Jonah

Jonah 4:1–8

1Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.a 2So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion — One who relents from sending disaster. 3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

5Then 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. 6So the LORD God appointed a vine,b and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.

7When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered.

8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Footnotes

  • a 4:1 Or It was exceedingly evil to Jonah, and he became angry
  • b 4:6 Hebrew qiqayon; that is, possibly the castor oil plant; also in verses 7, 9, and 10

Read all of Jonah 4

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 4:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Jonahיוֹנָ֖הyō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
howeverיוֹנָ֖הyō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
was greatlyגְדוֹלָ֑הḡə·ḏō·w·lāhAdjective - feminine singularH1419 great
displeasedוַיֵּ֥רַעway·yê·ra‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7489 be evil, bad
and he became angryוַיִּ֖חַרway·yi·ḥarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled

Jonah 4:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So he prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨לway·yiṯ·pal·lêlConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6419 intervene, interpose
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֜הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
sayingוַיֹּאמַ֗רway·yō·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Oאָנָּ֤ה’ān·nāhInterjectionH577 ah, now! I (or we) beseech thee!
LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
is thisזֶ֣הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
notהֲלוֹא־hă·lō·w-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
what I saidדְבָרִ֗יḏə·ḇā·rîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1697 speech, word
whileעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
I wasהֱיוֹתִי֙hĕ·yō·w·ṯîVerb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
still inעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
my own countryאַדְמָתִ֔י’aḏ·mā·ṯîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH127 ground, land
This is whyעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
I was so quickקִדַּ֖מְתִּיqid·dam·tîVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularH6923 come or be in front, meet
to fleeלִבְרֹ֣חַliḇ·rō·aḥPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1272 go through, flee
toward Tarshishתַּרְשִׁ֑ישָׁהtar·šî·šāhNoun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH8659 Tarshish
I knewיָדַ֗עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
thatכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Youאַתָּה֙’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
a graciousחַנּ֣וּןḥan·nūnAdjective - masculine singularH2587 gracious
and compassionateוְרַח֔וּםwə·ra·ḥūmConjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singularH7349 compassionate
Godאֵֽל־’êl-Noun - masculine singularH410 god
slowאֶ֤רֶךְ’e·reḵAdjective - masculine singular constructH750 long
to angerאַפַּ֙יִם֙’ap·pa·yimNoun - mdH639 nostril, nose, face, anger
aboundingוְרַב־wə·raḇ-Conjunctive waw; Adjective - masculine singular constructH7227 much, many, great
in loving devotionחֶ֔סֶדḥe·seḏNoun - masculine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
One who relentsוְנִחָ֖םwə·ni·ḥāmConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH5162 be sorry, console
fromעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
sending disasterהָרָעָֽה׃hā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil

Jonah 4:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And nowוְעַתָּ֣הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
O LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
pleaseנָ֥אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
takeקַח־qaḥ-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH3947 take
my lifeנַפְשִׁ֖יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
from meמִמֶּ֑נִּיmim·men·nîPreposition; first person common singularH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
forכִּ֛יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
it is betterט֥וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for me to dieמוֹתִ֖יmō·w·ṯîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH4194 death
than to liveמֵחַיָּֽי׃סmê·ḥay·yāyPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH2416 alive, living

Jonah 4:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Have youלָֽךְ׃lāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
any rightהַהֵיטֵ֖בha·hê·ṭêḇVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
to be angryחָ֥רָהḥā·rāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2734 burn, be kindled

Jonah 4:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Jonahיוֹנָה֙yō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
leftוַיֵּצֵ֤אway·yê·ṣêConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3318 go or come out
the cityהָעִ֔ירhā·‘îrArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement
and sat downוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבway·yê·šeḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
eastמִן־min-PrepositionH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
of itמִקֶּ֣דֶםmiq·qe·ḏemPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singularH6924 front, east, aforetime
he madeוַיַּעַשׂ֩way·ya·‘aśConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
himselfל֨וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
a shelterסֻכָּ֗הsuk·kāhNoun - feminine singularH5521 thicket, booth
and satוַיֵּ֤שֶׁבway·yê·šeḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3427 sit, remain, dwell
in its shadeבַּצֵּ֔לbaṣ·ṣêlPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH6738 shadow
toעַ֚ד‘aḏPrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
seeיִרְאֶ֔הyir·’ehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
whatמַה־mah-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
would happenיִּהְיֶ֖הyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
to the cityבָּעִֽיר׃bā·‘îrPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH5892 excitement

Jonah 4:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So the LORDיְהוָֽה־Yah·weh-Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
Godאֱ֠לֹהִים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
appointedוַיְמַ֣ןway·manConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4487 count, number, reckon, assign
a vineקִיקָי֞וֹןqî·qā·yō·wnNoun - masculine singularH7021 ricinus
and it grew upוַיַּ֣עַל׀way·ya·‘alConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
to provideלִֽהְי֥וֹתlih·yō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
shadeצֵל֙ṣêlNoun - masculine singularH6738 shadow
overמֵעַ֣לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
Jonah’sלְיוֹנָ֗הlə·yō·w·nāhPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
headרֹאשׁ֔וֹrō·šōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7218 head
to easeלְהַצִּ֥ילlə·haṣ·ṣîlPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5337 strip, plunder
hisל֖וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
discomfortמֵרָֽעָת֑וֹmê·rā·‘ā·ṯōwPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
and Jonahיוֹנָ֛הyō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
was greatlyשִׂמְחָ֥הśim·ḥāhNoun - feminine singularH8057 joy, gladness, mirth
pleasedוַיִּשְׂמַ֥חway·yiś·maḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH8055 rejoice, be glad
with the plantהַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹןhaq·qî·qā·yō·wnArticle; Noun - masculine singularH7021 ricinus

Jonah 4:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When dawnהַשַּׁ֖חַרhaš·ša·ḥarArticle; Noun - masculine singularH7837 dawn
cameבַּעֲל֥וֹתba·‘ă·lō·wṯPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5927 go up, ascend, climb
the next dayלַֽמָּחֳרָ֑תlam·mā·ḥo·rāṯPreposition-l, Article; Noun - feminine singularH4283 the morrow
Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
appointedוַיְמַ֤ןway·manConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4487 count, number, reckon, assign
a wormתּוֹלַ֔עַתtō·w·la·‘aṯNoun - feminine singularH8438 worm, scarlet stuff
that attackedוַתַּ֥ךְwat·taḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH5221 smite
the plantהַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹןhaq·qî·qā·yō·wnArticle; Noun - masculine singularH7021 ricinus
so that it witheredוַיִּיבָֽשׁ׃way·yî·ḇāšConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3001 be dry, dried up, withered

Jonah 4:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
As the sunהַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁhaš·še·mešArticle; Noun - common singularH8121 sun
was risingכִּזְרֹ֣חַkiz·rō·aḥPreposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2224 rise, come forth
Godאֱלֹהִ֜ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
appointedוַיְמַ֨ןway·manConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH4487 count, number, reckon, assign
a scorchingחֲרִישִׁ֔יתḥă·rî·šîṯAdjective - feminine singularH2759 quiet, sultry
eastקָדִים֙qā·ḏîmNoun - masculine singularH6921 East, east wind
windר֤וּחַrū·aḥNoun - common singular constructH7307 breath, wind, spirit
and the sunהַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁhaš·še·mešArticle; Noun - common singularH8121 sun
beat downוַתַּ֥ךְwat·taḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH5221 smite
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Jonah’sיוֹנָ֖הyō·w·nāhNoun - proper - masculine singularH3124 Jonah
headרֹ֥אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
so that he grew faintוַיִּתְעַלָּ֑ףway·yiṯ·‘al·lāp̄Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5968 cover
and wishedוַיִּשְׁאַ֤לway·yiš·’alConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7592 ask, inquire
to dieלָמ֔וּתlā·mūṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH4191 die
sayingוַיֹּ֕אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
It is betterט֥וֹבṭō·wḇAdjective - masculine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
for me to dieמוֹתִ֖יmō·w·ṯîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH4194 death
than to liveמֵחַיָּֽי׃mê·ḥay·yāyPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH2416 alive, living

Cross-references

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

Jonah 4:1 Luke 15:28 · Jonah 4:9 · Matthew 20:15 · Jonah 4:4

Jonah 4:2 Psalm 86:15 · Exodus 34:6–7 · Numbers 14:18–19 · Joel 2:13–14 · Psalm 145:8 · Psalm 86:5 · Micah 7:18 · Jeremiah 18:8 · Exodus 32:14 · Psalm 78:38 · Hosea 11:8–9 · Amos 7:3

Jonah 4:3 1 Kings 19:4 · Ecclesiastes 7:1 · Numbers 11:15 · Jeremiah 20:14–18 · Numbers 20:3 · Jonah 4:8 · Job 7:15–16 · Philippians 1:21–25 · Job 6:8–9 · Job 3:20–21 · 1 Corinthians 9:15

Jonah 4:4 Matthew 20:15 · Jonah 4:9 · Psalm 106:32–33 · Micah 6:3 · James 1:19–20

Jonah 4:5 1 Kings 19:9

Jonah 4:6 Psalm 103:10–14

Jonah 4:7 Joel 1:12 · Psalm 90:5–6 · Isaiah 40:6–8 · Psalm 30:6–7 · Job 1:21 · Psalm 102:10

Jonah 4:8 Jonah 4:3 · Psalm 121:6 · Ezekiel 19:12 · Isaiah 49:10 · Revelation 3:19 · Revelation 7:16

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.