Jonah 3 4

Jonah 3:4 kjv

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.

Jonah 3:4 nkjv

And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Jonah 3:4 niv

Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown."

Jonah 3:4 esv

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!"

Jonah 3:4 nlt

On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!"

Jonah 3 verses

Jonah 3 4 Meaning

"And Jonah began to go into the city one day's walk, and he cried out and said, 'Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!'" This verse marks the beginning of Jonah's prophesying to the people of Nineveh, a stark and urgent warning delivered after his rescue from the fish. The "one day's walk" signifies a measure of his initial, perhaps grudging, engagement with the task. His cry is a direct pronouncement of impending destruction, serving as a final call to repentance.

Jonah 3 4 Context

Chapter Context: Following his miraculous deliverance by God, Jonah is given a second chance to fulfill his divine assignment. This chapter details his reluctant but obedient journey to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. The narrative pivots dramatically as Jonah preaches his brief, potent message, and the people of Nineveh, from the king to the humblest citizen, respond with unprecedented repentance. This collective turn to God stands in stark contrast to the ongoing disobedience of Israel, highlighting a universal aspect of God's offer of mercy.

Historical/Cultural Context: Nineveh was a major city, the capital of the powerful and often brutal Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians were known for their military might and cruelty, making them significant enemies and oppressors of surrounding nations, including Israel. For Jonah, an Israelite prophet, being sent to Nineveh would have been a deeply unwelcome and perhaps frightening assignment, as the Assyrians represented a terrifying imperial force. The people of Nineveh were considered idolaters and wicked by Israelite standards, so a prophetic message of destruction directed at them might have been met with derision or hostility by some Israelites. This context underscores Jonah's internal conflict and God's expansive grace that extends even to Israel's enemies.

Jonah 3 4 Word Analysis

• וַיָּחֶל (vay-cha-hel): "And began." This is a verb in the waw consecutive perfect tense, indicating the commencement of an action. It's important because it shows the start of Jonah's obedient mission, albeit perhaps after some internal wrestling. It implies a definite beginning to his ministry in Nineveh.
• יוֹנָה (Yonah): "Jonah." The subject of the sentence. His name itself, meaning "dove," can evoke themes of peace or messenger, adding a subtle layer to his story, especially given his initial flight from God's commission.
• לָבֹא (la-vo): "to go," "to enter." The infinitive construct of the verb "to come" or "to go." It signifies movement into the city.
• בֹּקֶר (bo-ker): "morning." Can also denote a day's walk in context.
• עִיר (ir): "city." Specifically referring to Nineveh. The city represents a collective entity.
• מֶּחֱלַק (mech-el-aq): "a day's walk," "one day's journey." This phrase quantifies the extent of Jonah's initial progression into the city. It suggests he walked a significant portion, but not necessarily the entire expanse of Nineveh in a single day. This provides a sense of scale for the city and Jonah's entry.
• וַיִּקְרָא (vay-yik-ra): "and he cried out." Another waw consecutive perfect verb, indicating an action that follows. "Cried out" suggests a public, vocal, and emphatic proclamation, not a quiet utterance.
• וַיֹּאמֶר (vay-yo-mer): "and he said." The waw consecutive perfect of "to say." It introduces Jonah's message.
• כֹּ֤י (ki): "yet," "because," "that." A common Hebrew conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, here signaling the content of his message.
• עֹ֚וד (od): "yet," "still," "again." Implies a continuation or a reminder of what is to come. It emphasizes that time remains, but not for long.
• יָמִ֣ים (ya-mim): "days."
• אַרְבָּעִ֣ים (ar-ba-im): "forty." A significant number in biblical tradition, often associated with periods of testing, judgment, or preparation (e.g., 40 days of flood, 40 years in the wilderness).
• וְנִינְוֵ֔ה (ve-Nin-we): "and Nineveh." The recipient of the warning.
• הָהַפֵךְ (ha-ha-fech): "shall be overthrown." This is a verbal noun (gerundive) or an intensive active participle in the Niphal stem, often translated as "is to be overturned" or "will be overthrown." The Niphal stem implies a passive action, being overthrown by an external force (God). It’s a strong statement of imminent destruction.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "one day's walk" (מֶּחֱלַק מֶּחֱלַק): This phrase is crucial for understanding the initial stage of Jonah's prophecy. It describes his entry and movement within the vast city.
• "cried out and said" (וַיִּקְרָא וַיֹּאמֶר): The parallel verbs emphasize the urgency and public nature of Jonah's proclamation. It was not a subtle announcement.
• "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (כֹּ֤י עֹ֚וד יָמִ֣ים אַרְבָּעִ֣ים וְנִינְוֵ֔ה הָהַפֵךְ): This is the core prophetic declaration. The "yet forty days" creates a deadline for repentance, while "shall be overthrown" presents the consequence of continued disobedience.

Jonah 3 4 Bonus Section

The Hebrew word "boqer" can signify "morning," but in phrases describing travel distances, it is often understood as "a day's journey" or "one day's walk." This nuance is critical for grasping the extent of Jonah's initial proclamation. Furthermore, the number "forty" is biblically significant. It is a number frequently associated with periods of testing, judgment, and transformation, such as the forty days of the flood, Israel's forty years in the wilderness, Jesus' forty days of temptation, and Paul's extensive periods of reflection and mission. Its inclusion here underscores the gravity of Nineveh's situation and the appointed time for divine action.

Jonah 3 4 Commentary

This verse is pivotal, marking the transition from Jonah's personal struggle to his public ministry. His declaration, "Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown," is concise, direct, and loaded with prophetic weight. The duration of forty days echoes significant periods in biblical history related to divine judgment or preparation, serving as a specific window for Nineveh to avert disaster. The verb "overthrown" (הָהַפֵךְ) conveys utter destruction, painting a stark picture of the city's impending doom if repentance does not occur. Jonah's message is a testament to God's willingness to announce judgment and His persistent, though often difficult for His prophets, call for repentance even to the most unlikely recipients. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic turn of events that follows, demonstrating God's sovereignty and His mercy.