FocusWarning and repentance
Connection to the wholeJonah delivers the warning, Nineveh turns from evil, and the LORD does not carry out the announced destruction.
interpretation Jonah 3:6
KJVFor word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Read it in context
Nineveh repents
Start reading at Jonah 3:1 (Jonah 3:1 to Jonah 3:10).
Begin at 3:1 to hear the message the city responded to.
The city believes God and fasts from the king down, and God relents from the threatened judgment.
- 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
- 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
- 3:3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
- 3:4 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.
- 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.
- 3:6 For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
- 3:7 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:
- 3:8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
- 3:9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
- 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Jonah son of Amittai is the traditional attribution, but the final narrator's identity is unknown. Being the prophet in the story does not by itself establish him as its writer. Biblical references: Jonah 1:1; 2 Kings 14:25. traditionally held
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jonah 3:1–3:10): Jonah proclaims the warning to Nineveh. Its people, king, and nobles respond with fasting and a call to turn from evil. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Israelite readers reflecting on God's mercy and the prophet's response. Nineveh hears Jonah's warning within the story; it is not identified as the original recipient of the completed book. Biblical references: Jonah 3:4; Jonah 4:2; Jonah 4:11. book background
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? The Ninevites Repent. Read Jonah 3:1 through Jonah 3:10 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? Jonah delivers the warning, Nineveh turns from evil, and the LORD does not carry out the announced destruction. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The narrative does not give a year for the Nineveh mission. Second Kings locates a prophet named Jonah in Jeroboam's reign, but that verse does not date every event in this book. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The narrated movement involves the call to Nineveh, departure through Joppa, the sea, the fish, Nineveh, and the place outside the city. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Nineveh repents (Jonah 3:5 to Jonah 3:10). Start reading at Jonah 3:1. Begin at 3:1 to hear the message the city responded to.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus explicitly compares Jonah's experience with His own coming death and speaks of Nineveh's response to Jonah. The text provides these connections without requiring an allegory for every narrative detail. See 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 12:41. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Obey God's call and examine resentment at mercy shown to others. The final question asks the reader to weigh the value of people rather than merely Jonah's comfort. interpretation
Cited: Jonah 3:1, Jonah 3:10, 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 12:41
Who wrote it, and how we know
Jonah
From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book is written about Jonah in the third person. Kings records Jonah as a historical prophet.
2 Kings 14:25
Early traditionTradition names Jonah.
What is debatedThe book does not claim Jonah as its writer.
Related passages
- word Jer 13:18
- and he arose Ps 2:10-12 Jas 1:9-10 Jas 4:6-10
- and covered Esth 4:1-4 Job 2:8 Job 42:6 Jer 6:26 Lam 3:29 Dan 9:3 Mic 1:10 Matt 11:21
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jonah 3
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Jonah 1:1 Jonah 1:17 Jonah 4:11
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jonah
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied.
Jonah 1:1 Jonah 1:17 Jonah 4:11
The call refused
Jonah 1:1–16FocusFlight, storm, and the sailors
Connection to the wholeJonah's flight leads into the storm and the sailors' response, establishing the consequences of his refusal.
interpretation Jonah's prayer and deliverance
Jonah 1:17–2:10FocusFrom the fish to the land
Connection to the wholeThe prepared fish and Jonah's prayer lead to his release and the renewed commission.
interpretation FocusWarning and repentance
Connection to the wholeJonah delivers the warning, Nineveh turns from evil, and the LORD does not carry out the announced destruction.
interpretation Jonah's anger confronted
Jonah 4:1–11FocusMercy and misplaced pity
Connection to the wholeThe final dialogue and the gourd expose Jonah's resentment and end with the LORD's question concerning Nineveh.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.