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Jonah 4:2

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jonah 4:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
Jonah 4:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Jonah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
2And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
3Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
4And Jehovah said, Doest thou well to be angry?
5Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
← Jonah 4:1Jonah 4:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he prayed unto the Lord, etc.] But in a very different manner from his praying in the fish’s belly: this was a very disorderly prayer, put up in the hurry of his spirit, and in the heat of passion: prayer should be fervent indeed, but not like that of a man in a fever; there should be a warmth and ardour of affection in it, but it should be without wrath, as well as without doubting: this is called a prayer, because Jonah thought it to be so, and put it up to the Lord as one. It begins in the form of a prayer; and it ends with a petition, though an unlawful one; and has nothing of true and right prayer in it; no celebration of the divine Being, and his perfections; no confession of sin,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“my saying--my thought, or feeling. fled before--I anticipated by fleeing, the disappointment of my design through Thy long-suffering mercy. gracious . . . and merciful, &c.--Jonah here has before his mind ; as Joel () in his turn quotes from Jonah.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And he prayed unto the Lord - Jonah, at least, did not murmur or complain of God. He complained to God of Himself. He expostulates with Him. Shortsighted indeed and too wedded to his own will! Yet his will was the well-being of the people whose prophet God had made him. He tells God, that this it was, which he had all along dreaded. He softens it, as well as he can, by his word, “I pray Thee,” which expresses deprecation anti-submissiveness. Still he does not hesitate to tell God that this was the cause of his first rebellion! Perilous to the soul, to speak without penitence of former sin; yet it is to God that he speaks and so God, in His wonderful condescension, makes him teach himself. I…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Was not this - Did I not think of this? That thy pardon would contradict my preaching. Jonah 4:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:2 Jonah expresses his motive in originally fleeing from the Lord (1:3): He knew that the Lord would not destroy the wicked Ninevites if they repented. • I knew: Jonah practically quotes Exod 34:6-7, a passage set in the context of Israel’s covenant relationship with the Lord. Even in the Old Testament, God was concerned to spread salvation to the nations (cp. Matt 28:18-20).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he prayed: Kg1 19:4; Jer 20:7 I fled: Jon 1:3; Luk 10:29 thou art: Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Num 14:18, Num 14:19; Psa 78:38, Psa 86:5, Psa 86:15, Psa 145:8; Hos 11:8, Hos 11:9; Joe 2:13, Joe 2:14; Mic 7:18 and of: Jon 3:10; Exo 32:14; Psa 90:13; Jer 18:8; Amo 7:3, Amo 7:6 Jonah 4:3”
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Related study paths

Read Jonah 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification