Jonah 3:5-9

5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.
7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.
8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.
9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce 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 11

  • 1. Daniel 9:3; Matthew 11:21; Matthew 12:41; Luke 11:32
  • 2. Esther 4:1-3; S Job 2:8,13; S Ezekiel 27:30-31
  • 3. S 2 Chronicles 20:3; S Ezra 10:6
  • 4. Psalms 130:1; John 1:6
  • 5. Jeremiah 25:5
  • 6. Jeremiah 7:3
  • 7. S Job 16:17
  • 8. 2 Samuel 12:22
  • 9. S Jeremiah 18:8
  • 10. S Joel 2:14
  • 11. S Psalms 85:3
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.