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God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jonah/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jonah/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jonah/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jonah/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Who can tell <i>if</i> God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jonah/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Who can tell <i>if</i> God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jonah/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Who knows, God may turn and relent, and withdraw His burning anger so that we shall not perish?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jonah/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Who knows, God may turn and relent and turn away from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jonah/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Who knows, God may turn [in compassion] and relent and withdraw His burning anger (judgment) so that we will not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jonah/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? God may turn and relent; he may turn from his burning anger so that we will not perish.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jonah/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jonah/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jonah/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jonah/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Who knows? God may reconsider his plans and turn from his burning anger so that we won't die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jonah/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Perhaps God will change his mind; perhaps he will stop being angry, and we will not die!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jonah/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Who knows but that God may relent, have compassion, and turn from his fierce anger, so that we are not exterminated?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jonah/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jonah/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jonah/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jonah/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jonah/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jonah/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Who knows? He turns back, and God has relented, and has turned back from the heat of His anger, and we do not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jonah/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Who knoweth? He doth turn back, and God hath repented, and hath turned back from the heat of His anger, and we do not perish.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jonah/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Who shall know God will turn back and lament, and turning back from the burning of his anger and we shall not perish?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jonah/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jonah/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Who knows if God may turn and forgive, and may turn away from his furious wrath, so that we might not perish?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jonah/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Who knows? God may again repent and turn from his blazing wrath, so that we will not perish.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jonah/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jonah/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Who knows if God will return and have mercy upon us, and remove from us his fierce anger, that we may perish not?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jonah/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Who knows if God turns and shows mercy upon us and turns from us the heat of his wrath that we will not be destroyed!<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jonah/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jonah/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Who knows if God will repent, and turn from his fierce anger, and <i>so</i> we shall not perish?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jonah/3-9.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=372" 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/3.htm">Nineveh Repents</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">8</span>Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands. <span class="reftext">9</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4310.htm" title="4310: mî- (Interrog) -- An interrogative pronoun of persons, as mah is of things, who?; also whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix.">Who</a> <a href="/hebrew/3045.htm" title="3045: yō·w·ḏê·a‘ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to know; used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially.">knows?</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">God</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: yā·šūḇ (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">may turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/5162.htm" title="5162: wə·ni·ḥam (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. Breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. to pity, console or rue; or to avenge.">and relent;</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: wə·šāḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">He may turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/2740.htm" title="2740: mê·ḥă·rō·wn (Prep-m:: N-msc) -- (burning of) anger. Or charon; from charah; a burning of anger.">from His fierce</a> <a href="/hebrew/639.htm" title="639: ’ap·pōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- A nostril, nose, face, anger. From 'anaph; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also ire.">anger,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">so that we will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/6.htm" title="6: nō·ḇêḏ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cp) -- To perish. A primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. Lose oneself; by implication to perish.">perish.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">10</span>When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.…<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="/jeremiah/18-7.htm">Jeremiah 18:7-8</a></span><br />At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joel/2-13.htm">Joel 2:13-14</a></span><br />So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. / Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-14.htm">Exodus 32:14</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/7-3.htm">Amos 7:3</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/7-14.htm">2 Chronicles 7:14</a></span><br />and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/18-21.htm">Ezekiel 18:21-23</a></span><br />But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. / None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live. / Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-7.htm">Isaiah 55:7</a></span><br />Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/26-3.htm">Jeremiah 26:3</a></span><br />Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/36-3.htm">Jeremiah 36:3</a></span><br />Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/21-27.htm">1 Kings 21:27-29</a></span><br />When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: / “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-41.htm">Matthew 12:41</a></span><br />The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/11-32.htm">Luke 11:32</a></span><br />The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-30.htm">Acts 17:30</a></span><br />Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-4.htm">Romans 2:4</a></span><br />Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm">2 Peter 3:9</a></span><br />The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jonah/1-6.htm">Jonah 1:6</a></b></br> So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/12-22.htm">2 Samuel 12:22</a></b></br> And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell <i>whether</i> GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/106-45.htm">Psalm 106:45</a></b></br> And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/amos/1-11.htm">Anger</a> <a href="/amos/7-4.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/amos/7-6.htm">Changing</a> <a href="/hosea/13-14.htm">Compassion</a> <a href="/jonah/3-4.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/hosea/11-9.htm">Fierce</a> <a href="/hosea/13-5.htm">Heat</a> <a href="/jonah/3-4.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/jonah/1-14.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/amos/8-4.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/joel/2-14.htm">Relent</a> <a href="/joel/2-14.htm">Repent</a> <a href="/amos/7-6.htm">Repented</a> <a href="/jonah/3-8.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/jonah/3-8.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/joel/2-14.htm">Whether</a> <a href="/joel/3-15.htm">Withdraw</a> <a href="/amos/2-6.htm">Wrath</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Anger</a> <a href="/micah/5-15.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/matthew/21-29.htm">Changing</a> <a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Compassion</a> <a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/nahum/1-6.htm">Fierce</a> <a href="/nahum/1-6.htm">Heat</a> <a href="/micah/2-6.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/zechariah/9-5.htm">Perish</a> <a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Relent</a> <a href="/zechariah/8-14.htm">Repent</a> <a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Repented</a> <a href="/micah/7-17.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/micah/2-4.htm">Turning</a> <a href="/matthew/9-5.htm">Whether</a> <a href="/zechariah/14-6.htm">Withdraw</a> <a href="/micah/5-15.htm">Wrath</a><div class="vheading2">Jonah 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jonah/3-1.htm">Jonah, sent again, preaches to the Ninevites.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Upon their repentance,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">God relents.</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/3.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/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Who knows?</b><br>This phrase reflects the uncertainty and humility of the Ninevites in their repentance. It acknowledges that they do not presume upon God's mercy but hope for it. This attitude is reminiscent of other biblical instances where individuals or groups express hope in God's mercy without presumption, such as in <a href="/joel/2-14.htm">Joel 2:14</a>, where the prophet calls for repentance with the hope that God may relent.<p><b>God may turn and relent;</b><br>The concept of God "turning" and "relenting" is significant in the Hebrew Bible. It suggests a change in God's intended course of action in response to human repentance. This is not a change in God's character but a response to the change in human behavior. The Hebrew word for "relent" can also mean to have compassion. This reflects God's nature as compassionate and merciful, as seen in <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6-7</a>, where God describes Himself as "compassionate and gracious."<p><b>He may turn from His fierce anger,</b><br>The phrase "fierce anger" underscores the seriousness of Nineveh's sin and the impending judgment. God's anger is often depicted in the Bible as a response to sin and injustice. However, the possibility of God turning from His anger highlights His willingness to forgive and restore. This is consistent with passages like <a href="/ezekiel/18-23.htm">Ezekiel 18:23</a>, where God expresses no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live.<p><b>so that we will not perish.”</b><br>The concern for perishing reflects the awareness of the consequences of sin, which is death and destruction. The Ninevites' desire to avoid perishing aligns with the biblical theme of salvation and deliverance. This echoes the message of <a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>, where belief in God's provision leads to eternal life rather than perishing. The hope for deliverance from perishing is a central theme in the narrative of redemption throughout Scripture.<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 initially reluctant to deliver God's message to Nineveh but eventually obeyed after being swallowed by a great fish.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/n/nineveh.htm">Nineveh</a></b><br>The capital city of Assyria, known for its wickedness. It was a large and influential city during Jonah's time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_king_of_nineveh.htm">The King of Nineveh</a></b><br>The ruler who, upon hearing Jonah's message, led the city in repentance, hoping for God's mercy.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Creator who sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of impending judgment, yet is compassionate and willing to relent from sending calamity.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_nineveh.htm">The People of Nineveh</a></b><br>The inhabitants of the city who responded to Jonah's warning with fasting, sackcloth, and repentance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_repentance.htm">The Power of Repentance</a></b><br>True repentance involves a change of heart and action. The Ninevites demonstrated this by fasting and wearing sackcloth, showing their sincerity in seeking God's mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_compassion.htm">God's Compassion</a></b><br>God is willing to relent from sending judgment when people turn from their wicked ways. His desire is not to punish but to restore and forgive.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_uncertainty.htm">Hope in Uncertainty</a></b><br>The phrase "Who knows?" reflects a humble acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Even when outcomes are uncertain, there is hope in God's character and mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_in_repentance.htm">Leadership in Repentance</a></b><br>The king of Nineveh led his people in repentance, showing the importance of leadership in guiding others toward righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/urgency_of_obedience.htm">Urgency of Obedience</a></b><br>Jonah's eventual obedience to God's call led to the salvation of an entire city. Our obedience can have far-reaching impacts beyond what we can see.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jonah_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jonah 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/jonah_3_9__does_god_change_his_mind.htm">Jonah 3:9 – Does the text imply God changes His mind, and how is this consistent with other portrayals of God’s unchanging nature? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_god_spare_nineveh_but_not_the_plant.htm">Jonah 4:9 - Why does God confront Jonah about his anger over the withered plant yet spare Nineveh, seeming inconsistent with other punitive Bible narratives?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_is_god's_wrath_reconciled_with_love.htm">Psalm 21:8-10: How can the depiction of God's fiery wrath be reconciled with other scriptures portraying God as loving and merciful?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_psalm_90's_wrath_align_with_god's_mercy.htm">How does Psalm 90's depiction of divine wrath reconcile with other biblical passages emphasizing God's mercy and patience?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jonah/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 9.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Who can tell?</span> (<a href="/2_samuel/12-22.htm">2 Samuel 12:22</a>). An expression of hope that the Divine, wrath may be averted by the timely repentance. It is the same form of words as in <a href="/joel/2-14.htm">Joel 2:14</a>, "Perhaps God would thereby indicate that he had himself put it into their mouths" (Pusey; comp. <a href="/jeremiah/18-11.htm">Jeremiah 18:11</a>). <span class="cmt_word">If God;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the one God, whom the king and his people now acknowledge as supreme, like the idol worshippers at Carmel, when they fell on their faces, crying, "Jehovah, he is the God" (<a href="/1_kings/18-39.htm">1 Kings 18:39</a>). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jonah/3-9.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">Who</span><br /><span class="heb">מִֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(mî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4310.htm">Strong's 4310: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix</span><br /><br /><span class="word">knows?</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹדֵ֣עַ</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·ḏê·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3045.htm">Strong's 3045: </a> </span><span class="str2">To know</span><br /><br /><span class="word">God</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">may turn</span><br /><span class="heb">יָשׁ֔וּב</span> <span class="translit">(yā·šūḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and relent;</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִחַ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ni·ḥam)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5162.htm">Strong's 5162: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He may turn</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָׁ֛ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·šāḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from His fierce</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵחֲר֥וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(mê·ḥă·rō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2740.htm">Strong's 2740: </a> </span><span class="str2">A burning of anger</span><br /><br /><span class="word">anger,</span><br /><span class="heb">אַפּ֖וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(’ap·pōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_639.htm">Strong's 639: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that we will not</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">perish.”</span><br /><span class="heb">נֹאבֵֽד׃</span> <span class="translit">(nō·ḇêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6.htm">Strong's 6: </a> </span><span class="str2">To wander away, lose oneself, to perish</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jonah/3-9.htm">Jonah 3:9 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">OT Prophets: Jonah 3:9 Who knows whether God will not turn (Jon. Jh) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jonah/3-8.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jonah 3:8"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jonah 3:8" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jonah/3-10.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jonah 3:10"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jonah 3:10" /></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>