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 Living Translation (NLT)But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away.

Context of Jonah 4:7

5So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6And 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. But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”

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 1:21And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
• Psalms 30:6Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.”
• Psalms 102:10Because of Your indignation and Your wrath; For You have lifted me up and cast me away.
• Psalms 90:5You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up:
• Isaiah 40:6The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
• Joel 1:12The vine has dried up, And the fig tree has withered; The pomegranate tree, The palm tree also, And the apple tree— All the trees of the field are withered; Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.

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
• Gourd
• Worm
• 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