English Standard Version
Jonah 4:6
6Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.
Jonah 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.
Context of Jonah 4:6
4And the Lord said, "Do you do well to be angry?" 5Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
Read all of Jonah 4Jonah 4:6 word by word
וַיְמַ֣ן יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהִים קִיקָי֞וֹן וַיַּ֣עַל׀ מֵעַ֣ל לְיוֹנָ֗ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ לְהַצִּ֥יל ל֖וֹ מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח יוֹנָ֛ה עַל־הַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹן שִׂמְחָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- preparedמָנָהmânâh · to countH4487
- a gourdקִיקָיוֹןqîyqâyôn · plantH7021
- to come upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- over Jonahיוֹנָהyônâh · JonahH3124
- that it might be a shadowצֵלtsêl · shadowH6738
- over his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- to deliverנָצַלnâtsal · to rescueH5337
- him from his griefרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- was exceedingשִׂמְחָהώimchâh · joyH8057
- was exceedingגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- gladשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
Cross-references for Jonah 4:6
- Jonah 1:17And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
- Psalms 103:10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
- Esther 5:9And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
- Proverbs 23:5When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
- Isaiah 39:2And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
- Amos 6:13you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, "Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?"
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
- 1 Corinthians 7:30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,
Commentaries on Jonah 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6And the Lord God prepared a gourd - I believe this should be rendered in the preterpluperfect tense. The Lord Had prepared this plant, קיקיון kikayon . It had in the course of God's providence been planted and grown up in that place, though perhaps not yet in full leaf; and Jonah made that his tent. And its thick branches and large leaves made it an ample shelter for him, and because it was such, he rejoiced greatly on the account. But what was the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And the Lord God prepared a gourd - , (a palm-christ, English margin, rightly.). “God again commanded the gourd, as he did the whale, willing only that this should be. Forthwith it springs up beautiful and full of flower, and straightway was a roof to the whole booth, and anoints him so to speak with joy, with its deep shade. The prophet rejoices at it exceedingly, as being a great and thankworthy thing. See now herein too the simplicity of his mind. For…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. 6LORD is the English title used in many Bible translations to represent God’s covenant name, Yahweh, in his relationship with Israel(see, for example, Psalm 72:18). God did these things to show his covenant love toward Jonah and those in Israel with similar attitudes. appointed: see study note on Jonah 1:17.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. gourd--Hebrew, kikaion; the Egyptian kiki, the "ricinus" or castor-oil plant, commonly called "palm-christ" (palma-christi). It grows from eight to ten feet high. Only one leaf grows on a branch, but that leaf being often more than a foot large, the collective leaves give good shelter from the heat. It grows rapidly, and fades as suddenly when injured. to deliver him from his grief--It was therefore grief, not selfish anger, which Jonah felt (see on…Read the comment
Topics related to Jonah 4:6
In the dictionaries
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
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