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

MeaningJonah 3:8 presents the drastic decree of the king of Nineveh, outlining the city's required actions for a complete, desperate repentance before God. It mandates a universal act of mourning and humiliation through covering both people and animals with sackcloth. Crucially, this external display must be accompanied by an internal and behavioral transformation: an earnest cry for divine mercy and a concrete turning away from their immoral conduct and especially from the prevalent violence that defined their city's identity. This verse articulates a total societal shift, from visible signs of contrition to a deep, practical reformation of life and actions, in hopes that God would relent from His announced judgment.

Cross References

ContextJonah 3:8 is part of the central narrative of the Book of Jonah, immediately following the brief and blunt prophetic message Jonah finally delivers in Nineveh: "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (Jonah 3:4). In a remarkable and unexpected turn of events, the king and his nobles responded to this simple warning with immediate and decisive action (Jonah 3:5-6). This verse details the specifics of the royal decree, establishing the framework for the entire city's repentance. It sets the stage for God's ultimate decision to spare Nineveh, thereby highlighting His immense compassion and responsiveness to genuine contrition. Historically, Nineveh was the capital of the powerful and famously cruel Assyrian empire, an archenemy of Israel. Their swift and seemingly thorough repentance, including this decree, stands in stark contrast to Israel's frequent spiritual hardenedness despite constant prophetic warnings.

Word analysis

• "Let man" (Hebrew: ’adam, אָדָם): Refers to all human beings within the city, signifying a universal call for repentance that includes everyone, regardless of status or gender.
• "and beast" (Hebrew: u'v'hemah, וּבְהֵמָה): Specifically mentions animals (domestic animals), a unique and dramatic inclusion in a decree for repentance. This highlights the Ninevites' complete and profound desperation, seeing divine judgment as encompassing all life, and attempting a total plea for mercy even through their livestock. This extreme act underscores the totality of their contrition, reflecting perhaps a less refined, but deeply sincere, understanding of an offended deity.
• "be covered" (Hebrew: yitkassu, יִתְכַּסּוּ): A verb meaning "to cover oneself" or "be covered," here indicating an active participation in assuming the posture of mourning and humility. It emphasizes the outward sign of their internal distress and desire for change.
• "with sackcloth" (Hebrew: saqqim, שַׂקִּים): A coarse fabric traditionally worn in the ancient Near East as a symbol of mourning, sorrow, deep distress, and particularly repentance. Its rough, uncomfortable nature signifies self-affliction and humility before God. Its widespread use in Nineveh demonstrates a collective acknowledgment of guilt and impending doom.
• "and let them call out earnestly to God" (Hebrew: v'yiq're'u el-Elohim, וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִים):
  • "call out earnestly" (qara): Implies a fervent, loud, and urgent cry for help, not a casual prayer. This highlights the intensity and desperation of their appeal.
  • "to God" (Elohim): The generic term for God, rather than a specific national deity. This suggests that the Ninevites recognized the supreme divine authority that sent Jonah, even if their understanding was nascent, demonstrating a willingness to turn to the one true God who had pronounced judgment. This also implies an acknowledgment that this particular judgment came from the God of Jonah, who was superior to their own pantheon.
• "Yes, let them turn" (Hebrew: v'yashuvu, וְיָשֻׁבוּ): The pivotal term in this decree, meaning "to return," "to turn back," or "to repent." It signifies a fundamental change of direction, a spiritual reorientation away from their previous ways. This is more than sorrow; it is a decisive choice to change conduct.
• "everyone from his evil way" (Hebrew: mi'darko ha'ra'ah, מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה):
  • "his evil way" (derekh ha'ra'ah): Refers to a person's entire course of conduct, their moral lifestyle, habits, and actions. The king understood that external signs were insufficient without a genuine cessation of wicked behavior. "Evil" here encompasses moral corruption and wickedness that brought divine judgment.
• "and from the violence which is in his hands" (Hebrew: u'min he'hamas asher b'kappeihem, וּמִן־הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם):
  • "violence" (hamas): This term denotes physical and moral wrongdoing, often with connotations of injustice, aggression, oppression, and predatory behavior. Nineveh, as the capital of Assyria, was renowned for its brutal warfare, atrocities, and oppression. Therefore, specifically abandoning hamas represented a direct repudiation of a core aspect of their national and individual identity.
  • "in his hands" (b'kappeihem): Emphasizes that this violence was active, committed through their deeds. It's not just evil thoughts, but the physical perpetration of harmful acts. This precise phrasing highlights the practical and concrete nature of the repentance demanded.

CommentaryJonah 3:8 lays out the comprehensive and radical nature of Nineveh's repentance as decreed by its king. It transcends mere external ritual, insisting that the outward signs of sackcloth and fervent prayer must be inextricably linked to a profound internal transformation—a turning away from their corrupt lifestyles and, crucially, a cessation of their notorious violence. The inclusion of animals in the penitential acts underscores the extreme dread felt by the Ninevites and their desperate hope that an all-encompassing display of humility would sway the powerful God who sent Jonah. This decree highlights the biblical truth that genuine repentance is holistic, involving both sincere contrition and observable behavioral change, specifically a repudiation of concrete sin. It foreshadows God's response of mercy, revealing His willingness to relent from judgment when met with true spiritual and practical turning.

Bonus sectionThe command for animals to be covered in sackcloth is highly unusual in biblical literature, primarily appearing here. While perhaps stemming from a non-Israelite worldview that connected the welfare of animals more directly to human spiritual state in a way distinct from Israelite covenant theology, it powerfully communicates the king's desperation for a complete, all-encompassing display of sorrow that might avert divine wrath. This unique detail accentuates the extraordinary fear and earnestness of the Ninevite response, suggesting they wanted no part of their society—even the animal kingdom dependent on human action—to be excluded from their plea for mercy. This collective act underscores the pervasive nature of their recognition of sin and judgment. The turning from hamas (violence) is a direct confrontation of their empire's core practice, serving as a powerful demonstration that genuine repentance necessitates forsaking one's defining evils.