Jonah 4:7

Jonah 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
• New International Version (NIV)But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered.

Context of Jonah 4:7

5Jonah left the city and found a place east of it. He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. 6Then the Lord God appointed a plant, and it grew over Jonah to provide shade for his head to rescue him from his trouble. Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant. When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered. 8As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so much that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, “It’s better for me to die than to live.” 9Then God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “Yes, it’s right!” he replied. “I’m angry enough to die!”

Jonah 4:7 word by word

וַיְמַ֤ן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת בַּעֲל֥וֹת הַשַּׁ֖חַר לַֽמָּחֳרָ֑ת וַתַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹן וַיִּיבָֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• preparedמָנָהmânâh · to countH4487
• a wormתּוֹלֵעָהtôlâ‛ tôlê‛âh tôla‛ath tôla‛ath · wormH8438
• when the morningשַׁ֫חַרshachar · dawnH7837
• roseעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
• the next dayמׇחֳרָתmochŏrâth mochŏrâthâm · morrowH4283
• and it smoteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• the gourdקִיקָיוֹןqîyqâyôn · plantH7021
• that it witheredיָבֵשׁyâbêsh · to witherH3001

Cross-references for Jonah 4:7

• Job 1:21saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
• Psalms 30:6When I was secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
• Psalms 102:10because of your indignation and wrath; for you have picked me up and thrown me aside.
• Psalms 90:5You end their lives; they sleep. They are like grass that grows in the morning —
• Isaiah 40:6A voice was saying, “Cry out!” Another said, “What should I cry out?” “All humanity is grass, and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.
• Joel 1:12The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the date palm, and the apple — all the trees of the orchard — have withered. Indeed, human joy has dried up.

Commentaries on Jonah 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7But God prepared a worm - By being eaten through the root, the plant, losing its nourishment, would soon wither; and this was the case in the present instance.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7When the morning rose - , i. e., in the earliest dawn, before the actual sunrise. For one day Jonah enjoyed the refreshment of the palm-christ. In early dawn, it still promised the shadow; just ere it was most needed, at God‘s command, it withered.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 Jonah went out of the city, yet remained near at hand, as if he expected and desired its overthrow. Those who have fretful, uneasy spirits, often make troubles for themselves, that they may still have something to complain of. See how tender God is of his people in their afflictions, even though they are foolish and froward. A thing small in itself, yet coming seasonably, may be a valuable blessing. A gourd in the right place may do us more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-7The story changes in a surprising way. Jonah, who had received God’s mercy himself, complains that the Lord has shown mercy to the Assyrians. The prophet’s disrespectful response emphasizes how great God’s grace truly is (see Jonah 4:8–11 for God's response).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. a worm--of a particular kind, deadly to the ricinus. A small worm at the root destroys a large gourd. So it takes but little to make our creature comforts wither. It should silence discontent to remember, that when our gourd is gone, our God is not gone. the next day--after Jonah was so "exceeding glad" (compare Psa 80:7).Read the comment

Topics related to Jonah 4:7

• Gourd
• Miracles
• Presumption
• Worm

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Gourd
• Worm
• Intercession
• Jonah, the Book of
• Worm; Scarlet-Worm

Commentaries on Jonah 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings