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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Jonah 4:2

So he prayed to the LORD, saying, "O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion-One who relents from sending disaster.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anger;   God Continued...;   Presumption;   Tarshish;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anger of God, the;   Mercy of God, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Mission;   Patience;   Tarshish;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Destroy, Destruction;   Israel;   Mercy;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nahum (2);   Holman Bible Dictionary - Grace;   Jonah;   Kindness;   Mercy, Merciful;   Repentance of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Anger (Wrath) of God;   Grace;   Joel, Book of;   Jonah;   Jonas;   Tarshish (1);   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Long-Suffering ;   Longsuffering;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jonah ;   Tarshish, Tharshish;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Tarshish;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jo'nah;   Tar'shish;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Israel;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Compassion;   Country;   Intercession;   Jonah, the Book of;   Kindness;   Longsuffering;   Ships and Boats;   Wrath (Anger);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Forgiveness;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for July 17;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I thought while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and one who relents from sending disaster.
Hebrew Names Version
He 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 lovingkindness, and you repent of the evil.
King James Version (1611)
And he prayed vnto the Lord, and sayd, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my countrey? Therefore I fledde before vnto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindnesse, and repentest thee of the euill.
King James Version
And he prayed unto the Lord , and said, I pray thee, O Lord , was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
English Standard Version
And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord , is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
New American Standard Bible
Then he prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was this not what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore in anticipation of this I fled to Tarshish, since I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster.
New Century Version
He prayed to the Lord , "When I was still in my own country this is what I said would happen, and that is why I quickly ran away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don't become angry quickly, and you have great love. I knew you would choose not to cause harm.
Amplified Bible
He prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I ran to Tarshish, because I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and great in lovingkindness, and [when sinners turn to You] You revoke the [sentence of] disaster [against them].
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he prayed vnto the Lord, and saide, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my countrey? therefore I preuented it to flee vnto Tarshish: for I knewe that thou art a gratious God, & merciful, slow to anger, & of great kindnes, and repentest thee of the euill.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He prayed to the LORD and said, "Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.
Legacy Standard Bible
And he prayed to Yahweh and said, "Ah! O Yahweh, was not this my word to myself while I was still in my own land? Therefore I went ahead to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning evil.
Contemporary English Version
So he prayed: Our Lord , I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn't destroy Nineveh. That's why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don't like to punish anyone, not even foreigners.
Complete Jewish Bible
He prayed to Adonai , "Now, Adonai , didn't I say this would happen, when I was still in my own country? That's why I tried to get away to Tarshish ahead of time! I knew you were a God who is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in grace, and that you relent from inflicting punishment.
Darby Translation
And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, Ah, Jehovah, was not this my saying when I was yet in my country? Therefore I was minded to flee at first unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
Easy-to-Read Version
He complained to the Lord and said, " Lord , I knew this would happen! I was in my own country, and you told me to come here. At that time I knew that you would forgive the people of this evil city, so I decided to run away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a kind God. I knew that you show mercy and don't want to punish people. I knew that you are kind, and if these people stopped sinning, you would change your plans to destroy them.
George Lamsa Translation
And he prayed to the LORD and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I fled before to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious and merciful God, patient and of great kindness, and thou art ready to turn away calamity.
Good News Translation
So he prayed, " Lord , didn't I say before I left home that this is just what you would do? That's why I did my best to run away to Spain! I knew that you are a loving and merciful God, always patient, always kind, and always ready to change your mind and not punish.
Lexham English Bible
And he prayed to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh, was this not what I said while I was in my homeland? Therefore I originally fled to Tarshish, because I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and having great steadfast love, and one who relents concerning calamity.
Literal Translation
And he prayed to Jehovah, and said, Please, O Jehovah, was this not my word while I was on my own land? On account of this, I fled to Tarshish before, for I knew that You are a graciousGod and merciful, slow to anger, and ofgreat kindness, and One who repents over calamity.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
And he made prayer to the Lord and said, O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still in my country? This is why I took care to go in flight to Tarshish: for I was certain that you were a loving God, full of pity, slow to be angry and great in mercy, and ready to be turned from your purpose of evil.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said: 'I pray Thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in mine own country? Therefore I fled beforehand unto Tarshish; for I knew that Thou art a gracious God, and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in mercy, and repentest Thee of the evil.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he prayed vnto the Lorde, and saide: I pray thee O Lorde, was not this my saying when I was yet in my countrey? therfore I hasted to flee into Tharsis: For I knewe that thou art a gratious God, and mercifull, long suffering, and of great kindnesse, and repentest thee of euill.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he prayed to the Lord, and said, O Lord, were not these my words when I was yet in my land? therefore I made haste to flee to Tharsis; because I knew that thou are merciful and compassionate, long-suffering, and abundant in kindness, and repentest of evil.
English Revised Version
And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, 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 full of compassion, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy, and repentest thee of the evil.
World English Bible
He prayed to Yahweh, and said, "Please, Yahweh, 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 lovingkindness, and you repent of the evil.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he preiede the Lord, and seide, Lord, Y biseche, whether this is not my word, whanne Y was yit in my lond? For this thing Y purposide, for to fle in to Tharsis; for Y woot, that thou, God, art meke and merciful, pacient, and of merciful doyng, and foryyuynge on malice.
Update Bible Version
And he prayed to Yahweh, and said, I pray you, O Yahweh, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my 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 one who repents of the evil.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he prayed to the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD [was] not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before to Tarshish: for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest of the evil.
New English Translation
He prayed to the Lord and said, "Oh, Lord , this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish!—because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.
New King James Version
So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
New Living Translation
So he complained to the Lord about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord ? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
New Life Bible
He prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, is this not what I said You would do while still in my own country? That is why I ran away to Tarshish. For I knew that You are a kind and loving God Who shows pity. I knew that You are slow to anger and are filled with loving-kindness, always ready to change Your mind and not punish.
New Revised Standard
He prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord ! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So he prayed unto Yahweh, and said - Ah now! Yahweh! Was not, this, my word, while I was yet upon mine own soil? For this cause, did I hasten to flee unto Tarshish, - because I knew that, thou, art a GOD of favour and compassion, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and art grieved over calamity.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he prayed to the Lord, and said: I beseech thee, O Lord, is not this what I said, when I was yet in my own country? therefore I went before to flee into Tharsis: for I know that thou art a gracious and merciful God, patient, and of much compassion, and easy to forgive evil.
Revised Standard Version
And he prayed to the LORD and said, "I pray thee, LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repentest of evil.
Young's Literal Translation
and he prayeth unto Jehovah, and he saith, `I pray Thee, O Jehovah, is not this my word while I was in mine own land -- therefore I was beforehand to flee to Tarshish -- that I have known that Thou [art] a God, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, and repenting of evil?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he prayed vnto the LORDE, and sayde: O LORDE, was not this my sayenge (I praye the) when I was yet in my countre? therfore I haisted rather to fle vnto Tharsis, for I knowe well ynough that thou art a mercifull God, full of compassion, loge sufferinge, and of greate kyndnesse, and repentest when thou shuldest take punyshment.

Contextual Overview

1Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and became angry. 2So he prayed to the LORD, saying, "O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion-One who relents from sending disaster.3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he prayed: 1 Kings 19:4, Jeremiah 20:7

I fled: Jonah 1:3, Luke 10:29

thou art: Exodus 34:6, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Numbers 14:19, Psalms 78:38, Psalms 86:5, Psalms 86:15, Psalms 145:8, Hosea 11:8, Hosea 11:9, Joel 2:13, Joel 2:14, Micah 7:18

and of: Jonah 3:10, Exodus 32:14, Psalms 90:13, Jeremiah 18:8, Amos 7:3, Amos 7:6

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:31 - the Lord Deuteronomy 18:22 - if the thing 1 Samuel 15:11 - repenteth me 2 Samuel 24:14 - for his 1 Chronicles 21:13 - great 1 Chronicles 21:15 - repented him 2 Chronicles 30:9 - the Lord Psalms 103:8 - slow Psalms 135:14 - he will repent Jeremiah 20:16 - repented Jeremiah 26:3 - so Jeremiah 26:13 - repent Jeremiah 42:10 - for I Daniel 9:9 - To the Lord Nahum 1:3 - slow Romans 2:4 - forbearance Ephesians 1:7 - the forgiveness Ephesians 2:4 - who James 5:11 - the Lord is 1 Peter 1:3 - which

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
Genesis 4:25
And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him."
Genesis 4:26
And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to invoke the name of the LORD.
Genesis 9:20
Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.
Genesis 37:13
Israel said to him, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them." "I am ready," Joseph replied.
Genesis 47:3
"What is your occupation?" Pharaoh asked Joseph's brothers. "Your servants are shepherds," they replied, "both we and our fathers."
Exodus 3:1
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Psalms 127:3
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Amos 7:15
But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'
Luke 11:51
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he prayed unto the Lord,.... 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, ore petition for any blessing of providence or grace; but mere wrangling, contending, and quarrelling with God:

and said, I pray thee, O Lord, [was] not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? in Judea, or in Galilee, at Gathhepher; was not this what I thought and said within myself, and to thee, that this would be the issue and consequence of going to the Ninevites; they would repent of their sins, and thou wouldst forgive them; and so thou wouldst be reckoned a liar, and I a false prophet? and now things are come to pass just as I thought and said they would: and thus he suggests that he had a greater or better foresight of things than God himself; and that it would have been better if his saying had been attended unto, and not the order of him to Nineveh; how audacious and insolent was this!

therefore I fled before unto Tarshish; before he could have a second order to Nineveh: here he justifies his flight to Tarshish, as if he had good reason for it; and that it would have been better if he had not been stopped in his flight, and had gone to Tarshish, and not have gone to Nineveh. This is amazing, after such severe corrections for his flight, and after such success at Nineveh:

for I know that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger,

and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil; this he knew from his own experience, for which he had reason to be thankful, and from the proclamation of God, in Exodus 34:6; which be seems to have respect unto; and a glorious one it is, though Jonah seems to twit and upbraid the Lord with his grace and mercy to men, as if it was a weakness and infirmity in him, whereas it is his highest glory,

Exodus 33:18; he seems to speak of him, and represent him, as if he was all mercy, and nothing else; which is a wrong representation of him; for he is righteous as well as merciful; and in the same place where he proclaims himself to be so, he declares that he will "by no means clear the guilty", Exodus 34:7: but here we see that good men, and prophets, and ministers of the word, are men of like passions with others, and some of greater passions; and here we have an instance of the prevailing corruptions of good men, and how they break out again, even after they have been scourged for them; for afflictions, though they are corrections for sin, and do restrain it, and humble for it, and both purge and prevent it, yet do not wholly remove it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 knew that Thou art a gracious God - He repeats to God to the letter His own words by Joel Joel 2:13. God had so revealed Himself anew to Judah. He had, doubtless, on some repentance which Judah had shown, turned away the evil from them. And now by sending him as a preacher of repentance, He implied that He would do the same to the enemies of his country. God confirms this by the whole sequel. Thenceforth then Israel knew, that to the pagan also God was intensely, infinitely full of gracious and yearning love nay (as the form rather implies. ) mastered (so to speak) by the might and intensity of His gracious love, “slow to anger” and delaying it, “great in loving tenderness,” and abounding in it; and that toward them also, when the evil is about to be inflicted, or has been partially or wholly inflicted, He will repent of it and replace it with good, on the first turning of the soul or the nation to God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jonah 4:2. I know that thou art a gracious GodExodus 34:6.


 
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