Jonah

Jonah 3:4–10

4On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”

5And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.

6When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7Then 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. 8Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. 9Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”

10When God saw their actions— that they had turned from their evil ways— He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

Read all of Jonah 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Jonah 3:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
On the firstאֶחָ֑ד’e·ḥāḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
dayי֣וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singularH3117 day
of his journeyמַהֲלַ֖ךְma·hă·laḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4109 walk, passage, distance
Jonahיוֹנָה֙yō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
set outוַיָּ֤חֶלway·yā·ḥelConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2490 bore, pierce
into the cityבָעִ֔ירḇā·‘îrPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
and proclaimedוַיִּקְרָא֙way·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
Fortyאַרְבָּעִ֣ים’ar·bā·‘îmNumber - common pluralH705 forty
moreע֚וֹד‘ō·wḏAdverbH5750 a going round, continuance
daysי֔וֹםyō·wmNoun - masculine singularH3117 day
and Ninevehוְנִֽינְוֵ֖הwə·nî·nə·wêhConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singularH5210 Nineveh
will be overturnedנֶהְפָּֽכֶת׃neh·pā·ḵeṯVerb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularH2015 turn, overturn

Jonah 3:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the Ninevitesנִֽינְוֵ֖הnî·nə·wêhNoun - proper - feminine singularH5210 Nineveh
believedוַֽיַּאֲמִ֛ינוּway·ya·’ă·mî·nūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH539 confirm, support
Godבֵּֽאלֹהִ֑יםbê·lō·hîmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
They proclaimedוַיִּקְרְאוּ־way·yiq·rə·’ū-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7121 call, proclaim, read
a fastצוֹם֙ṣō·wmNoun - masculine singularH6685 fasting, fast
and dressedוַיִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּway·yil·bə·šūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3847 put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed
in sackclothשַׂקִּ֔יםśaq·qîmNoun - masculine pluralH8242 sack, sackcloth
from the greatestמִגְּדוֹלָ֖םmig·gə·ḏō·w·lāmPreposition-m; Adjective - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH1419 great
of them toוְעַד־wə·‘aḏ-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the leastקְטַנָּֽם׃qə·ṭan·nāmAdjective - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH6996 small, young, unimportant

Jonah 3:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When wordהַדָּבָר֙had·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
reachedוַיִּגַּ֤עway·yig·ga‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5060 touch, reach, strike
the kingמֶ֣לֶךmɛ·lɛḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
of Ninevehנִֽינְוֵ֔הnî·nə·wêhNoun - proper - feminine singularH5210 Nineveh
he got upוַיָּ֙קָם֙way·yā·qāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6965 arise, stand up, stand
from his throneמִכִּסְא֔וֹmik·kis·’ōwPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3678 seat
took offוַיַּעֲבֵ֥רway·ya·‘ă·ḇêrConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
his royal robeאַדַּרְתּ֖וֹ’ad·dar·tōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH155 glory, cloak
coveredוַיְכַ֣סway·ḵasConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3680 cover
with sackclothשַׂ֔קśaqNoun - masculine singularH8242 sack, sackcloth
and satוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבway·yê·šeḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
inמֵֽעָלָ֑יוmê·‘ā·lāwPreposition-m; third person masculine singularH5921 height
ashesהָאֵֽפֶר׃hā·’ê·p̄erArticle; Noun - masculine singularH665 ashes

Jonah 3:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then he issued a proclamationוַיַּזְעֵ֗קway·yaz·‘êqConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2199 cry, cry out, call
in Ninevehבְּנִֽינְוֵ֔הbə·nî·nə·wêhPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH5210 Nineveh
By the decreeמִטַּ֧עַםmiṭ·ṭa·‘amPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH2940 taste, judgement
of the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
and his noblesוּגְדֹלָ֖יוū·ḡə·ḏō·lāwConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH1419 great
Let noאַֽל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
manהָאָדָ֨םhā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
or beastוְהַבְּהֵמָ֜הwə·hab·bə·hê·māhConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singularH929 beast, animal, cattle
herdהַבָּקָ֣רhab·bā·qārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1241 cattle, herd, ox
or flockוְהַצֹּ֗אןwə·haṣ·ṣōnConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - common singularH6629 small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
tasteיִטְעֲמוּ֙yiṭ·‘ă·mūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH2938 taste, perceive
anything at allמְא֔וּמָהmə·’ū·māhNoun - masculine singularH3972 anything
They must notאַ֨ל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
eatיִרְע֔וּyir·‘ūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7462 pasture, tend, graze
or drinkיִשְׁתּֽוּ׃yiš·tūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH8354 drink

Jonah 3:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Furthermoreהָֽאָדָם֙hā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
let both manהָֽאָדָם֙hā·’ā·ḏāmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH120 man, mankind
and beastוְהַבְּהֵמָ֔הwə·hab·bə·hê·māhConjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singularH929 beast, animal, cattle
be coveredוְיִתְכַּסּ֣וּwə·yiṯ·kas·sūConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3680 cover
with sackclothשַׂקִּ֗יםśaq·qîmNoun - masculine pluralH8242 sack, sackcloth
and have everyone call outוְיִקְרְא֥וּwə·yiq·rə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7121 call, proclaim, read
earnestlyבְּחָזְקָ֑הbə·ḥā·zə·qāhPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singularH2394 strength, force, violence
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
Let each oneאִ֚ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
turnוְיָשֻׁ֗בוּwə·yā·šu·ḇūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH7725 turn back, return
fromוּמִן־ū·min-Conjunctive waw; PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
his evilהָֽרָעָ֔הhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
waysמִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmid·dar·kōwPreposition-m; Noun - common singular construct; third person masculine singularH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
and from the violenceהֶחָמָ֖סhe·ḥā·māsArticle; Noun - masculine singularH2555 violence, wrong
in his handsבְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃bə·ḵap·pê·hemPreposition-b; Noun - feminine dual construct; third person masculine pluralH3709 hollow, or flat of the hand, palm, sole of foot, pan

Jonah 3:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whoמִֽי־mî-InterrogativeH4310 who?
knowsיוֹדֵ֣עַyō·w·ḏê·a‘Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH3045 know
Godהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
may turnיָשׁ֔וּבyā·šūḇVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
and relentוְנִחַ֖םwə·ni·ḥamConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH5162 be sorry, console
He may turnוְשָׁ֛בwə·šāḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
from His fierceמֵחֲר֥וֹןmê·ḥă·rō·wnPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH2740 (burning of) anger
angerאַפּ֖וֹ’ap·pōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH639 nostril, nose, face, anger
so that we will notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
perishנֹאבֵֽד׃nō·ḇêḏVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common pluralH6 perish

Jonah 3:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
sawוַיַּ֤רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
their actionsמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔םma·‘ă·śê·hemNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine pluralH4639 deed, work
thatכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
they had turnedשָׁ֖בוּšā·ḇūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH7725 turn back, return
from their evilהָרָעָ֑הhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
waysמִדַּרְכָּ֣םmid·dar·kāmPreposition-m; Noun - common singular construct; third person masculine pluralH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
relentedוַיִּנָּ֣חֶםway·yin·nā·ḥemConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5162 be sorry, console
fromעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the disasterהָרָעָ֛הhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
He had threatenedדִּבֶּ֥רdib·berVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1696 speak
to bringלַעֲשׂוֹת־la·‘ă·śō·wṯ-Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
upon themלָהֶ֖םlā·hemPreposition-l; Pronoun - third person masculine plural

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Jonah 3:4 Deuteronomy 18:22 · Jeremiah 18:7–10 · Jonah 3:10 · 2 Kings 20:1 · 2 Kings 20:6

Jonah 3:5 Luke 11:32 · Daniel 9:3 · Matthew 12:41 · Joel 2:12–17 · Joel 1:14 · 2 Chronicles 20:3 · Exodus 9:18–21

Jonah 3:6 Esther 4:1–4 · James 4:6–10 · Daniel 9:3 · Job 2:8 · Jeremiah 6:26 · James 1:9–10 · Luke 10:13 · Matthew 11:21 · Ezekiel 27:30–31

Jonah 3:7 2 Chronicles 20:3 · Jonah 3:5 · Joel 1:18 · Joel 2:15–16 · Ezra 8:21 · Romans 8:20–22

Jonah 3:8 Isaiah 59:6 · Jonah 1:6 · Isaiah 55:6–7 · Ezekiel 18:21–24 · Acts 3:19 · Isaiah 1:16–19 · Jonah 1:14

Jonah 3:9 2 Samuel 12:22 · Joel 2:13–14 · Luke 15:18–20 · Jonah 1:6 · Psalm 106:45

Jonah 3:10 Jeremiah 18:8 · 1 Kings 21:27–29 · Exodus 32:14 · Amos 7:6 · Luke 11:32 · Luke 15:20 · Amos 7:3 · Jeremiah 31:18–20 · Joel 2:13 · Jonah 4:2 · Job 33:27–28

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.