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 King James Version (NKJV)But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered.

Context of Jonah 4:7

5So Jonah went out from the city and sat east of the city. There He made a sukkah and he sat under it, in the shade, until he saw what would happen in the city. 6Then Adonai God prepared a plant and it grew up over Jonah, to give shade over his head to spare him from his discomfort. So Jonah was very happy about the plant. But God at dawn the next day prepared a worm that crippled the plant and it withered away. 8When the sun rose, God prepared a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint. So he implored that his soul would die, saying, “My death would be better than my life!” 9Then God said to Jonah, “Is it good for you to be so angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said, “I am angry enough to die!”

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 1:21Then he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. Adonai gave and Adonai has taken away; blessed be the Name of Adonai.”
• Psalms 30:6For His anger lasts for only a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
• Psalms 102:10For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mixed my drink with tears—
• Psalms 90:5You sweep them away in their sleep. In the morning they are like sprouting grass—
• Isaiah 40:6A voice is saying, “Cry out!” So I said, “What shall I cry out?” “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
• Joel 1:12The vine withered, the fig tree wilted. Pomegranate, palm and apple tree —all trees of the field— are withered, for joy has withered away from the children 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
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Gourd
• Worm
• Intercession
• Jonah, the Book of
• Worm; Scarlet-Worm

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