Jonah 4:5

¶ So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.

So Jonah {H3124} went out {H3318} of the city {H5892}, and sat {H3427} on the east side {H6924} of the city {H5892}, and there made {H6213} him a booth {H5521}, and sat {H3427} under it in the shadow {H6738}, till he might see {H7200} what would become of the city {H5892}.

Yonah left the city and found a place east of the city, where he made himself a shelter and sat down under it, in its shade, to see what would happen to the city.

Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it, where he made himself a shelter and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city.

Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.

Commentary

Context of Jonah 4:5

Following God's astonishing mercy to the repentant city of Nineveh, which spared them from destruction, Jonah's reaction is one of profound disappointment and anger (as seen in Jonah 4:1). He had preached judgment, and God, in His compassion, withheld it. This verse reveals Jonah's stubborn hope that Nineveh might still face divine wrath. He leaves the city, perhaps expecting a last-minute reversal or a delayed judgment, and sets up a vantage point to observe what would unfold, highlighting his desire to see his prophecy of doom fulfilled rather than celebrating the city's repentance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jonah's Disappointment and Stubbornness: Despite God's clear demonstration of mercy, Jonah remains fixed on his own expectations of judgment. He physically removes himself from the city, positioning himself to witness what he believes should be its demise.
  • Human Expectation vs. Divine Mercy: This verse starkly contrasts Jonah's limited perspective with God's boundless grace. Jonah is more concerned with his prophetic reputation than with the salvation of a vast population. His act of waiting underscores his resistance to God's compassionate nature, which Jonah himself acknowledges in Jonah 4:2.
  • The Act of Waiting and Observation: Jonah's construction of a temporary shelter to "see what would become of the city" symbolizes his lingering hope for Nineveh's destruction. It's a poignant image of a prophet waiting for judgment rather than rejoicing in repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The word for "booth" is sukkah (סֻכָּה) in Hebrew, referring to a temporary shelter or hut, often made of branches and leaves. While commonly associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), where it signifies dependence on God's provision in the wilderness, here it simply denotes Jonah's self-made, makeshift shelter. It emphasizes the temporary and somewhat desperate nature of his vigil as he waits for a specific outcome, providing him with a minimal "shadow" (צֵל - tsel) from the elements.

Practical Application

Jonah 4:5 offers a powerful lesson on our own attitudes when God's plans don't align with our desires. Like Jonah, we can sometimes become so fixated on our own expectations, or even our sense of justice, that we miss or resent God's greater purposes of mercy and redemption. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts: are we truly aligned with God's compassion for all people, or do we secretly wish for judgment on those we deem unworthy? It reminds us that God's patience and grace extend far beyond human comprehension, calling us to embrace His heart for salvation rather than clinging to our own narrow viewpoints.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 19:13 (3 votes)

    And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

  • 1 Kings 19:9 (3 votes)

    ¶ And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

  • Isaiah 57:17 (2 votes)

    ¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

  • Jeremiah 17:15 (2 votes)

    Behold, they say unto me, Where [is] the word of the LORD? let it come now.

  • Jeremiah 17:16 (2 votes)

    As for me, I have not hastened from [being] a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was [right] before thee.

  • Genesis 19:27 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

  • Genesis 19:28 (2 votes)

    And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.