Jonah 3:5-9

5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a ¹fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.

6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, ²covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.

7 He issued a ³proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.

8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men ⁴call on God earnestly that each may ⁵turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.

9 "⁶Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."

Jonah 3:5-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JONAH 3

This chapter gives an account of the renewal of Jonah's message to Nineveh, and of his faithful execution of it, Jon 3:1-4; and of the fruit and effect of it, the conversion of the Ninevites, their faith in God, repentance of their sins, and reformation from them, Jon 3:5-9; and of God's approbation thereof, by revoking the sentence he had pronounced upon them, Jon 3:10.

Cross References

• 1. Daniel 9:3; Joel 1:14
• 2. Esther 4:1-4; Jeremiah 6:26; Ezekiel 27:30, 31
• 3. 2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Jonah 3:5
• 4. Psalms 130:1; Jonah 1:6, 14
• 5. Isaiah 1:16-19; Isaiah 55:6, 7; Jeremiah 18:11
• 6. 2 Samuel 12:22; Joel 2:14

Footnotes

• [a] Or "dust"
• [b] Lit "them"
• [c] Lit "their"