Jonah 3 8

Jonah 3:8 kjv

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.

Jonah 3:8 nkjv

But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

Jonah 3:8 niv

But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.

Jonah 3:8 esv

but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.

Jonah 3:8 nlt

People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.

Jonah 3 verses

Jonah 3 8 meaning

Jonah 3:8 is part of the King of Nineveh's decree following Jonah's prophecy of impending judgment. This verse outlines specific actions for collective repentance: an extreme demonstration of corporate humility and earnest appeal to God. It calls for all living beings, both humans and animals, to participate in mourning through sackcloth and intense prayer. Crucially, it commands a moral transformation, specifically for everyone to abandon their evil ways and acts of violence. The essence is a comprehensive, sincere turning from sin with a fervent cry for divine mercy.

Jonah 3 8 Context

Jonah 3:8 is a pivotal part of the Ninevite king's response to Jonah's concise, yet impactful, message: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (Jonah 3:4). The entire city, from the king to the common people, responded with unprecedented seriousness. The king himself, recognizing the gravity of the divine warning, immediately issued a stringent decree. This decree in verse 8 extends the call for repentance beyond human actions, incorporating even animals into a corporate act of fasting and mourning.

Historically, Nineveh was the capital of the formidable Assyrian Empire, known throughout the ancient Near East for its ruthless military campaigns and brutal treatment of conquered peoples. Their "evil" (Jonah 3:8, ra') was manifested often as violence (ḥāmās) and oppression, aligning with the prophetic denunciations of Assyria found in other Old Testament books. The king's command to forsake their "violence that is in his hands" directly addresses their national characteristic. This profound and universal repentance, even extending to animals (a known, though rare, ancient Near Eastern mourning custom to signify extreme distress or universal sorrow), underscores the King's desperate and sincere desire to appease the God whom Jonah proclaimed, demonstrating their recognition of His ultimate authority even over their own formidable power. This passage serves as a powerful testament to the sovereignty and mercy of the God of Israel.

Jonah 3 8 Word analysis

• But let man (וְיִתְכַּסּוּ֙ הָֽאָדָ֣ם - vĕyitkassû hāʾāḏām):
  • man (hāʾāḏām): Refers to all humanity, collectively. In Hebrew, often denotes mankind in general, highlighting the universality of the decree.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that repentance is not just for the ruling class but for every individual.
• and beast (וְהַבְּהֵמָה֙ - vĕhabbehmāh):
  • beast (habbehmāh): Refers to domesticated animals, cattle.
  • Significance: This is highly unusual and shows the extreme depth of the King's desperate repentance. It may signify the king's authority over all creation in his realm, the total communal solidarity in sorrow, or even an implicit recognition that creation groans under the weight of human sin. It stresses the profoundness of the impending disaster and the need for universal humbling.
• be covered with sackcloth (יִתְכַּסּוּ֙ שַׂק - yitkassû śaq):
  • covered (yitkassû): From kāsāh, meaning "to cover," in this passive form, "be covered."
  • sackcloth (śaq): A coarse, rough fabric made of goat hair, typically worn as a symbol of deep mourning, sorrow, humility, and repentance.
  • Significance: A traditional Near Eastern sign of deep contrition and lament, a visible expression of internal humility.
• and cry mightily to God (וְיִזְעֲק֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּחָזְקָ֑ה - vĕyizʿăqû ʾel-ʾĕlōhîm bĕḥozqāh):
  • cry mightily (yizʿăqû...bĕḥozqāh): Yizʿăqû from zāʿaq means to "cry out, call for help, lament." Bĕḥozqāh means "with strength, mightily, vehemently."
  • God (ʾĕlōhîm): The generic Hebrew word for God, but in context, refers to the God of Jonah, the One True God.
  • Significance: Indicates an urgent, desperate, and loud plea for divine mercy. It's not a casual prayer but an intense, earnest appeal born out of profound fear and desperation.
• Yes, let everyone turn (וְיָשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ - vĕyāšuḇû ʾîš):
  • turn (yāšuḇû): From shûḇ, a key biblical term meaning "to turn back, return, repent."
  • everyone (ʾîš): Emphasizes individual responsibility alongside collective action.
  • Significance: This is the core command of repentance. It is not merely ritualistic observance (sackcloth and crying) but a fundamental change of direction and behavior.
• from his evil way (מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ הָרָעָ֖ה - middarḵô hārāʿāh):
  • evil way (darkô hārāʿāh): Derek means "way, path, conduct, custom." Ra'ah means "evil, wicked, bad."
  • Significance: Refers to one's entire course of life, moral conduct, and lifestyle. Repentance means abandoning this habitual evil behavior.
• and from the violence that is in his hands (וּמִן־הֶחָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם - ûmin-heḥāmās ʾăšer bĕkhappêhem):
  • violence (heḥāmās): Specific term for physical oppression, cruelty, injustice, wrongdoing often involving bloodshed. It was characteristic of the Assyrians.
  • in his hands (bĕkhappêhem): Literally, "in their palms/hands."
  • Significance: Ḥāmās is concrete and descriptive of Nineveh's particular sin—their notorious aggression and cruelty. "In his hands" implies direct, active participation and perpetration of such acts, making the repentance requirement tangible and specific, requiring a cessation of harmful deeds.

Jonah 3 8 Bonus section

The king's decree, specifically regarding the involvement of animals in the fast and covering them with sackcloth, is often interpreted by scholars as an extraordinary measure designed to show the absolute and complete dedication to repentance, making the scene as mournful and solemn as possible. This was likely intended to tug at the heartstrings of God Himself, mirroring a human's emotional response to seeing even innocent creatures suffer. While similar practices are noted in ancient pagan cultures during times of great crisis or mourning, the Ninevite context directs this extreme display specifically towards the God revealed by Jonah. This emphasizes not only the severity of the coming judgment but also the perceived depth of God's capacity for mercy if truly provoked by such a universal act of humility. The phrase "turn from... violence" (ḥāmās) serves as a strong prophetic critique of militaristic empires whose power rested on subjugation and brutality, suggesting that true strength lies not in conquest but in justice and righteousness.

Jonah 3 8 Commentary

Jonah 3:8 unveils the Ninevite king's decree, representing a profound and radical response to Jonah's prophecy. This verse is central to the repentance narrative, demonstrating that true turning to God is not superficial but multi-layered. It moves beyond external displays of sorrow to a deep, transformative change. The inclusion of animals in the fast, though rare in scripture, underscores the extreme measure of the king's despair and total submission to God's will. It’s an act intended to convey that all life within the kingdom is brought under the umbrella of repentance, perhaps mirroring the belief that creation suffers due to human sin, or signifying the king's comprehensive authority over all his domain in seeking appeasement from a higher power.

Crucially, the verse shifts from the outward signs of lament (sackcloth, fervent crying) to an internal and behavioral change: "let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands." This demonstrates an understanding that genuine repentance involves both an emotional outpouring and a moral transformation. The "evil way" (derek ra') speaks to a general wicked lifestyle, while "violence that is in his hands" (ḥāmās) directly addresses the specific, active acts of injustice and cruelty that were characteristic of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. The King’s decree acknowledges that their destruction is deserved and seeks to mitigate God’s wrath by ceasing the very actions that provoked it. It is a testament to the powerful effect of God's word, even delivered by a reluctant prophet, on a heathen nation, and it highlights God's universal concern for righteousness and His readiness to extend mercy to any who truly repent.