Jonah 3:9

Jonah 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
• New International Version (NIV)Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

Context of Jonah 3:9

7He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” 10When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

Jonah 3:9 word by word

מִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יָשׁ֔וּב וְנִחַ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְשָׁ֛ב מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד׃Read the interlinear

• Whoמִיmîy · who?H4310
• knowsיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• may turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
• and relentנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
• His burningחָרוֹןchârôn chârôn · burning angerH2740
• angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
• so that we will not perishאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6

Cross-references for Jonah 3:9

• Jonah 1:6So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”
• 2 Samuel 12:22He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’
• Psalms 106:45And He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.
• Joel 2:13And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil.
• Amos 5:15Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the Lord God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
• Luke 15:18I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

Commentaries on Jonah 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Who can tell if God will turn and repent - There is at least a peradventure for our salvation. God may turn towards us, change his purpose, and save us alive. While there is life there is hope; God has no pleasure in the death of sinners; he is gracious and compassionate. Himself has prescribed repentance; if we repent, and turn to him from our iniquities, who knows then whether God will not turn, etc.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Who can tell if God will turn and repent? - The Ninevites use the same form of words, which God suggested by Joel to Judah. Perhaps He would thereby indicate that He had Himself put it into their mouths. “In uncertainty they repented, and obtained certain mercy”. “It is therefore left uncertain, that men, being doubtful of their salvation, may repent the more vehemently and the more draw down on themselves the mercy of God”. “Most certain are the promises…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 There was a wonder of Divine grace in the repentance and reformation of Nineveh. It condemns the men of the gospel generation, Mt 12:41. A very small degree of light may convince men that humbling themselves before God, confessing their sins with prayer, and turning from sin, are means of escaping wrath and obtaining mercy. The people followed the example of the king. It became a national act, and it was necessary it should be so, when it was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-10God commands Jonah again to preach to Nineveh. This time, Jonah obeys. Ironically, the city repents, just as Jonah feared, and he becomes angry with God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Who can tell--(Compare Joe 2:14). Their acting on a vague possibility of God's mercy, without any special ground of encouragement, is the more remarkable instance of faith, as they had to break through long-rooted prejudices in giving up idols to seek Jehovah at all. The only ground which their ready faith rested on, was the fact of God sending one to warn them, instead of destroying them at once; this suggested the thought of a possibility of pardon…Read the comment

Topics related to Jonah 3:9

• Fasting
• Heathen
• Minister, Christian
• Missions
• Obedience
• Orator
• Repentance
• Revivals
• Rulers
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Fast
• Lay
• Mightily
• Jonah, the Book of

Commentaries on Jonah 3

• 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