Jonah 3:4 - Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
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What does "Jonah 3:4" mean?
Jonah 3:4 is a pivotal verse in the book of Jonah. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey": This tells us that Jonah started his mission within the city of Nineveh. "A day's journey" probably signifies the distance Jonah traveled while proclaiming his message, representing the amount of the city he covered. Nineveh was a very large city, and this detail highlights that his warning was heard across a significant portion of it.
"He cried out, and said, 'In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!'": This is the core of Jonah's prophecy.
"He cried out": Suggests that Jonah delivered the message loudly and emphatically, ensuring it was heard.
"In forty days": This is a specific timeframe given for the impending judgment.
"Nineveh will be overthrown!": This is a direct and unambiguous warning of destruction. The Hebrew word translated as "overthrown" or "destroyed" (הָפַךְ, haphak) can refer to a physical overturning or a more general destruction. The exact nature of the overthrow isn't specified, leaving room for interpretation about whether it would be a complete obliteration or some other form of calamitous event.
In Summary
Jonah 3:4 describes Jonah's initial obedience to God's command by entering Nineveh and delivering a straightforward warning of destruction within 40 days. The verse sets the stage for the rest of the story, as the people of Nineveh's reaction to this prophecy is what determines whether the city will be spared.
Jonah 3:4 - Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”
What does "Jonah 3:4" mean?
Jonah 3:4 is a pivotal verse in the book of Jonah. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey": This tells us that Jonah started his mission within the city of Nineveh. "A day's journey" probably signifies the distance Jonah traveled while proclaiming his message, representing the amount of the city he covered. Nineveh was a very large city, and this detail highlights that his warning was heard across a significant portion of it.
"He cried out, and said, 'In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!'": This is the core of Jonah's prophecy.
"He cried out": Suggests that Jonah delivered the message loudly and emphatically, ensuring it was heard.
"In forty days": This is a specific timeframe given for the impending judgment.
"Nineveh will be overthrown!": This is a direct and unambiguous warning of destruction. The Hebrew word translated as "overthrown" or "destroyed" (הָפַךְ, haphak) can refer to a physical overturning or a more general destruction. The exact nature of the overthrow isn't specified, leaving room for interpretation about whether it would be a complete obliteration or some other form of calamitous event.
In Summary
Jonah 3:4 describes Jonah's initial obedience to God's command by entering Nineveh and delivering a straightforward warning of destruction within 40 days. The verse sets the stage for the rest of the story, as the people of Nineveh's reaction to this prophecy is what determines whether the city will be spared.