Jonah 3:7

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

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}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By 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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Jonah 3:7 records the extraordinary and unprecedented decree issued by the pagan king of Nineveh and his nobles in response to Jonah's prophetic warning of impending judgment. This royal edict mandated a city-wide, extreme fast, not only for every man, woman, and child but also for all their livestock—herds and flocks alike—prohibiting them from tasting food or drinking water. This radical act of corporate humility and desperation underscored the Ninevites' profound belief in God's message and their urgent plea for divine mercy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the pivotal moment in [Jonah 3:5](/jonah/3-5 "Jonah 3:5 - Nineveh Believes God") where the people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, believed God's message delivered by Jonah. The king's decree in [Jonah 3:7-9](/jonah/3-7-9 "Jonah 3:7-9 - The King's Decree and Hope for Mercy") is the direct, authoritative, and comprehensive response to this city-wide belief. It elaborates on the practical outworking of their repentance, which began with the people's initial belief and the king's personal act of humility described in [Jonah 3:6](/jonah/3-6 "Jonah 3:6 - The King's Humiliation"). The decree sets the stage for God's merciful response in [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God Relents from Judgment"), highlighting the efficacy of genuine repentance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, a formidable and notoriously cruel power in the ancient Near East, known for its brutal military campaigns and idolatrous practices. The Assyrians were a significant threat to Israel and Judah. For a pagan king, especially one from such a dominant empire, to respond to a foreign prophet's message with such profound humility and a public decree of repentance, even involving animals, was exceptionally rare and culturally astonishing. Fasting was a known practice in the ancient world for mourning, supplication, or religious devotion, but the inclusion of animals in a fast for repentance was highly unusual, emphasizing the extreme nature of their desperation and the king's conviction that the entire created order under his dominion needed to participate in this plea for divine intervention.
* **Key Themes:** The decree in [Jonah 3:7](/jonah/3-7 "Jonah 3:7 - The King's Decree for Fasting") powerfully contributes to several major themes within the book of Jonah. It exemplifies **corporate repentance**, demonstrating that a collective turning to God, initiated by leadership, can avert divine judgment. It highlights **God's universal sovereignty** and His compassionate desire for all nations to repent, not just Israel, as seen in His readiness to relent from judgment upon the Ninevites in [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God's Mercy on Nineveh"). Furthermore, the extreme nature of the fast underscores the theme of **genuine humility and desperation** before God, revealing that true contrition involves tangible, sacrificial actions, even if born out of fear, as opposed to mere ritualistic observance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **proclaimed (Hebrew, _zâʻaq'_):** H2199, from a primitive root meaning "to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly." This word emphasizes the urgent, public, and authoritative nature of the king's announcement. It wasn't a quiet suggestion but a loud, official declaration, indicative of the gravity of the situation and the king's immediate response to the divine warning.
* **decree (Hebrew, _ṭaʻam'_):** H2940, derived from a root meaning "to taste; figuratively, to perceive." This noun refers to "a taste, i.e. (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate." Here, it signifies a formal, authoritative royal mandate or edict. The king's decree was not merely advice but a binding command, reflecting his absolute authority and the seriousness with which he took Jonah's message.
* **taste (Hebrew, _ṭâʻam'_):** H2938, a primitive root meaning "to taste; figuratively, to perceive." In the context of the fast, this word directly prohibits consumption of any food or drink. Its use underscores the complete and absolute nature of the abstinence demanded, extending even to the most basic bodily functions for both humans and animals, symbolizing a total, desperate surrender to God's mercy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he caused [it] to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles":** This opening clause establishes the source and authority of the command. The king, in conjunction with his nobles (the highest council of the land), issues a formal, widely disseminated public announcement. The dual verbs "proclaimed and published" emphasize the thoroughness and official nature of the edict, ensuring that no one in the vast city could claim ignorance of its requirements.
* **"saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing":** This is the core of the decree's instruction regarding abstinence from food. It is remarkably comprehensive, extending the fast beyond human beings to all domestic animals. "Man nor beast" covers all living creatures under their dominion, while "herd nor flock" specifies the types of livestock, indicating a total, all-encompassing fast. The command "taste any thing" signifies absolute prohibition of all food.
* **"let them not feed, nor drink water":** This final clause reinforces and expands upon the previous one, explicitly prohibiting both food ("feed") and water ("drink water"). This detail highlights the extreme nature of the fast. Abstaining from water, especially in a hot climate, indicates a level of desperation and total reliance on God's mercy that goes beyond typical fasting practices. It symbolizes a complete cessation of normal life functions in a desperate plea for divine intervention.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several striking **Literary Devices** to convey the gravity and scope of the Ninevites' repentance. **Hyperbole** is evident in the inclusion of animals in the fast, which, while perhaps literally enacted, serves to emphasize the extreme and all-encompassing nature of the city's lament and desperation. This exaggeration underscores the depth of their contrition and their desire to present a unified, desperate plea before God. **Merism** is used through the pairing of "man nor beast" and "herd nor flock," which together encompass all living beings within their domain, signifying totality. This device effectively communicates that the decree was universal, affecting every segment of Ninevite society and its possessions. The **Repetition** of negative commands ("Let neither... nor... taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water") further emphasizes the strictness and absolute nature of the decree, leaving no room for ambiguity regarding the extent of the required abstinence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jonah 3:7 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that genuine repentance, especially when embraced corporately and initiated by leadership, can move the heart of God to avert threatened judgment. The Ninevites' extreme fast, encompassing both humans and animals, was a tangible, desperate cry for mercy, demonstrating a recognition of their utter dependence on God's compassion. This radical response, though perhaps born of fear, was accepted by God because it was accompanied by a turning from their evil ways, showcasing His willingness to forgive those who humble themselves and seek His face, regardless of their past or their national identity.

* [Joel 2:12-14](/joel/2-12-14 "Joel 2:12-14 - Call to Repentance and Hope for God's Mercy")
* [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise to a Repentant People")
* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - The Sacrifice God Desires")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The king of Nineveh's decree in Jonah 3:7 offers a powerful and challenging model for corporate repentance and leadership. It reminds us that true contrition is not merely an internal feeling but often manifests in tangible, sacrificial actions that demonstrate a profound turning away from sin and a desperate reliance on God's grace. In a world where superficial apologies are common, the Ninevites' radical fast calls us to consider the depth of our own repentance, both individually and corporately. It highlights the critical role of leaders in guiding their communities toward spiritual humility and seeking divine intervention in times of crisis. This passage encourages us to embrace practices like corporate prayer and fasting not as a means to manipulate God, but as sincere expressions of our dependence on Him and our earnest desire for His mercy and transformation in our lives and communities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Ninevite king's leadership in repentance challenge modern leadership, both secular and spiritual?**
* **What tangible actions might "fasting" or "humbling ourselves" look like for us today, individually and corporately, in response to sin or societal challenges?**
* **In what ways does the Ninevites' desperate plea for mercy encourage us to trust in God's readiness to forgive, even when our sins are great?**

### FAQ

**Why did the Ninevite king include animals in the fast?**

Answer: The inclusion of animals in the fast, while unusual, served to heighten the sense of total lament and desperation. It was a symbolic act, indicating that the entire created order under the king's dominion was participating in the plea for mercy. It underscored the profound gravity of the impending judgment and the Ninevites' complete surrender and humility before God, as if even the animals were crying out for deliverance. This extreme measure visually and tangibly expressed their profound sorrow and their conviction that the divine wrath threatened by Jonah affected all life within their city, necessitating an all-encompassing act of contrition. It reflects a cultural understanding that the well-being of the land and its creatures was intertwined with the moral state of its inhabitants, as seen in other biblical contexts like [Jeremiah 12:4](/jeremiah/12-4 "Jeremiah 12:4 - Land Mourns for Wickedness").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jonah 3:7 describes a pagan nation's response to God's warning, its profound display of corporate repentance foreshadows the ultimate call to repentance found in Christ. The Ninevites' desperate fast, born of a fear of judgment, points to the deeper spiritual hunger and thirst that only Jesus can satisfy. Their turning from evil ways anticipates the new life offered through faith in Christ, where genuine repentance leads not merely to the averting of temporal judgment but to eternal salvation. Jesus Himself referenced the Ninevites as an example of those who repented at the preaching of Jonah, contrasting them with those who rejected His own greater message ([Matthew 12:41](/matthew/12-41 "Matthew 12:41 - The Men of Nineveh will Condemn This Generation")). The king's decree, though a response to a prophet, ultimately highlights the universal need for a Savior, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). The radical nature of their fast, a desperate attempt to appease divine wrath, finds its perfect and complete fulfillment in the [once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Sacrifice Once for All"), who bore the judgment humanity deserved, thereby making true reconciliation with God possible through grace, not through human effort or extreme measures.

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

2 Chronicles 20:3

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

Jonah 3:5

¶ 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

¶ 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,