Jonah Chapter 4 — Jonah’s Anger and God’s Mercy
Jonah becomes angry when God spares Nineveh, leading to a conversation where God uses a vine and a worm to teach him about compassion.
1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
2He prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, LORD, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.
3Therefore now, LORD, take, I beg you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
4The LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5Then Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.
6The LORD God prepared a vine and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine.
7But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine so that it withered.
8When the sun arose, God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he was faint and requested for himself that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
9God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?”
10The LORD said, “You have been concerned for the vine, for which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night and perished in a night.
11Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many animals?”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Jonah 4:2
“I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.”
This verse reveals Jonah's reasoning for fleeing to Tarshish and highlights the central character of God in the narrative.
Jonah 4:11
“Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many animals?”
The book ends with this rhetorical question, emphasizing God's concern for all people and His creation.
Chapter Summary
After Nineveh repents and God spares the city from destruction, Jonah becomes exceedingly angry. He prays to God, explaining that he originally fled to Tarshish because he knew God was gracious, merciful, and slow to anger. Jonah expresses that he would rather die than live. God responds by asking Jonah if his anger is justified. Jonah then builds a small shelter outside the city to see what will happen. God causes a vine to grow and provide shade for Jonah, which pleases him. However, the next morning, God sends a worm to wither the vine and a hot wind to beat down on Jonah. When Jonah again wishes for death due to his discomfort, God points out that Jonah had pity on a plant he did not work for or grow. God concludes the chapter by asking why He should not have compassion for the huge population of Nineveh and their many animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jonah was displeased because he wanted to see judgment upon Nineveh, Israel's enemy. He knew God was merciful and would likely forgive them if they repented, which is why he initially tried to flee from his mission.
The vine serves as an object lesson. Jonah felt pity for the vine because it provided him comfort, yet he had no part in its growth. God uses this to show Jonah that if he can care for a plant, God certainly can care for a city of thousands.
This phrase is generally understood to refer to the spiritual or moral ignorance of the city's population, or perhaps specifically to the large number of children who were not yet old enough to be held accountable for their actions.
Study Note
The book of Jonah is unique among the prophetic books because it ends with a question from God rather than a declaration of judgment.
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