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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 3:10 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.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jonah/3-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/32_Jon_03_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jonah 3:10 - Nineveh Repents" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="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." /><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'; 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and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did <i>it</i> not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jonah/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jonah/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do <i>it.</i><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do <i>it</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jonah/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, so God relented concerning the evil which He had spoken He would bring upon them. And He did not bring <i>it upon them</i>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jonah/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God [had compassion and] relented concerning the disaster which He had declared that He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jonah/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways —so God relented from the disaster he had threatened them with. And he did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jonah/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jonah/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil which he said he would do unto them; and he did it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jonah/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />When God saw that the people had stopped doing evil things, he had pity and did not destroy them as he had planned. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jonah/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, which he said he would do unto them; and he did it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jonah/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />God saw what they did. He saw that they turned from their wicked ways. So God reconsidered his threat to destroy them, and he didn't do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jonah/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />God saw what they did; he saw that they had given up their wicked behavior. So he changed his mind and did not punish them as he had said he would. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jonah/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />God took note of what they did—that they turned from their evil ways. Because God relented concerning the trouble about which he had warned them, he did not carry it out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jonah/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When God saw their actions--they turned from their evil way of living!--God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jonah/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jonah/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do to them; and he did it not.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jonah/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jonah/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jonah/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And God sees their works, that they have turned back from their evil way, and God relents of the evil that He spoke of doing to them, and He has not done [it].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jonah/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And God seeth their works, that they have turned back from their evil way, and God repenteth of the evil that He spake of doing to them, and he hath not done it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jonah/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And God will see their works that they turned back from their evil way, and God will lament for the evil which he spake to do to them: and he did it not.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jonah/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that he would do to them, and he did it not. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jonah/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they had been converted from their evil way. And God took pity on them, concerning the harm that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jonah/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jonah/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jonah/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways; he turned away from them his fierce anger, and he did not destroy them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jonah/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they repented from their evil ways, and he turned the heat of his wrath from them, and he did not destroy them <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jonah/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, which He said He would do unto them; and He did it not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jonah/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways; and God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did <i>it</i> not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jonah/3-10.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=381" 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">9</span>Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.” <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><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">When God</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/7200.htm" title="7200: way·yar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">saw</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śê·hem (N-mpc:: 3mp) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">their actions—</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: šā·ḇū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">they had turned</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: hā·rā·‘āh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">from their evil</a> <a href="/hebrew/1870.htm" title="1870: mid·dar·kām (Prep-m:: N-csc:: 3mp) -- Way, road, distance, journey, manner. From darak; a road; figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb.">ways—</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">He</a> <a href="/hebrew/5162.htm" title="5162: way·yin·nā·ḥem (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-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.">relented</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: hā·rā·‘āh (Art:: Adj-fs) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">the disaster</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer- (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: dib·ber (V-Piel-Perf-3ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">He had threatened</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: la·‘ă·śō·wṯ- (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">to bring</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep-l:: Pro-3mp) -- ">upon them.</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."></a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ā·śāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application."></a> </span><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="/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="/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</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.<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="/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="/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/26-13.htm">Jeremiah 26:13</a></span><br />So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.<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="/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="/amos/7-6.htm">Amos 7:6</a></span><br />So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.<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?</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do to them; and he did it not.</p><p class="hdg">God saw.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_kings/21-27.htm">1 Kings 21:27-29</a></b></br> And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/33-27.htm">Job 33:27,28</a></b></br> He looketh upon men, and <i>if any</i> say, I have sinned, and perverted <i>that which was</i> right, and it profited me not; … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Jeremiah 31:18-20</a></b></br> I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself <i>thus</i>; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed <i>to the yoke</i>: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou <i>art</i> the LORD my God… </p><p class="hdg">and God repented.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Jonah 4:2</a></b></br> And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, <i>was</i> not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou <i>art</i> a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/18-8.htm">Jeremiah 18:8</a></b></br> If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joel/2-13.htm">Joel 2:13</a></b></br> And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he <i>is</i> gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jonah/1-8.htm">Calamity</a> <a href="/amos/9-14.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Compassion</a> <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-15.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-13.htm">Disaster</a> <a href="/jonah/3-8.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/amos/4-11.htm">God's</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/amos/7-6.htm">Relented</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Repented</a> <a href="/joel/2-13.htm">Repenteth</a> <a href="/jonah/2-5.htm">Threatened</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/jonah/3-8.htm">Way</a> <a href="/amos/5-16.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/jonah/3-8.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/amos/8-7.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/micah/1-12.htm">Calamity</a> <a href="/micah/2-4.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/jonah/4-10.htm">Compassion</a> <a href="/micah/6-8.htm">Declared</a> <a href="/micah/3-4.htm">Deeds</a> <a href="/jonah/4-7.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/micah/1-12.htm">Disaster</a> <a href="/jonah/4-1.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/malachi/1-9.htm">God's</a> <a href="/micah/4-12.htm">Purpose</a> <a href="/zechariah/8-14.htm">Relented</a> <a href="/zechariah/1-6.htm">Repented</a> <a href="/luke/15-7.htm">Repenteth</a> <a href="/matthew/8-24.htm">Threatened</a> <a href="/micah/1-4.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/micah/2-13.htm">Way</a> <a href="/micah/2-7.htm">Ways</a> <a href="/micah/6-10.htm">Wicked</a> <a href="/micah/6-16.htm">Works</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>When God saw their actions</b><br>This phrase highlights God's omniscience and His responsiveness to human behavior. In the context of Jonah, the people of Nineveh demonstrated genuine repentance through fasting and wearing sackcloth (<a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Jonah 3:5-6</a>). This aligns with biblical principles found in <a href="/2_chronicles/7-14.htm">2 Chronicles 7:14</a>, where God promises to hear from heaven and heal the land if His people humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. The actions of the Ninevites serve as a model of repentance that is not merely verbal but is demonstrated through tangible actions.<p><b>that they had turned from their evil ways</b><br>The turning from evil ways signifies repentance, a central theme in both the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word for repentance, "teshuvah," implies a complete turning away from sin and returning to God. This is echoed in the New Testament with the Greek word "metanoia," meaning a change of mind and heart. The Ninevites' repentance is significant because it shows that even a pagan city can respond to God's call, emphasizing God's mercy and desire for all to come to repentance (<a href="/2_peter/3-9.htm">2 Peter 3:9</a>).<p><b>He relented from the disaster</b><br>God's relenting from disaster demonstrates His mercy and compassion. This is consistent with His character as described in <a href="/exodus/34-6.htm">Exodus 34:6-7</a>, where He is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." The concept of God relenting is also seen in <a href="/jeremiah/18-7.htm">Jeremiah 18:7-8</a>, where God states that if a nation turns from its evil, He will relent concerning the calamity He planned to bring. This shows that God's judgments are not arbitrary but are contingent upon human response.<p><b>He had threatened to bring upon them</b><br>The threat of disaster was a warning intended to lead to repentance. In the prophetic tradition, warnings of judgment often serve as calls to repentance, as seen in the ministries of prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah. The fact that God threatened disaster but did not carry it out upon their repentance underscores His justice and mercy. It also foreshadows the ultimate deliverance from judgment through Jesus Christ, who bore the penalty for sin, offering salvation to all who repent and believe (<a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16-17</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The sovereign Creator who is compassionate and merciful, willing to relent from sending calamity when people repent.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/n/ninevites.htm">Ninevites</a></b><br>The inhabitants of Nineveh, a great city known for its wickedness, who responded to Jonah's message with repentance.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jonah.htm">Jonah</a></b><br>A prophet of God who initially resisted God's call to preach to Nineveh but eventually obeyed and delivered God's message.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nineveh.htm">Nineveh</a></b><br>The capital city of Assyria, known for its size and wickedness, which repented at Jonah's preaching.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/r/repentance.htm">Repentance</a></b><br>The act of turning away from sin and evil, demonstrated by the Ninevites in response to Jonah's warning.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_mercy_and_compassion.htm">God's Mercy and Compassion</a></b><br>God is willing to forgive and show mercy when people genuinely repent. His character is consistent throughout Scripture, emphasizing His desire for restoration rather than destruction.<br><br><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 actions. The Ninevites' response demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace if they turn from their evil ways.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_call.htm">Obedience to God's Call</a></b><br>Jonah's eventual obedience led to a city-wide revival. Our willingness to follow God's direction can have significant impacts on others.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_justice.htm">God's Sovereignty and Justice</a></b><br>While God is just and must address sin, He is also sovereign and can choose to relent from judgment when there is genuine repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets_and_messengers.htm">The Role of Prophets and Messengers</a></b><br>Jonah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of delivering God's message, even when it is challenging. God uses His messengers to bring about change and repentance.<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/heed_the_divine_judgment_warning.htm">Will you heed the warning of impending divine judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_god_merciful.htm">Is God merciful?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_process_theology's_core_principles.htm">What defines the core principles of Process Theology?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_are_god's_morals_different_in_each_testament.htm">Why does God seem to have different moral standards in the Old and New Testaments?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jonah/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) <span class= "bld">And God repented.</span>--See Note, <a href="/genesis/6-6.htm" title="And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.">Genesis 6:6</a>.<p><span class= "bld">And he did it not.</span>--As we are entirely ignorant of the nature of the threatened destruction, so are we also of the mode in which it was averted. Possibly some inscription throwing light on the book of Jonah may yet be discovered.<p><span class= "bld"><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jonah/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - § 4. <span class="accented">God accepts this repentance, and the threatened destruction is averted. <span class="cmt_word"></span>God saw their works</span>. There is no notice in the inscriptions of this "repentance," or of any change in the polytheistic worship of the Ninevites. But the existing records of this period are singularly meagre, and show a state of calamity and depression, of internal commotions and famine. Nor is it usual in the monumental history to find mention of any events but wars and the execution of material works; moral reformations are not recorded. <span class="cmt_word">God repented of the evil</span> (<a href="/exodus/32-14.htm">Exodus 32:14</a>). This is an anthropopathical mode of speaking; God acted as if, taking man's view of the transaction, he repented. The sentence was conditional, as Jonah well knew (<a href="/jonah/4-2.htm">Jonah 4:2</a>), in accordance with the great principle laid down in <a href="/jeremiah/18-7.htm">Jeremiah 18:7</a>, etc., viz. that if a nation against which sentence is pronounced turn from its evil way, the sentence shall not be executed. God does not change, but he threatens that man may change (see note on Amos 7:3; and observe the same principle applied to individuals, <a href="/ezekiel/33-8.htm">Ezekiel 33:8, 13-16</a>). <span class="cmt_word">He did it not.</span> The evil day was postponed. This partial repentance, though it was not permanent and made little lasting impression on the national life, showed that there was some element of good in these Assyrians, and that they were not yet ripe for destruction. It has been considered to be a proof of the unhistorical character of the Book of Jonah that no mention of any of the incidents is made in the Books of Kings and Chronicles; but there is nothing strange in this. Those records never touch external politics except as closely connected with Israel's fortunes; and, derived as they were from national annals, it would have been unnatural for them to have narrated events happening so far away, and not likely to be introduced in the documents on which their history was founded. <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jonah/3-10.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">When God</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙</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">saw</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיַּ֤רְא</span> <span class="translit">(way·yar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their actions—</span><br /><span class="heb">מַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(ma·‘ă·śê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּי־</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">they had turned</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֖בוּ</span> <span class="translit">(šā·ḇū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<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 their evil</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרָעָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·rā·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bad, evil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">ways—</span><br /><span class="heb">מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(mid·dar·kām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1870.htm">Strong's 1870: </a> </span><span class="str2">A road, a course of life, mode of action</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[He]</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים</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">relented</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם</span> <span class="translit">(way·yin·nā·ḥem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - 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">from</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the disaster</span><br /><span class="heb">הָרָעָ֛ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·rā·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bad, evil</span><br /><br /><span class="word">He had threatened</span><br /><span class="heb">דִּבֶּ֥ר</span> <span class="translit">(dib·ber)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to bring</span><br /><span class="heb">לַעֲשׂוֹת־</span> <span class="translit">(la·‘ă·śō·wṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">upon them.</span><br /><span class="heb">לָהֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(lā·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1992.htm">Strong's 1992: </a> </span><span class="str2">They</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">OT Prophets: Jonah 3:10 God saw their works that they turned (Jon. Jh) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jonah/3-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jonah 3:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jonah 3:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jonah/4-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jonah 4:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jonah 4:1" /></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>