-wide act of repentance, initiated by the highest authority. It wasn't just an individual spiritual exercise but a public, unified plea for divine mercy.
  • Extreme Humility and Desperation: The command for both man and beast to fast, abstaining from food and water, signifies an unparalleled level of desperation and humility before God. This extreme measure underscored their complete dependence on God's compassion and their profound sorrow for their wickedness. Such a fast was a visible and tangible expression of their inner contrition.
  • Divine Influence: The swift and thorough response of the pagan king and his nobles, without coercion, powerfully illustrates the pervasive influence of God's word and His ability to move even the hearts of those seemingly far from Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "proclaimed and published" (Hebrew: ืงืจื โ€“ qara', and ื“ื‘ืจ โ€“ davar) emphasizes the official, authoritative, and widely disseminated nature of the decree. It was not a suggestion but a binding command. The inclusion of "neither man nor beast" in the fasting instruction is particularly striking. While human fasting for repentance is common in scripture (e.g., Joel 2:12), the inclusion of animals is rare and serves to heighten the sense of total lament and urgent appeal to God, as if the entire creation under their dominion was crying out for mercy.

Practical Application

Jonah 3:7 serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for profound transformation when a community, from its leaders down, genuinely turns to God in humility and repentance. It teaches us that:

  • Leadership Matters: The king's example was crucial in galvanizing the entire city to action. Leaders have a significant role in fostering spiritual awareness and corporate response.
  • Sincerity of Repentance: True repentance involves tangible actions and a complete turning away from past wrongs, often accompanied by deep sorrow and a willingness to make sacrifices.
  • God's Readiness to Forgive: The Ninevites' radical response ultimately led to God relenting from the judgment He had threatened (Jonah 3:10), showcasing His immense mercy and desire for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This narrative encourages believers to pursue corporate prayer and fasting in times of crisis or for spiritual revival.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 20:3

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

  • Jonah 3:5

    ยถ So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

  • Joel 1:18

    How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

  • Joel 2:15

    Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

  • Joel 2:16

    Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

  • Ezra 8:21

    ยถ Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

  • Romans 8:20

    For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope,
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