Keraia
Jonah 3

Jonah 3:4

The Ninevites Repent · Jonah 3:1–10
Read Jonah 3

Translations

Modern
On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”
Traditional
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Literal
And Jonah began to come into the city, a walk of one day, and he called out and said: “Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overturned!”
Latin
Et cœpit Jonas introire in civitatem itinere diei unius: et clamavit, et dixit: Adhuc quadraginta dies, et Ninive subvertetur.

Original

Hebrew
English
On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”

Notes

Jonah 3:4

Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!: Jonah's message did not seem to include a condition, such as "But if you repent, God will not destroy you" (note the king’s uncertainty in Jonah 3:9). However, Jonah knew God wanted people to repent instead of being destroyed (Jonah 3:10; 4:2).

Jonah 3:1–4:11

God commands Jonah again to preach to Nineveh. This time, Jonah obeys. Ironically, the city repents, just as Jonah feared, and he becomes angry with God.

Theme notes and profiles

Assyria God as Holy Warrior God’s Justice

Events

Parallels

Matthew 12:38–42 Luke 11:29–32

People

Jonah: Prophet swallowed by fish, preached to Nineveh

Places

Nineveh: The capital of Assyria, known for its wickedness and repentance

Glossary

Book of Jonah Jonah (Person)

Topics

Assyria: Prophecies Concerning Christian Minister: Success Attending: Jonah Day: Day's Journey, Eighteen or Twenty Miles Forty: Days of Probation, Given to the Ninevites Missions: General Scriptures Concerning Nineveh: Extent of Nineveh: Jonah Sent to Proclaim the Destruction of Orator: Jonah Revivals in Nineveh