TRV
Jonah 3:7
Bible Versions
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: “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.
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;
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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,
Jonah 3:7 records the extraordinary response of the king of Nineveh and his nobles to Jonah’s prophetic warning. Following Jonah’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 God’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
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "proclaimed and published" (Hebrew: קרא – qara', and דבר – 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: