Jonah 3:6 When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

◄ Jonah 3:6 ►

New International Version
When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

New Living Translation
When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes.

English Standard Version
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Berean Standard Bible
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

King James Bible
For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

New King James Version
Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

New American Standard Bible
When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust.

NASB 1995
When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.

NASB 1977
When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the ashes.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, laid aside his mantle from him, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the ashes.

Amplified Bible
When word reached the king of Nineveh [of Jonah’s message from God], he rose from his throne, took off his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the dust [in repentance].

Christian Standard Bible
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

American Standard Version
And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Contemporary English Version
When the king of Nineveh heard what was happening, he also dressed in sackcloth; he left the royal palace and sat in dust.

English Revised Version
And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Good News Translation
When the king of Nineveh heard about it, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.

International Standard Version
When the message reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his royal garments, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in ashes.

Majority Standard Bible
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

NET Bible
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat on ashes.

New Heart English Bible
The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Webster's Bible Translation
For word came to the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

World English Bible
The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
seeing the word comes to the king of Nineveh, and he rises from his throne, and removes his honorable robe from off him, and spreads out sackcloth, and sits on the ashes,

Young's Literal Translation
seeing the word doth come unto the king of Nineveh, and he riseth from his throne, and removeth his honourable robe from off him, and spreadeth out sackcloth, and sitteth on the ashes,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the word will reach to the king of Nineveh, and he will rise from his throne, and he will take away his wide cloak from off him, and he will cover with sackcloth, and he will sit upon ashes.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the word came to the king of Ninive; and he rose up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And word reached the king of Nineveh. And he rose from his throne, and he threw off his robe from himself and was clothed in sackcloth, and he sat in ashes.

New American Bible
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

New Revised Standard Version
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when the news reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne and took off his crown from his head and covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the word arrived to the King of Nineva, and he arose from his throne and he removed his crown from himself and he wore sackcloth and sat down on ashes

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the word reached the king of Nineve, and he arose from off his throne, and took off his raiment from him, and put on sackcloth, and sat on ashes.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Nineveh Repents
5And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. 6When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Daniel 4:27
Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

Esther 4:1-3
When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. / But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. / In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:32
The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

1 Kings 21:27-29
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. / Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: / “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”

Jeremiah 36:24
Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Joel 2:12-14
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster. / Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him—grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

Matthew 11:21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Isaiah 58:5-7
Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? / Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.

James 4:9-10
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. / Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13
And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. / And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

Nehemiah 9:1-2
On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads. / Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all the foreigners, and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.

Zephaniah 2:1-3
Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation, / before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you. / Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.

Treasury of Scripture

For word came to the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

word.

Jeremiah 13:18
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

and he arose.

Psalm 2:10-12
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth…

James 1:9,10
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: …

James 4:6-10
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble…

and covered.

Esther 4:1-4
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; …

Job 2:8
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

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Jonah 3

1. Jonah, sent again, preaches to the Ninevites.
5. Upon their repentance,
10. God relents.

Berean Study Bible

When the word reached the king of Nineveh
The phrase "When the word reached" indicates the powerful and far-reaching impact of Jonah's message. The Hebrew word for "word" here is "דָּבָר" (dabar), which often signifies a matter or thing of great importance. This suggests that Jonah's proclamation was not just a simple message but a divine decree that carried weight and authority. The fact that it reached the "king of Nineveh" underscores the seriousness with which the message was taken. Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was a significant city known for its power and influence. The king's response to the message highlights the universal reach of God's word, transcending cultural and political boundaries.

he arose from his throne
The action of the king arising from his throne is symbolic of humility and submission. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the throne was a symbol of power and authority. By rising from it, the king of Nineveh demonstrates a willingness to set aside his own authority in recognition of a higher power. This act of humility is a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's word, capable of moving even the most powerful rulers to repentance.

laid aside his royal robe
The "royal robe" is a symbol of the king's status and identity. In the ancient world, clothing often represented one's position and authority. By laying aside his royal robe, the king is not only humbling himself but also identifying with the common people. This act signifies a stripping away of pride and a recognition of the need for repentance. It is a profound gesture of solidarity with his subjects and an acknowledgment of the shared need for divine mercy.

covered himself with sackcloth
Sackcloth, a coarse material made from goat's hair, was traditionally worn as a sign of mourning and repentance. The act of covering oneself with sackcloth is a physical manifestation of inner contrition and a plea for forgiveness. In the biblical context, wearing sackcloth is often associated with a deep sense of sorrow for sin and a desire to return to God. The king's donning of sackcloth is a public declaration of his repentance and a call for his people to do the same.

and sat in ashes
Sitting in ashes is another ancient symbol of repentance and humility. Ashes, representing desolation and ruin, are a stark reminder of human mortality and the consequences of sin. In the biblical tradition, sitting in ashes is an act of self-abasement and a recognition of one's need for divine grace. The king's choice to sit in ashes is a powerful expression of his acknowledgment of sin and his earnest desire for God's forgiveness. This act, combined with the wearing of sackcloth, completes the picture of a ruler who is fully committed to leading his people in repentance and seeking the mercy of God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) For word came.--Rather, And the matter reached. The Authorised Version treats the royal edict that follows as the same with the proclamation in Jonah 3:5. This is possible, but it is more probable that the writer intended to describe the effect produced on each district of the vast city in succession, and on all grades of people. The piercing cry uttered from street to street, from square to square, reaches at last the king on his throne of state.

And he laid . . .--Stripping off the state mantle (the Hebrew word implies amplitude. See 1Kings 19:13.) It is interesting to find it used of the "Babylonish garment," found in Achan's tent. See Joshua 7:21), the monarch assumes a mourning dress. To form a conception of the change involved, the descriptions of Assyrian royal magnificence should be studied in Layard, or their representations in the Assyrian courts of the Crystal Palace. For the usual signs of Oriental mourning, comp. Genesis 37:34; 2Samuel 3:31; Job 2:8; Psalm 35:13; Ezekiel 26:16, &c. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - For word came; and the mater came; ἤγγισεν ὁ λόγος, "the word came near" (Septuagint). The tokens of penitence mentioned in ver. 5 were not exhibited in obedience to any royal command. Rather, as the impression made by the prophet spread among the people, and as they adopted these modes of showing their sorrow, the news of the movement reached the king, and he put himself at the head of it. The reigning monarch was probably either Shalmaneser III. or one of the two who succeeded him, Asshur-danil and Asshur-nirari, whose three reigns extended from B.C. 781 to 750. His robe (addereth); the word used for the "Babylonish garment" in Joshua 7:21. The magnificence of the Assyrian kings attire is attested by the monuments. Sat in ashes (comp. Job 2:8; Esther 4:3).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

When word
הַדָּבָר֙ (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

reached
וַיִּגַּ֤ע (way·yig·ga‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

the king
מֶ֣לֶך‪‬ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Nineveh,
נִֽינְוֵ֔ה (nî·nə·wêh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5210: Nineveh -- capital of Assyr

he got up
וַיָּ֙קָם֙ (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

from his throne,
מִכִּסְא֔וֹ (mik·kis·’ōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3678: Seat of honor, throne

took off
וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר (way·ya·‘ă·ḇêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

his royal robe,
אַדַּרְתּ֖וֹ (’ad·dar·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 155: Something ample

covered [himself]
וַיְכַ֣ס (way·ḵas)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

with sackcloth,
שַׂ֔ק (śaq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8242: A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag

and sat
וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב (way·yê·šeḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in
מֵֽעָלָ֑יו (mê·‘ā·lāw)
Preposition-m | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

ashes.
הָאֵֽפֶר׃ (hā·’ê·p̄er)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 665: Ashes

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OT Prophets: Jonah 3:6 The news reached the king of Nineveh (Jon. Jh)