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 went out of Nineveh. He built a little hut on the east side of the city. He sat in the shade of the hut. He waited to see what would happen to the city. 6The Lord God made a little plant grow there. He caused it to grow up over Jonah's head to give him shade from the hot sun. This comforted Jonah in his trouble. Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day, God sent a worm to attack the plant. So then the plant died. 8When the sun rose, God caused a hot wind to blow from the east. The hot sun shone on Jonah's head so that he became very weak. He wanted to die. He said, ‘I would rather die than continue to live.’ 9But God said to Jonah, ‘You are not right to be so angry about the plant.’ Jonah said, ‘I am right to be angry! I am so angry that I want 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 1:21He said, ‘When I was born, I had nothing. When I die, I will take nothing with me. The Lord has given me all the things that I have. The Lord may choose to take those things away. I will continue to praise the name of the Lord!’
• Psalms 30:6When I was feeling safe and strong, I thought, ‘Nothing can ever destroy me.’
• Psalms 90:5You cause people's lives to end, as a dream finishes when you wake up. People are like grass that appears in the morning.
• Isaiah 40:6A voice is saying, ‘Shout!’ But I say, ‘What should I shout?’ ‘Shout that all people are like grass. Their promises are like the flowers in a field.
• Joel 1:12The vine has become dry, and the fig tree is dead. The apple trees and other fruit trees, all the trees have no more fruit. Men have no more joy. It has all gone.

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