Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” New Living Translation But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?” English Standard Version And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Berean Standard Bible So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?” King James Bible And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? New King James Version And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” New American Standard Bible Should I not also have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 people, who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left, as well as many animals?” NASB 1995 “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” NASB 1977 “And should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” Legacy Standard Bible So should I not have pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?” Amplified Bible Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 [innocent] persons, who do not know the difference between their right and left hand [and are not yet accountable for sin], as well as many [blameless] animals?” Christian Standard Bible So may I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?” American Standard Version and should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? Contemporary English Version In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city? English Revised Version and should not I have pity on Nineveh, that great city; wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? GOD'S WORD® Translation Shouldn't I feel sorry for this important city, Nineveh? It has more than 120,000 people in it as well as many animals. These people couldn't tell their right hand from their left." Good News Translation How much more, then, should I have pity on Nineveh, that great city. After all, it has more than 120,000 innocent children in it, as well as many animals!" International Standard Version So why shouldn't I be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 human beings who do not know their right hand from their left, as well as a lot of livestock? Majority Standard Bible So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?? NET Bible Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!" New Heart English Bible 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 much livestock?" Webster's Bible Translation And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many cattle? World English Bible 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?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand I—do I not have pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than one hundred twenty thousand of mankind, who have not known between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” Young's Literal Translation and I -- have not I pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than twelve myriads of human beings, who have not known between their right hand and their left -- and much cattle!' Smith's Literal Translation And shall I not spare for Nineveh the great city which there is in it more than one hundred and twenty thousand men which knew not between his right hand to his left, and many cattle? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd shall not I spare Ninive, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that know not how to distinguish between their right hand and their left, and many beasts? Catholic Public Domain Version And shall I not spare Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand men, who do not know the difference between their right and their left, and many beasts?” New American Bible And should I not be concerned over the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot know their right hand from their left, not to mention all the animals?” New Revised Standard Version And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd should not I have pity upon Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But shall I not show pity on Nineva, the great city that has in it more than one hundred twenty thousand children of men who do not know between their right hand and their left hand, and a multitude of cattle? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and should not I have pity on Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?' Brenton Septuagint Translation and shall not I spare Nineve, the great city, in which dwell more than twelve myriads of human beings, who do not know their right hand or their left hand; and also much cattle? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jonah's Anger at the LORD's Compassion…10But the LORD said, “You cared about the plant, which you neither tended nor made grow. It sprang up in a night and perished in a night. 11So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?” Cross References 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. Ezekiel 18:23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live? 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent. Luke 19:41-42 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it / and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. / For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 1 Timothy 2:4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Romans 9:15-16 For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” / So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Exodus 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, / maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness. Psalm 145:8-9 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion. / The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. Jeremiah 18:7-8 At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring. Treasury of Scripture And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more then six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? should. Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? Nineveh. Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. Jonah 3:2,3 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee… sixscore. that cannot. Deuteronomy 1:39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. and also. Psalm 36:6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. Psalm 104:14,27,28 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; … Psalm 145:8,9,15,16 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy… Jump to Previous Cattle City Compassion Concerned Difference Discern Great Hand Hundred Livestock Nineveh Persons Pity Right Shouldn't Sixscore Spare Thousand Twenty WhereinJump to Next Cattle City Compassion Concerned Difference Discern Great Hand Hundred Livestock Nineveh Persons Pity Right Shouldn't Sixscore Spare Thousand Twenty WhereinJonah 4 1. Jonah repining at God's mercy,4. is reproved by the type of a withering vine. So should I not have concern The Hebrew word for "concern" here is "חוס" (chus), which conveys a deep sense of pity or compassion. This word choice highlights God's merciful nature, contrasting with Jonah's reluctance to show mercy. In the broader biblical narrative, God's compassion is a recurring theme, emphasizing His desire for repentance and redemption rather than judgment. This phrase challenges believers to reflect on their own capacity for compassion, urging them to align their hearts with God's. for the great city of Nineveh in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left and many cattle as well And also much cattle.--This, which at first reads like an anti-climax, is really, perhaps, the most striking thing in the whole of this marvellous book. Already the idea that a sympathy could exist between Jonah and the gourd has seemed to anticipate by thousands of years the feeling of modern poetry expressed in the lines, "To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that too often lie too deep for tears;" and now the final touch, laying especial emphasis on the thought that even the cattle are an interest and care to God, seems at once to leap to the truth which even our own age has been slow to learn. "He prayeth best who loveth best, All creatures great and small, For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all." Verse 11. - Should not I spare Ninevah? The contrast between the feeling and conduct of God and those of the prophet is very forcible. Thou hast compassion for a plant of little worth, in whose growth thou hast had no concern, to which thou hast no right; should I not pity a great city which is mine, which I have permitted to grow into power? Thou hast compassion on a flower which sprang up in a day and withered in a day; should I not pity this town with its teeming population and its multitude of cattle, the least of which is more worth than any senseless plant, and which I uphold daily with my providence? Six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; i.e. children of tender years, who did not know which hand was the strongest and fittest for use; or, metaphorically, who had no knowledge between good and evil" (Deuteronomy 1:39), at present incapable of moral discernment. This limitation would include children of three or four years old; and, taking these as one-fifth of the population, we should set the inhabitants at six hundred thousand in number. The multitude of these innocent children, who must needs perish if the city were destroyed, is an additional reason why it should be spared. A still further claim for compassion is appended. And also much cattle. God's mercy is over all his works; he preserveth man and beast (Psalm 36:6; Psalm 145:9), and as man is superior to other animals, so are cattle better than plants. The book ends abruptly, but its object is accomplished. Jonah is silenced; he can make no reply; he can only confess that he is entirely wrong, and that God is righteous. He learns the lesson that God would have all men saved, and that that narrow-mindedness which would exclude heathen from his kingdom is displeasing to him and alien from his design. "For thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and winkest at the sins of men in order that they should repent. For thou lovest all the things that are, and abhorrest nothing that thou hast made; for never wouldst thou have made anything if thou hadst hated it But thou sparest all; for they are thine, O Lord, thou Lover of souls" (Wisd. 11:23, etc.).
Hebrew So should Iוַֽאֲנִי֙ (wa·’ă·nî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no care אָח֔וּס (’ā·ḥūs) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 2347: To pity, look upon with compassion about עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the great הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה (hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent city הָעִ֣יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement of Nineveh, נִינְוֵ֖ה (nî·nə·wêh) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5210: Nineveh -- capital of Assyr which אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that has יֶשׁ־ (yeš-) Adverb Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is more than הַרְבֵּה֩ (har·bêh) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great 120,000 מִֽשְׁתֵּים־ (miš·têm-) Preposition-m | Number - fd Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) people אָדָ֗ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being who אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that cannot לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no tell יָדַע֙ (yā·ḏa‘) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know their right hand יְמִינ֣וֹ (yə·mî·nōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south from their left, לִשְׂמֹאל֔וֹ (liś·mō·lōw) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand and many רַבָּֽה׃ (rab·bāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 7227: Much, many, great cattle as well?” וּבְהֵמָ֖ה (ū·ḇə·hê·māh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal Links Jonah 4:11 NIVJonah 4:11 NLT Jonah 4:11 ESV Jonah 4:11 NASB Jonah 4:11 KJV Jonah 4:11 BibleApps.com Jonah 4:11 Biblia Paralela Jonah 4:11 Chinese Bible Jonah 4:11 French Bible Jonah 4:11 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jonah 4:11 Shouldn't I be concerned for Nineveh that (Jon. Jh) |
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