Jonah 4:6

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Jonah 4:6

4The Lord asked, “What right do you have to be angry?” 5Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there. He sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. The Lord God made a plant grow up beside Jonah to give him shade and make him more comfortable. Jonah was very happy with the plant. 7At dawn the next day, God sent a worm to attack the plant so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God made a hot east wind blow. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he was about to faint. He wanted to die. So he said, “I’d rather be dead than alive.”

Jonah 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 1:17The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
• Psalms 103:10He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs.
• Esther 5:9When Haman left that day, he was happy and feeling good. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, neither getting up nor trembling in his presence, Haman was furious with Mordecai.
• Proverbs 23:5Will you catch only a fleeting glimpse of wealth before it is gone? It makes wings for itself like an eagle flying into the sky.
• Isaiah 39:2Hezekiah was so happy with them that he showed the messengers his warehouse: the silver, gold, balsam, fine olive oil, his entire armory, and everything in his treasury. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and every corner of his kingdom.
• Amos 6:13How horrible it will be for those who rejoice over Lo Debar and who say, “We were strong enough to capture Karnaim by ourselves.”
• Luke 10:20However, don’t be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:30Those who have eyes filled with tears should live as though they have no sorrow. Those who are happy should live as though there was nothing to be happy about. Those who buy something should live as though they didn’t own it.

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

• Blessing
• Gourd
• Miracles
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jonah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Gourd
• Genesis
• Grief; Grieve
• Intercession
• Jonah, the Book of

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