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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 3:4 On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jonah/3-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/32_Jon_03_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jonah 3:4 - Jonah Preaches to the Ninevites" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" /><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/3-4.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/3-4.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/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 4</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="/ad4.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/3-3.htm" title="Jonah 3:3">◄</a> Jonah 3:4 <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm" title="Jonah 3:5">►</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/3.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/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Jonah began by going a day&#8217s journey into the city, proclaiming, &#8220Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jonah/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jonah/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jonah/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jonah/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jonah/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jonah/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Jonah began to go through the city one day&#8217s walk; and he cried out and said, &#8220Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jonah/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jonah/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Jonah began to go into the city, one day’s walk; and he called out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jonah/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then on the first day’s walk, Jonah began to go through the city, and he called out and said, “Forty days more [remain] and [then] Nineveh will be overthrown!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jonah/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, “In forty days Nineveh will be demolished! ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jonah/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, &#8220In 40 days Nineveh will be demolished!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jonah/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jonah/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />After walking for a day, Jonah warned the people, "Forty days from now, Nineveh will be destroyed!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jonah/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jonah/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Jonah entered the city and walked for about a day. Then he said, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jonah/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Jonah started through the city, and after walking a whole day, he proclaimed, "In forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jonah/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />As Jonah started into the city on the first day's journey, he proclaimed the message, "40 days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jonah/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />On the first day of his journey, Jonah set out into the city and proclaimed, ?Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jonah/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When Jonah began to enter the city one day's walk, he announced, "At the end of forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jonah/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried out, and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jonah/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jonah/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jonah/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jonah begins to go into the city—a journey of one day—and proclaims and says, “Yet forty days and Nineveh is overturned!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jonah/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jonah beginneth to go in to the city a journey of one day, and proclaimeth, and saith, 'Yet forty days -- and Nineveh is overturned.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jonah/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jonah will begin to go in to the city the going of one day, and he will call, and say, Yet forty days and Nineveh being overthrown.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jonah/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Jonas began to enter into the city one day's journey: and he cried, and said: Yet forty days, and Ninive shall be destroyed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jonah/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city one day’s journey. And he cried out and said, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jonah/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Jonah began his journey through the city, and when he had gone only a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown,”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jonah/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jonah/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jonah/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yonan began to enter Nineva, a journey of one day, and he preached and said: ”From now to forty days, Nineva is overthrown!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jonah/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he proclaimed, and said: 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jonah/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Jonas began to enter into the city about a day's journey, and he proclaimed, and said, Yet three days, and Nineve shall be overthrown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jonah/3-4.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=311" 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">Jonah Preaches to the Ninevites</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>This time Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, in accordance with the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, requiring a three-day journey. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">On the first</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">day</a> <a href="/hebrew/4109.htm" title="4109: ma·hă·laḵ (N-msc) -- A walk, journey, a going. From halak; a walk, i.e. A passage or a distance.">of his journey,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3124.htm" title="3124: yō·w·nāh (N-proper-ms) -- An Israelite. prophet. The same as yownah; Jonah, An Israelite.">Jonah</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: lā·ḇō·w (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2490.htm" title="2490: way·yā·ḥel (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to bore, i.e. to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane, to break, to begin; denom. to play.">set out</a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: ḇā·‘îr (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">into the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: way·yiq·rā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">and proclaimed,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/705.htm" title="705: ’ar·bā·‘îm (Number-cp) -- Forty. Multiple of arba'; forty.">“Forty</a> <a href="/hebrew/5750.htm" title="5750: ‘ō·wḏ (Adv) -- Or rod; from uwd; properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially, again, repeatedly, still, more.">more</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-ms) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">days</a> <a href="/hebrew/5210.htm" title="5210: wə·nî·nə·wêh (Conj-w:: N-proper-fs) -- Capital of Assyr. Of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.">and Nineveh</a> <a href="/hebrew/2015.htm" title="2015: neh·pā·ḵeṯ (V-Nifal-Prtcpl-fs) -- To turn, overturn. A primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert.">will be overturned!”</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="/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="/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="/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="/joel/2-12.htm">Joel 2:12-14</a></span><br />“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / 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="/nahum/1-1.htm">Nahum 1:1-3</a></span><br />This is the burden against Nineveh, the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: / The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies. / The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/2-13.htm">Zephaniah 2:13-15</a></span><br />And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert. / Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar. / This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-20.htm">Matthew 11:20-24</a></span><br />Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-13.htm">Luke 10:13-15</a></span><br />Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. / But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. / And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6-7</a></span><br />Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / 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/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/3-6.htm">Amos 3:6-8</a></span><br />If a ram’s horn sounds in a city, do the people not tremble? If calamity comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it? / Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. / The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?<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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-30.htm">Acts 17:30-31</a></span><br />Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent. / For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”<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 Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.</p><p class="hdg">Yet.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10</a></b></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 unto them; and he did <i>it</i> not.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/18-22.htm">Deuteronomy 18:22</a></b></br> When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that <i>is</i> the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, <i>but</i> the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_kings/20-1.htm">2 Kings 20:1,6</a></b></br> In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/3-2.htm">Beginneth</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">City</a> <a href="/jonah/2-2.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/jonah/2-2.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-15.htm">Day's</a> <a href="/jonah/1-6.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-13.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/obadiah/1-20.htm">First</a> <a href="/amos/5-25.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">Jonah</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">Journey</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">Nineveh</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">Nin'eveh</a> <a href="/amos/9-13.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/amos/4-11.htm">Overthrown</a> <a href="/daniel/8-11.htm">Overturned</a> <a href="/daniel/5-29.htm">Proclaimed</a> <a href="/jeremiah/33-16.htm">Proclaimeth</a> <a href="/daniel/8-9.htm">Started</a> <a href="/jonah/3-3.htm">Walk</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_peter/4-17.htm">Beginneth</a> <a href="/jonah/4-5.htm">City</a> <a href="/habakkuk/1-2.htm">Cried</a> <a href="/micah/3-4.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/matthew/6-34.htm">Day's</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Destruction</a> <a href="/micah/1-15.htm">Enter</a> <a href="/micah/1-13.htm">First</a> <a href="/matthew/4-2.htm">Forty</a> <a href="/jonah/4-1.htm">Jonah</a> <a href="/matthew/10-10.htm">Journey</a> <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Nineveh</a> <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Nin'eveh</a> <a href="/jonah/3-9.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/mark/4-17.htm">Overthrown</a> <a href="/haggai/2-22.htm">Overturned</a> <a href="/jonah/3-5.htm">Proclaimed</a> <a href="/genesis/33-20.htm">Proclaimeth</a> <a href="/matthew/15-36.htm">Started</a> <a href="/micah/2-3.htm">Walk</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>On the first day of his journey</b><br>Jonah's journey to Nineveh marks the beginning of his obedience to God's command after his initial flight. This phrase indicates immediacy and urgency in Jonah's mission. The "first day" suggests that Jonah did not delay in delivering God's message, highlighting the importance of prompt obedience to divine instructions. This can be compared to the urgency seen in other biblical narratives, such as the immediate response of the disciples to Jesus' call (<a href="/matthew/4-20.htm">Matthew 4:20</a>).<p><b>Jonah set out into the city</b><br>Nineveh was a significant city in the Assyrian Empire, known for its size and influence. Archaeological findings suggest that Nineveh was a large, fortified city with extensive walls and a complex infrastructure. Jonah's entry into such a prominent city underscores the boldness required to deliver a message of impending judgment. This act can be seen as a precursor to the New Testament apostles who entered major cities to spread the Gospel (<a href="/acts/17-16.htm">Acts 17:16-34</a>).<p><b>and proclaimed</b><br>The act of proclaiming is central to the prophetic role. Jonah's proclamation is a public declaration, emphasizing the role of prophets as God's messengers. This mirrors the role of John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God (<a href="/matthew/3.htm">Matthew 3:1-2</a>). The proclamation is not just a warning but an opportunity for repentance, reflecting God's desire for mercy over judgment.<p><b>“Forty more days</b><br>The number forty is significant in biblical literature, often associated with periods of testing, trial, and preparation. Examples include the forty days and nights of rain during the flood (<a href="/genesis/7-12.htm">Genesis 7:12</a>), Moses' forty days on Mount Sinai (<a href="/exodus/24-18.htm">Exodus 24:18</a>), and Jesus' forty days of fasting in the wilderness (<a href="/matthew/4-2.htm">Matthew 4:2</a>). This period serves as a divinely appointed time for Nineveh to respond to God's warning.<p><b>and Nineveh will be overturned!”</b><br>The term "overturned" can imply destruction or transformation. While the immediate context suggests impending judgment, the broader narrative reveals the potential for repentance and change. Nineveh's eventual repentance leads to its deliverance, illustrating God's mercy and willingness to relent from sending calamity (<a href="/jonah/3-10.htm">Jonah 3:10</a>). This foreshadows the transformative power of Christ's message, where judgment is averted through repentance and faith (<a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16-17</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jonah.htm">Jonah</a></b><br>A prophet of God who initially fled from God's command to go to Nineveh but was later given a second chance to fulfill his mission.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/n/nineveh.htm">Nineveh</a></b><br>The capital city of Assyria, known for its wickedness and idolatry. It was a large and influential city during Jonah's time.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/proclamation_of_judgment.htm">Proclamation of Judgment</a></b><br>Jonah's message to Nineveh was a warning of impending destruction due to their sins, emphasizing the urgency of repentance.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_obedience.htm">The Power of Obedience</a></b><br>Jonah's eventual obedience to God's command demonstrates the importance of aligning our actions with God's will, even when it is difficult.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/urgency_of_repentance.htm">Urgency of Repentance</a></b><br>The message of "forty more days" underscores the urgency with which we should approach repentance and turning back to God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_mercy_and_justice.htm">God's Mercy and Justice</a></b><br>The warning to Nineveh reveals God's justice in addressing sin but also His mercy in providing an opportunity for repentance.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/impact_of_a_single_voice.htm">Impact of a Single Voice</a></b><br>Jonah's proclamation shows how God can use one obedient person to bring about significant change and transformation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Jonah's mission highlights the role of prophets in delivering God's messages, serving as a bridge between God and His people.<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/evidence_of_nineveh's_repentance.htm">Jonah 4:11 – Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that Nineveh underwent such widespread repentance to justify Jonah’s reaction in this chapter?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_reinterpret_failed_prophecies.htm">Why do some biblical prophecies get reinterpreted after they fail?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_happened_to_jonah_biblically.htm">What happened to Jonah in the biblical story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_the_king_heed_jonah's_message.htm">Jonah 3:6 – Why would the king of such a powerful city immediately accept Jonah’s message and call for fasting and repentance? </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>(4) <span class= "bld">And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey.</span>--This is apparently equivalent to <span class= "ital">And Jonah entered the city, and walked for a day through it.</span> To enter on a minute inquiry as to whether his course was straight or circuitous seems trivial. The writer has no thought of furnishing data for ascertaining the exact dimensions of Nineveh, but only of producing a general sense of its vast size.<p><span class= "bld">Yet forty days.</span>--The conciseness of the original, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh overthrown," forcibly expresses "the one deep cry of woe" which the prophet was commissioned to utter. "This simple message of Jonah bears an analogy to what we find elsewhere in Holy Scripture. The great preacher of repentance, St. John the Baptist, repeated doubtless oftentimes that one cry, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Our Lord vouchsafed to begin His own office with those self-same words. And probably, among the civilised but savage inhabitants of Nineveh that one cry was more impressive than any other would have been, Simplicity is always impressive. They were four words which God caused to be written on the wall amid Belshazzar's impious revelry: <span class= "ital">Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.</span> We all remember the touching history of Jesus, son of Anan, an unlettered rustic, who, "four years before the war, when Jerusalem was in complete peace and affluence," burst in on the people at the Feast of Tabernacles with the oft-repeated cry, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice on Jerusalem and the Temple, a voice on the bridegrooms and the brides, a voice on the whole people;" how he went about through all the lanes of the city, repeating, day and night, this one cry, and when scourged till his bones were laid bare, echoed every lash with "Woe, woe, to Jerusalem!" and continued as his daily dirge and his one response to daily good or ill treatment, "Woe, woe, to Jerusalem!" (Pusey.) Instead of "forty days" the LXX. read "three."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jonah/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - § 2. <span class="accented">Jonah, undeterred by the danger of the enterprise, executes his mission at one, and announces the approaching destruction of the city. <span class="cmt_word"></span>Began to enter into the city a day's journey.</span> Jonah commenced his day's journey in the city, and, as he found a suitable place, uttered his warning cry, not necessarily continuing in one straight course, but going to the most frequented spots. At the time of Jonah's preaching the royal residence was probably at Chalah: <span class="accented">i.e.</span> Nimrud, the most southern of the cities. Coming from Palestine, he would reach this part first, so that his strange message would soon come to the king's ears (ver. 6). <span class="cmt_word">Yet forty days.</span> "Forty" in Scripture is the number of probation (see <a href="/genesis/7-4.htm">Genesis 7:4, 12</a>; <a href="/exodus/24-18.htm">Exodus 24:18</a>; <a href="/1_kings/19-8.htm">1 Kings 19:8</a>; <a href="/matthew/4-2.htm">Matthew 4:2</a>). The LXX. has, <span class="greek">ἔτι τρεῖς ἡμέραι</span>, "yet three days" owing probably to some clerical error, as writing <span class="greek">γ</span> instead of <span class="greek">μ</span>. St. Augustine ('De Civit.,' 18:44) endeavours to explain the discrepaney mystically as referring to Christ under different circumstances, as being the same who remained forty days on earth after his resurrection, and who rose again on the third day. <span class="cmt_word">Shall be overthrown.</span> This is the word used for the destruction of Sodom (<a href="/genesis/19-25.htm">Genesis 19:25, 27</a>; <a href="/amos/4-11.htm">Amos 4:11</a>). The prophet appears to have gone on through the city, repeating this one awful announcement, as we read of fanatics denouncing woe on Jerusalem before its final destruction (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' 6:05. 3). The threat was conditional virtually, though expressed in uncompromising terms. In the Hebrew the participle is used, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh overthrown," as though he saw at the end of the specified time the great city lying in ruins. One sees from <a href="/isaiah/36-11.htm">Isaiah 36:11, 13</a>, that Jonah could readily be understood by the Assyrians. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jonah/3-4.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">On the first</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָ֑ד</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">day</span><br /><span class="heb">י֣וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of his walk,</span><br /><span class="heb">מַהֲלַ֖ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ma·hă·laḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4109.htm">Strong's 4109: </a> </span><span class="str2">A walk, a passage, a distance</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Jonah</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹנָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3124.htm">Strong's 3124: </a> </span><span class="str2">Jonah -- an Israelite prophet</span><br /><br /><span class="word">set out</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֤חֶל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·ḥel)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2490.htm">Strong's 2490: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into the city</span><br /><span class="heb">בָעִ֔יר</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and proclaimed,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקְרָא֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·rā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> </span><span class="str2">To call, proclaim, read</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“Forty</span><br /><span class="heb">אַרְבָּעִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(’ar·bā·‘îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_705.htm">Strong's 705: </a> </span><span class="str2">Forty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">more</span><br /><span class="heb">ע֚וֹד</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·wḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5750.htm">Strong's 5750: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more</span><br /><br /><span class="word">days</span><br /><span class="heb">י֔וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Nineveh</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִֽינְוֵ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nî·nə·wêh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5210.htm">Strong's 5210: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nineveh -- capital of Assyr</span><br /><br /><span class="word">will be overturned!”</span><br /><span class="heb">נֶהְפָּֽכֶת׃</span> <span class="translit">(neh·pā·ḵeṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2015.htm">Strong's 2015: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jonah/3-4.htm">Jonah 3:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jonah/3-4.htm">OT Prophets: Jonah 3:4 Jonah began to enter into the city (Jon. Jh) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jonah/3-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jonah 3:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jonah 3:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jonah/3-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jonah 3:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jonah 3:5" /></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>