New English Translation
Jonah 4:6
6The Lord God appointed a little plant and caused it to grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue him from his misery. Now Jonah was very delighted about the little 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.
- 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 said, “Are you really so very angry?” 5Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made a shelter for himself there and sat down under it in the shade to see what would happen to the city. The Lord God appointed a little plant and caused it to grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue him from his misery. Now Jonah was very delighted about the little plant. 7So God sent a worm at dawn the next day, and it attacked the little plant so that it dried up. 8When the sun began to shine, God sent a hot east wind. So the sun beat down on Jonah’s head, and he grew faint. So he despaired of life, and said, “I would rather die than 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
- Psalms 103:10He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.
- Esther 5:9Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
- Proverbs 23:5When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!
- Isaiah 39:2Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouse with its silver, gold, spices, and high-quality olive oil, as well as his whole armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.
- Amos 6:13You are happy because you conquered Lo-Debar. You say, “Did we not conquer Karnaim by our own power?”
- Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:30those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions,
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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