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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jonah 4:3 And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jonah/4-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/32_Jon_04_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jonah 4:3 - Jonah's Anger at the LORD's Compassion" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/jonah/4-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/jonah/4-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/jonah/">Jonah</a> > <a href="/jonah/4.htm">Chapter 4</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/jonah/4-2.htm" title="Jonah 4:2">◄</a> Jonah 4:3 <a href="/jonah/4-4.htm" title="Jonah 4:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/jonah/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/jonah/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jonah/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jonah/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jonah/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jonah/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for <i>it is</i> better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jonah/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for <i>it is</i> better for me to die than to live!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jonah/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So now, LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jonah/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jonah/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jonah/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So now, O Yahweh, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jonah/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, just take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jonah/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And now, LORD, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jonah/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And now, LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jonah/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jonah/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Now let me die! I'd be better off dead. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jonah/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jonah/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So now, LORD, take my life. I'd rather be dead than alive."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jonah/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Now then, LORD, let me die. I am better off dead than alive." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jonah/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Therefore, LORD, please kill me, because it's better for me to die than to live!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jonah/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jonah/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So now, LORD, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jonah/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore now, LORD, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jonah/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jonah/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jonah/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And now, O YHWH, please take my soul from me, for better [is] my death than my life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jonah/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And now, O Jehovah, take, I pray Thee, my soul from me, for better is my death than my life.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jonah/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And now, O Jehovah, take now my soul from me, for it is good for me to die rather than for me to live.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jonah/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And now, O Lord, I beseech thee take my life from me: for it is better for me to die than to live. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jonah/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And now, Lord, I ask you to take my life from me. For it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jonah/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So now, LORD, please take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jonah/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jonah/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore now, O my LORD, take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jonah/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Therefore, my Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jonah/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech Thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jonah/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And now, Lord God, take my life from me; for <i>it is</i> better for me to die than to live.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jonah/4-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfTdDqEKJXA?start=421" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jonah/4.htm">Jonah's Anger at the LORD's Compassion</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: wə·‘at·tāh (Conj-w:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">And now,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">O LORD,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4994.htm" title="4994: nā (Interjection) -- I (we) pray, now. ">please</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: qaḥ- (V-Qal-Imp-ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">take</a> <a href="/hebrew/5315.htm" title="5315: nap̄·šî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- From naphash; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. Animal of vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense.">my life</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: mim·men·nî (Prep:: 1cs) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses.">from me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">it is better</a> <a href="/hebrew/4194.htm" title="4194: mō·w·ṯî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Death. From muwth; death; concretely, the dead, their place or state; figuratively, pestilence, ruin.">for me to die</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: mê·ḥay·yāy (Prep-m:: N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">than to live.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a></span><br />while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/3-20.htm">Job 3:20-22</a></span><br />Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, / who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, / who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/20-14.htm">Jeremiah 20:14-18</a></span><br />Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. / Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, saying, “A son is born to you,” bringing him great joy. / May that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without compassion. May he hear an outcry in the morning and a battle cry at noon, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/11-14.htm">Numbers 11:14-15</a></span><br />I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me. / If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/1-21.htm">Philippians 1:21-24</a></span><br />For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. / But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. / I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/5-8.htm">2 Corinthians 5:8</a></span><br />We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-15.htm">Job 7:15-16</a></span><br />so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body. / I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-38.htm">Matthew 26:38-39</a></span><br />Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” / Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/20-1.htm">2 Kings 20:1-3</a></span><br />In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, / “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/42-5.htm">Psalm 42:5-6</a></span><br />Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. / O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-3.htm">Psalm 88:3-5</a></span><br />For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/14-7.htm">Romans 14:7-8</a></span><br />For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone. / If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-10.htm">1 Samuel 1:10-11</a></span><br />In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. / And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/31-9.htm">Psalm 31:9-10</a></span><br />Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-1.htm">Isaiah 38:1-3</a></span><br />In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, / saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.</p><p class="hdg">take.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/11-15.htm">Numbers 11:15</a></b></br> And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/20-3.htm">Numbers 20:3</a></b></br> And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a></b></br> But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I <i>am</i> not better than my fathers.</p><p class="hdg">for.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Jonah 4:8</a></b></br> 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, <i>It is</i> better for me to die than to live.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-15.htm">Job 7:15,16</a></b></br> So that my soul chooseth strangling, <i>and</i> death rather than my life… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-1.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:1</a></b></br> A good name <i>is</i> better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jonah/1-14.htm">Beg</a> <a href="/jonah/1-14.htm">Beseech</a> <a href="/amos/6-2.htm">Better</a> <a href="/jonah/2-5.htm">Death</a> <a href="/amos/9-10.htm">Die</a> <a href="/jonah/2-2.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/jonah/2-7.htm">Life</a> <a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Please</a> <a href="/jonah/2-7.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/jonah/2-7.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/6-8.htm">Beg</a> <a href="/malachi/1-9.htm">Beseech</a> <a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Better</a> <a href="/jonah/4-9.htm">Death</a> <a href="/jonah/4-8.htm">Die</a> <a href="/micah/1-2.htm">Ear</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-16.htm">Life</a> <a href="/micah/3-1.htm">Please</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-1.htm">Prayer</a> <a href="/micah/6-7.htm">Soul</a><div class="vheading2">Jonah 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jonah/4-1.htm">Jonah repining at God's mercy,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jonah/4-4.htm">is reproved by the type of a withering vine.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jonah/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jonah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jonah/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And now, O LORD,</b><br>This phrase indicates Jonah's direct address to God, showing a personal and intimate relationship. The use of "O LORD" reflects the covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His faithfulness and sovereignty. Jonah's prayer is reminiscent of other biblical figures who have spoken directly to God in moments of distress, such as Moses and Elijah.<p><b>please take my life from me,</b><br>Jonah's request to God to take his life echoes the despair of other prophets, like Elijah in <a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a>, who also asked for death when faced with overwhelming circumstances. This reflects a deep sense of frustration and hopelessness. In the cultural context, life was seen as a gift from God, and asking for it to be taken away was a profound expression of distress.<p><b>for it is better for me to die than to live.”</b><br>Jonah's statement reveals his inner turmoil and dissatisfaction with God's mercy towards Nineveh. This sentiment is similar to the feelings of other biblical characters who struggled with God's plans, such as Job. Jonah's perspective contrasts with the New Testament teachings of finding purpose and hope in God's will, as seen in <a href="/philippians/1-21.htm">Philippians 1:21</a>, where Paul states, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Jonah's struggle highlights the human tendency to resist God's grace when it challenges personal expectations or prejudices.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jonah.htm">Jonah</a></b><br>A prophet of God who was sent to Nineveh to proclaim God's message of repentance. Jonah struggles with God's mercy towards Nineveh and expresses his frustration in this verse.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is compassionate and merciful. He engages with Jonah, demonstrating patience and teaching him about divine mercy.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/n/nineveh.htm">Nineveh</a></b><br>The capital city of Assyria, known for its wickedness. God sends Jonah to warn them of impending judgment, but they repent, and God spares them.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/j/jonah's_anger.htm">Jonah's Anger</a></b><br>This event highlights Jonah's internal conflict and anger towards God's decision to spare Nineveh, revealing his struggle with understanding God's compassion.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jonah's_request_for_death.htm">Jonah's Request for Death</a></b><br>Jonah's extreme reaction to God's mercy towards Nineveh, where he asks God to take his life, showing his deep-seated frustration and inability to reconcile God's actions with his own expectations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_god's_mercy.htm">Understanding God's Mercy</a></b><br>Jonah's struggle reminds us that God's mercy extends beyond our understanding and expectations. We are called to embrace God's compassion for all people, even those we might consider undeserving.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dealing_with_disappointment.htm">Dealing with Disappointment</a></b><br>Jonah's reaction teaches us about handling disappointment with God's plans. Instead of despair, we should seek to align our hearts with God's purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_self-righteousness.htm">The Danger of Self-Righteousness</a></b><br>Jonah's anger reveals a self-righteous attitude. We must guard against believing we deserve God's grace more than others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_patience_with_us.htm">God's Patience with Us</a></b><br>Just as God was patient with Jonah, He is patient with us in our struggles and misunderstandings. We should be grateful for His enduring patience and seek to extend the same to others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_repentance.htm">The Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Jonah's account underscores the power of repentance and God's willingness to forgive. We should be quick to repent and encourage others to do the same.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jonah_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jonah 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jonah_prefer_death_to_nineveh's_salvation.htm">Jonah 4:3 – What drives Jonah to wish for death over a city’s salvation, raising doubts about his spiritual credibility? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/did_jonah_die_inside_the_fish.htm">Did Jonah die inside the fish?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_bible's_view_on_self-pity.htm">What is the Bible's view on self-pity?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_job_wish_for_death_in_job_6_8-9.htm">In Job 6:8–9, why would Job, a faithful man, wish for God to grant him death, and does this contradict other biblical teachings on life’s sanctity? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jonah/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Take, I beseech thee.</span>--We naturally refer to the history of Elijah for a similar weariness and disgust of life. (Comp. also the case of Moses, <a href="/numbers/11-15.htm" title="And if you deal thus with me, kill me, I pray you, out of hand, if I have found favor in your sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.">Numbers 11:15</a>). It should be noticed, as a contrast of Hebrew with heathen feeling, that none of these men in their loathing of life contemplated the possibility of suicide.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jonah/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 3.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Take... my life from me</span> (comp. ver. 8). Jonah throughout represents himself as petty, hasty, and self-willed, prone to exaggerate matters, and easily reduced to despair. Here, because his word is not fulfilled, he wishes to die, though he will not take his own life. In a different spirit Moses (<a href="/exodus/32-32.htm">Exodus 32:32</a>) is ready to die for his people's sake, and Elijah asked for death because his zeal for God had apparently wrought no effect (<a href="/1_kings/19-4.htm">1 Kings 19:4</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jonah/4-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And now,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעַתָּ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘at·tāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> </span><span class="str2">At this time</span><br /><br /><span class="word">O LORD,</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">please</span><br /><span class="heb">נָ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(nā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4994.htm">Strong's 4994: </a> </span><span class="str2">I pray', 'now', 'then'</span><br /><br /><span class="word">take</span><br /><span class="heb">קַח־</span> <span class="translit">(qaḥ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">my life</span><br /><span class="heb">נַפְשִׁ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(nap̄·šî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> </span><span class="str2">A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion </span><br /><br /><span class="word">from me,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִמֶּ֑נִּי</span> <span class="translit">(mim·men·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֛י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">it is better</span><br /><span class="heb">ט֥וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(ṭō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pleasant, agreeable, good</span><br /><br /><span class="word">for me to die</span><br /><span class="heb">מוֹתִ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(mō·w·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4194.htm">Strong's 4194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">than to live.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵחַיָּֽי׃</span> <span class="translit">(mê·ḥay·yāy)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> </span><span class="str2">Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jonah/4-3.htm">Jonah 4:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jonah/4-3.htm">OT Prophets: Jonah 4:3 Therefore now Yahweh take I beg you (Jon. Jh) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jonah/4-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jonah 4:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jonah 4:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jonah/4-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jonah 4:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jonah 4:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>