Jonah 4 7

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 verses

Jonah 4 7 meaning

Jonah 4:7 describes God's direct, sovereign intervention to remove the shade plant He had previously provided for Jonah. This action was precise in its timing and execution, using a worm as His appointed instrument to destroy the plant. The purpose was not merely destructive, but pedagogic, setting the stage for God to confront Jonah about his disproportionate grief over a plant compared to his lack of compassion for the city of Nineveh. It demonstrates God's absolute control over creation, even its smallest elements, to fulfill His divine purposes and to teach His prophet a vital lesson about mercy and perspective.

Jonah 4 7 Context

This verse is critical within chapter 4 of Jonah, serving as a pivotal moment in God's confrontation with His reluctant prophet. Following Nineveh's repentance, Jonah became profoundly angry (Jonah 4:1-3) because his prophecy of destruction was averted. God gently challenged Jonah's anger (Jonah 4:4). In Jonah 4:6, God mercifully provided a plant to shade Jonah from the sun, giving him great relief and joy. Jonah's relief, however, was temporary. Verse 7 immediately follows, detailing God's orchestrated removal of this very comfort. This sudden shift from provision to deprivation is a deliberate act by God to create a teachable moment. Historically, the use of nature to illustrate spiritual truths was common in ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions and prophetic literature, often contrasting human transience with divine sovereignty. For the original audience, it underscored God's absolute control over every aspect of existence, from the mightiest storm to the smallest worm, all in service of His larger redemptive plan and for the instruction of His people.

Jonah 4 7 Word analysis

• But God (וַיְמַן אֱלֹהִים - vayman Elohim):
  • "But" (וַיְמַן - wa combined with the verb): Connects this action in strong contrast to the previous provision and Jonah's comfort. It signals a turning point.
  • "God" (אֱלֹהִים - Elohim): The generic, powerful name for God, emphasizing His role as the sovereign Creator and active agent, not merely a passive observer. It highlights divine initiative.
• prepared (מָנָה - manah):
  • Hebrew: manah. This verb is used four times in Jonah (1:17, 4:6, 4:7, 4:8), each time signifying God's purposeful "appointment," "assignment," or "designation" of a creature or natural phenomenon. It implies precise, pre-ordained divine agency, demonstrating God's meticulous control. It's not a random occurrence but a specific act of orchestration.
• a worm (תּוֹלַעַת - tola'at):
  • Hebrew: tola'at. This term specifically refers to an insect that eats plants or leaves, and also to the crimson worm from which red dye was made. Here, it denotes a creature designed for destructive effect on vegetation. Its small size contrasts with the "great fish" but emphasizes that God's power extends even to the "insignificant" to achieve His purposes.
• when the morning rose (כַּעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר - ka'alot hashachar):
  • "when the morning rose" (ka'alot hashachar): Precise timing is highlighted. This implies a deliberate and scheduled divine act, not accidental. It also creates a sharp temporal juxtaposition with Jonah's recent comfort in the evening (implied by the heat the plant was meant to shield him from).
• the next day (לַמָּחֳרָת - lammochorat):
  • This phrase emphasizes the very short duration of Jonah's comfort. The relief was immediate, and its removal was just as swift, serving God's teaching agenda.

Words-Group analysis:

• But God prepared a worm: This phrase powerfully demonstrates God's sovereignty over the seemingly mundane and destructive forces of nature. He specifically "appointed" this tiny creature. It mirrors God's "preparation" of the great fish and the plant, establishing a pattern of divine orchestration.
• when the morning rose the next day: This specifies divine intentionality and precise timing. God did not forget, nor was it accidental. The abrupt shift from evening shade to morning destruction underscores the transience of earthly comforts and God's control over time.
• and it attacked the plant, so that it withered: The cause and effect are direct and absolute. The worm, as God's instrument, achieved its purpose completely. The wilting of the plant (וַתִּיבָשׁ - vattibash) signifies the sudden, irreversible loss of Jonah's temporary comfort, setting the stage for God's further interaction with him.

Jonah 4 7 Bonus section

The repeated use of the verb manah (מָנָה, "prepared," "appointed") for the great fish (1:17), the plant (4:6), the worm (4:7), and the east wind (4:8) is a key literary and theological device in Jonah. It consistently highlights God's active, intentional, and purposeful control over every element of nature, underscoring His sovereignty (Elohim). This divine orchestration contrasts sharply with Jonah's passive (sleeping in the ship, sitting outside Nineveh) or resistant (fleeing to Tarshish, arguing with God) demeanor. The book of Jonah thus becomes a powerful testimony to a God who sovereignly manipulates His creation not for arbitrary displays of power, but for specific, pedagogical purposes related to His grace, judgment, and ultimately, the instruction and redemption of His people. The "worm" signifies that God is not limited by size or strength of His instruments; any part of creation, however small, can be used for His grand designs.

Jonah 4 7 Commentary

Jonah 4:7 illustrates God's unchallengeable sovereignty, revealing that every aspect of creation—from mighty fish to tiny worms—serves His divine will and redemptive purposes. He intentionally "prepared" the worm, mirroring His "preparation" of the great fish and the plant, thereby establishing a recurring motif of divine orchestration in the book. This precise act, occurring at dawn "the next day," abruptly ended Jonah's fleeting physical comfort and joy in the plant, a joy that had disproportionately overshadowed his concern for Nineveh.

The worm, though seemingly insignificant, became a potent tool in God's pedagogical arsenal. By swiftly removing Jonah's source of comfort, God meticulously engineered a situation to challenge Jonah's misplaced priorities. It sets the stage for God's crucial question in Jonah 4:9, exposing Jonah's profound self-pity and lack of compassion. The event teaches that reliance on transient earthly comforts often distracts from eternal matters, and that God will often remove such comforts to redirect our hearts towards His greater concerns. This verse, therefore, is not just about destruction, but about a deliberate divine act of instruction aimed at softening and re-calibrating Jonah's hardened heart, revealing God's patient yet firm method of discipling His prophet.