Jonah 4:7 kjv
But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
Jonah 4:7 nkjv
But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered.
Jonah 4:7 niv
But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.
Jonah 4:7 esv
But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
Jonah 4:7 nlt
But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away.
Jonah 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jonah 4:7 | "But God appointed a worm when morning came on the morrow, and it attacked the plant, so that it withered." | |
| Gen 3:17-19 | Curse on the ground; thorns and thistles; sweat of the brow. | Adam's struggle against creation. |
| Ps 1:3 | "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither." | Contrast with withered plant. |
| Ps 32:4 | "For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as by the summer sun." | God's hand causing distress. |
| Ps 73:16 | "But when I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me." | Pain of incomprehensible events. |
| Ps 90:5-6 | "You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass in the morning that sprouts anew. In the morning it flourishes and sprouts; by evening it fades and withers." | Fleeting nature of life. |
| Ps 104:14 | "He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing food out of the earth." | God providing for needs. |
| Isa 25:4 | "But you have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat, for the rage of the ruthless is like a storm beating against a wall." | God as shelter from heat. |
| Isa 40:7 | "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." | Transience vs. God's word. |
| Jer 8:15 | "We hoped for peace, but good has not come, for a time of healing, but there is only terror." | Hopes turning to despair. |
| Joel 1:12 | "The vine has withered, and the fig tree has sagged; the pomegranate, the palm, and the apple tree— all the trees of the field have dried up; indeed, joy withers away from the sons of men." | Widespread withering of crops. |
| Joel 2:10 | "The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining." | Divine judgment effects. |
| Amos 4:7 | "And I tried withholding rain from you when there were still three months until the harvest. I sent rain on one city, but no rain on another city. One part was rained upon, but another, part upon which it did not rain, withered." | God withholding rain/causing drought. |
| Amos 8:13 | "In that day the beautiful young women and the young men shall faint from thirst." | Effects of thirst/lack of water. |
| Matt 13:6 | "and when the sun rose, they were scorched. And because they had no root, they withered away." | Lack of depth leads to withering. |
| Matt 13:42 | "and throw them into the blazing furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." | Divine judgment imagery. |
| Matt 20:1-16 | Parable of the workers in the vineyard; fairness of God's reward. | God's dispensing grace and His right. |
| Luke 15:25-32 | Parable of the prodigal son; elder brother's anger. | Similar attitude to Jonah's. |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." | God's love for all. |
| 1 Cor 10:13 | "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." | God's provision in hardship. |
| Gal 5:19-23 | Works of the flesh vs. fruit of the Spirit. | Contrast of attitudes. |
| Rev 22:1-2 | Tree of life with leaves for the healing of the nations; clear water. | Divine provision and healing. |
Jonah 4 verses
Jonah 4 7 Meaning
The verse describes God appointing a scorching east wind to strike Jonah's head, causing him distress. This action is a direct consequence of Jonah's anger and discomfort with God's mercy. It highlights God's measured response to human emotion and underscores the severity of Jonah's flawed perspective.
Jonah 4 7 Context
Following God's deliverance of Nineveh and Jonah's subsequent anger at this act of mercy, God demonstrates to Jonah the folly of his indignation. In the previous verses, God had prepared a plant to shade Jonah, providing him comfort. However, this comfort was temporary. Jonah rejoiced in the plant, showing his focus on his own well-being and his discontent with God's compassion for the Ninevites. This verse describes God's action to further teach Jonah a lesson.
Jonah 4 7 Word Analysis
- וְאִתֵּן (wə'ittēn): "And appointed" or "And ordained." From the root נָתַן (nātan), meaning to give, appoint, or ordain.
- אֱלֹהִים (ĕlōhîm): "God." A plural form of divine name, often used to denote the majesty and power of God.
- רוּחַ (rûaḥ): "Wind" or "spirit." Refers here to a specific type of wind.
- קָדִים (qāḏîm): "East wind" or "southeast wind." Often associated with dryness and scorching heat in the biblical text, representing a harsh, uncomfortable force. This specific direction carries connotations of destructive or oppressive power in ancient Near Eastern thought.
- וַתַּךְ (wattáḵ): "And struck" or "and smote." From the root מָכַק (māḵak), meaning to strike, beat, or inflict.
- בְּרֹאשׁ (bərō'š): "Upon the head" or "at the head." Indicating a targeted affliction.
- יוֹנָה (yōnāh): "Jonah." The name of the prophet.
- וַיִּלְהַט (wayyilhaṭ): "And he grew faint" or "and he became sick unto death," "and he was distressed." From the root לָהַט (lāḥaṭ), meaning to burn, to be inflamed, or to be consumed by heat or strong emotion. This indicates a physical and emotional response to the harsh conditions.
- מִפָּנֶי (mippānê): "From his face" or "because of." In this context, it signifies the cause of his distress.
Words Group Analysis:
- "God appointed a scorching east wind": This phrase emphasizes God's direct and purposeful intervention in nature to bring about a specific outcome. The choice of an east wind aligns with its known characteristics of bringing intense heat.
- "and it struck upon the head of Jonah": This specificity highlights the personal nature of God's action. The heat directly afflicts Jonah, making him physically uncomfortable and distressed, mirroring his inner turmoil.
- "and he grew faint from his face": This idiom expresses the overwhelming nature of the affliction. The scorching wind affects his very being, leading to severe discomfort and weariness.
Jonah 4 7 Bonus Section
This episode demonstrates God's pedagogical approach. He uses sensory experiences – the comfort of the plant, the distress from the wind – to engage Jonah on a visceral level. The focus on the "head" can symbolize the seat of understanding and reasoning, suggesting that Jonah's perspective needs to be corrected. The scorching east wind evokes the destructive forces often associated with divine judgment, yet here it is employed not for outright destruction, but for teaching. This contrasts with the widespread devastation described in prophecies where similar winds signify judgment (e.g., Jer 4:11-12). Jonah's self-absorption is evident in his deep distress over a plant he did not make but his anger at the salvation of thousands of people he did not save. God is teaching that true compassion, like His own, extends to all creation and that human judgment, rooted in pride or self-interest, is misguided.
Jonah 4 7 Commentary
God, in His wisdom, uses the natural world to teach Jonah a vital lesson about compassion and perspective. Just as God provided a plant to shade Jonah, alleviating his discomfort, He now sends a harsh east wind. This wind, known for its scorching heat, directly assaults Jonah's senses, causing him immense distress. The experience is not merely physical; it's a mirror to Jonah's internal state. His anger over the Ninevites' repentance caused him great distress, and now he experiences a similar, albeit physical, suffering. God is teaching Jonah that human concerns and emotional responses, especially those rooted in self-interest rather than divine love, can lead to hardship. The discomfort Jonah feels from the wind parallels the discomfort he feels from God's mercy. God is demonstrating His sovereignty over creation and His right to show mercy, and He uses this natural phenomenon to draw Jonah back to a healthier emotional and theological understanding. The wind serves as a potent metaphor for the severity of spiritual blindness.