Jonah 4:8 kjv
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.
Jonah 4:8 nkjv
And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
Jonah 4:8 niv
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to live."
Jonah 4:8 esv
When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
Jonah 4:8 nlt
And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed.
Jonah 4 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jonah 4:8 | The sun beat down on Jonah's head, causing him to faint and wish for death. | Directly states the physical and emotional suffering. |
| Psalm 49:14 | Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd. | Illustrates death as an end, which Jonah desires. |
| Psalm 55:4-5 | My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death are upon me. | Reflects intense psychological distress, mirroring Jonah's state. |
| 1 Kings 19:4 | But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he said, “It is enough! Now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” | Shows a prophet also desiring death in despair (Elijah). |
| Ecclesiastes 4:3 | But better than both is the one who has not yet been and has not seen the business that is done under the sun. | Expresses a similar weariness with the world's conditions. |
| Romans 7:24 | Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? | A cry of deep personal distress, albeit in a different context. |
| Matthew 5:29 | If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. | Demonstrates a strong desire to avoid negative external influences or consequences, though physical self-harm is not the intent here. |
| 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 | We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not destroyed; | Contrasts with Jonah's desire to be destroyed. |
| Revelation 7:16 | They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. | Describes the absence of such discomfort in the redeemed state. |
| Isaiah 25:8 | He will swallow up death forever; the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from every face. | God's ultimate provision against suffering and death. |
| Psalm 37:36 | I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading like a luxuriant native tree. | Though Jonah isn't wicked, his desire is driven by a misplaced zeal or suffering. |
| Job 3:2-3 | And Job said: “Cursed be the day of my birth, and the night that said, ‘A child is conceived!’” | Another prophet seeking death due to severe suffering. |
| Jeremiah 20:14 | Cursed be the day of my birth; the day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! | Yet another prophet's extreme despair and wishing he was never born. |
| Exodus 8:12 | Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “Thus says the LORD, Let my people go...” | While Pharaoh suffers, Jonah causes suffering (or God does through the narrative) by bringing judgment on Nineveh and is angered by God's compassion. |
| Psalm 119:92 | If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. | God's word can be a source of strength during suffering, which Jonah seems to disregard here. |
| Amos 8:13 | In that day the beautiful young women and the young men shall faint from thirst. | Depicts intense thirst and fainting due to hardship. |
| Isaiah 40:31 | but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. | Contrasts with Jonah's fainting by emphasizing reliance on God. |
| 2 Samuel 19:43 | But the people of Israel answered the king’s sons, “We have ten parts in the king, and in David more than you…” | The people's preference and priorities versus God's. |
| Psalm 73:3-5 | For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there is no suffering in their death; their bodies are sound and sleek. | Envy and distress over others' perceived good fortune, resonating with Jonah's anger at Nineveh's spared life. |
| Proverbs 14:10 | The heart knows its own bitterness, and no outsider shares its joy. | Captures Jonah's internal misery and isolation. |
Jonah 4 verses
Jonah 4 8 Meaning
The verse describes the intense heat of the rising sun and the east wind, causing the sun to beat down on Jonah's head. This discomfort is so severe that Jonah feels faint and wishes for death. This highlights Jonah's continued anger and despair, demonstrating his rejection of God's mercy towards Nineveh and his preoccupation with his own discomfort.
Jonah 4 8 Context
In Jonah chapter 4, after Nineveh repents and God relents from the destruction he planned, Jonah becomes extremely displeased and angry. He complains to God, expressing his preference for death over witnessing God's mercy. God then instructs Jonah to watch the plant that grew rapidly, provided shade, and then withered. The wilting of this plant, much like the repentance of Nineveh, brings Jonah immense suffering and renewed desire for death. This verse captures the climax of Jonah's emotional distress, driven by physical discomfort and his deep-seated anger at God's compassionate actions.
Jonah 4 8 Word Analysis
וַיְהִי (va-yə-hî): "and it came to pass," "and it was." A common Hebrew conjunction used to introduce a new event or situation, setting the scene.
שֶׁמֶשׁ (šɛ-meš): "sun." The celestial body providing light and heat.
וְרוּחַ (wə-rû-aḥ): "and wind," "and spirit." Here, referring to a specific wind.
קָדִים (qā-dîm): "east wind." Often associated with hot, dry, and damaging conditions in the Near East (cf. Ezekiel 17:10; Hosea 13:15). This specific type of wind would exacerbate the heat.
וַתִּשְׁקֹל (wat-tiš-qōl): "and it beat down," "and it weighed," "and it prevailed." From the root meaning "to weigh" or "to measure." Here it describes the oppressive, relentless nature of the sun's heat.
עַל (‘al): "upon," "on," "over." Indicates the direct impact of the sun and wind on Jonah.
רֹאשׁ (rō’š): "head." The most exposed part of the body to the sun.
יוֹנָה (yô-nāh): "Jonah." The prophet's name.
וַיִּתְעַלֵּף (way-yit-‘al-lēp̄): "and he fainted," "and he grew weak." From the root 'slp' meaning "to faint" or "to be weak." Denotes a severe physical reaction to the heat and his emotional state.
וַיִּשְׁאֵל (way-yiš-’āl): "and he asked," "and he desired," "and he sought." The Hebrew verb is interrogative, but in this context, it signifies a strong request or wish.
אֶת (‘et): "unto," "for" (himself). Indicates the recipient of his wish.
נַפְשׁוֹ (nap̄-šô): "his life," "his soul." Refers to his very being, his life itself.
לָמוּת (lā-mûṯ): "to die." The object of his wish, the end of his suffering.
sun and east wind beating down: Emphasizes a harsh, adverse environment specifically created by God to highlight Jonah's self-absorption. The combination suggests extreme, oppressive conditions.
fainted and wished for death: Connects physical suffering with a spiritual crisis, illustrating how discomfort can magnify existing inner turmoil and rebellion. Jonah’s prayer for death mirrors the despair of other prophets but without the foundational trust in God’s ultimate plan for his people.
Jonah 4 8 Bonus Section
The scene emphasizes God's perfect understanding and use of natural elements to teach a spiritual lesson. The "east wind" is not merely a meteorological event but a tool of divine pedagogy. Jonah's response reveals a theological viewpoint that limited God's mercy to his own nation or perhaps even to his own desired outcomes. The prophet’s suffering here is not solely physical; it is deeply spiritual, stemming from a wounded pride and a misunderstanding of God's nature. This highlights that while the physical suffering is real and severe, the root cause is Jonah’s unrighteous anger and lack of compassion. The desire for death is not presented as a passive state but as an active wish, underscoring his rejection of life and God’s ongoing work.
Jonah 4 8 Commentary
Jonah's reaction demonstrates a profound inability to embrace God's grace when it extends to others, particularly enemies. He experiences God’s kindness in providing shade through the plant but then curses God when that same kindness is shown to the Ninevites. His intense physical suffering from the sun and wind serves as a potent metaphor for the oppressive weight of his own self-centered anger and disappointment. His desire for death underscores his despair, a contrast to his earlier bold proclamation to the Ninevites. The narrative intentionally highlights the prophet's immaturity and spiritual blindness in contrast to God's expansive mercy.