Jonah 4:1-7

1 But it displeased Yonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

2 He prayed to the LORD, and said, "Please, LORD, wasn't this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and you repent of the evil.

3 Therefore now, LORD, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live."

4 The LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?"

5 Then Yonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.

6 The LORD God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Yonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Yonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine.

7 But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine, so that it withered.

Jonah 4:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JONAH 4

This chapter gives us an account of Jonah's displeasure at the repentance of the Ninevites, and at the Lord's showing mercy unto them, Jon 4:1; the angry prayer of Jonah upon it, Jon 4:2,3; the Lord's gentle reproof of him for it, Jon 4:4; his conduct upon that, Jon 4:5; the gourd prepared for him; its rise, usefulness, and destruction, which raised different passions in Jonah, Jon 4:6-8; the improvement the Lord made of this to rebuke Jonah, for his displicency at the mercy he showed to the Ninevites, and to convict him of his folly, Jon 4:9-11.