Jonah 3 2

Jonah 3:2 kjv

Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

Jonah 3:2 nkjv

"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you."

Jonah 3:2 niv

"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

Jonah 3:2 esv

"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."

Jonah 3:2 nlt

"Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you."

Jonah 3 verses

Jonah 3 2 Meaning

The prophet Jonah is commanded by God to go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim a message of impending destruction because of its wickedness. This directive signifies a divine opportunity for repentance and salvation offered even to a pagan, oppressive nation.

Jonah 3 2 Context

Following his harrowing experience inside the great fish, Jonah is given a second chance by God. The prophet, having initially fled God’s command, now finds himself precisely where he was meant to go, albeit through a divine rescue. Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was a massive metropolis. Its prominence and influence were matched by its reputation for cruelty and moral depravity. The Assyrians were known for their brutal military tactics and imperial expansion, making them a feared entity in the ancient Near East. Jonah's mission, therefore, was not to a neighboring, familiar nation, but to the heart of a powerful empire that was also a formidable enemy to Israel.

Jonah 3 2 Word Analysis

• "Arise" (ק֥וּם - qum): This imperative verb signifies more than simply getting up. It’s a call to action, a command to rise and immediately set out on the mission. It implies a decisive and urgent commencement of God’s task.

• "go" (הָלֵךְ - halēḵ): The simple Hiphil imperative of "to go," emphasizing direct movement and progression towards the destination.

• "to Nineveh" (נִ֥ינְוֵה - Nīnəwēh): This is the specific city named as the target of the prophecy. It signifies God's interest in all people and places, not just Israel. Nineveh was indeed a vast city, noted in ancient Mesopotamian records for its immense size and population for that era.

• "that great city" (הָעִ֣יר הַגָּדֹ֔לֶת - hā‘īr hagggdōlĕt): The adjective "great" (גָּדוֹל - gāḏôl) can refer to physical size, population, importance, or even moral stature (often in a negative sense, like greatness in sin). In this context, it likely encompasses all these aspects, highlighting Nineveh’s prominence and, implicitly, its amplified sinfulness, which requires a proportionally significant judgment.

• "and call out against it" (וִקְרָ֥א עָלֶ֖יהָ - wiqrā‘ ‘āleyhā): The verb "qara" (קָרָא) means to call, proclaim, or cry out. The preposition "‘al" (עַל) meaning "against" or "upon" indicates that the message is directed at Nineveh with authority, a denunciation and a warning issued unto them.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city": This phrase encapsulates the entire directive. The emphasis is on immediacy ("Arise"), direct destination ("to Nineveh"), and the nature of the target ("that great city"). It's a potent, concentrated command for the prophet.

Jonah 3 2 Bonus Section

The sheer size of Nineveh, referred to as a "great city," is remarkable. Archaeological evidence and ancient historical texts, such as inscriptions by Sennacherib, confirm Nineveh's status as one of the largest and most impressive cities of its time. Its walls, palaces, and vast public works were legendary. This magnitude of the city amplifies the significance of God's warning and the subsequent mass repentance, highlighting that God's concern extends to even the most distant and prominent human constructions and the multitudes within them. This verse, therefore, showcases the scope of God’s sovereignty over all nations and peoples.

Jonah 3 2 Commentary

God’s word to Jonah is direct and unambiguous. After his disobedience and rescue, the divine imperative to preach the message of judgment to Nineveh is reiterated. The phrase "that great city" acknowledges the vastness of Nineveh, underlining the enormity of the task and the significance of God’s judgment upon such a massive center of sin. This verse demonstrates God's universal concern, reaching out to a pagan nation with a warning of destruction, providing an opportunity for repentance. The prophet's initial resistance makes God's persistence and recommissioning of Jonah particularly noteworthy. It sets the stage for an incredible display of divine mercy.