Introduction

Jonah 3 highlights Jonah’s second commission to preach to Nineveh, leading to an unexpected response of repentance by the Ninevites and divine mercy from God. This chapter emphasizes themes of God’s compassion, human repentance, and the transformative power of obedience.

Key Points

• Synopsis: Jonah obeys God’s second call to preach to Nineveh. The city responds with widespread repentance, prompting God to relent from bringing disaster.
• Themes: God’s compassion reaches even the most sinful, repentance leads to transformation, and obedience to God’s word has far-reaching impact.

Jonah 3:1–3a

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you. So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.

After Jonah’s dramatic escape attempt, near-death experience, and time inside the fish, the LORD again commanded him to go to Nineveh and proclaim His message. This time, Jonah obeyed and set out for the city. His earlier rebellion had not changed God’s command, but it had taught Jonah that resistance was futile.

Jonah 3:3b–4

Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!

Nineveh was a massive city, requiring three days to walk across. Jonah entered just one-third of the way and delivered a brief, eight-word sermon: “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” Unlike other prophets who urged repentance, Jonah simply announced impending destruction, providing no details, no reason, and no hope of mercy.

Jonah 3:5–6

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Despite Jonah’s lackluster message, the people of Nineveh responded with immediate belief in God. From the lowest to the highest, they fasted, put on sackcloth, and mourned their sins. Even the king abandoned his royal robes, humbling himself in dust and ashes. Their repentance was genuine, complete, and far more enthusiastic than Jonah’s preaching.

Jonah 3:7–9

And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.

The king issued a decree for citywide repentance, including the extreme measure of putting sackcloth on animals. He urged everyone to cry out to God and abandon their evil ways, hoping that God might relent and spare them from destruction. Their words echoed those of the pagan sailors in Chapter 1—while Jonah had resisted God, outsiders continued to demonstrate remarkable spiritual insight. Those who seem far from God may be more responsive to His message than those who claim to follow Him. True repentance is more than words—it involves real transformation and turning from evil.

Jonah 3:10

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

God saw Nineveh’s genuine repentance and relented from bringing disaster upon them. Jonah had declared the city would be “overturned,” and in a surprising twist, it was—rather than being destroyed, it was transformed. God’s mercy prevailed, just as it had when He spared Jonah.

Conclusion

Jonah 3 reveals the surprising repentance of Nineveh in response to Jonah’s reluctant proclamation and God’s willingness to relent from judgment. The chapter highlights themes of divine compassion, the power of repentance, and the far-reaching consequences of obedience to God’s word. God’s mercy underscores His desire for transformation over destruction, extending grace even to the least expected.

Summary

1. God recommissions Jonah to preach to Nineveh, and this time Jonah obeys (3:1–3a).
2. Jonah delivers a brief proclamation of judgment as he journeys through Nineveh (3:3b–4).
3. The people of Nineveh respond with widespread repentance, fasting, and mourning (3:5–6).
4. The king of Nineveh issues a decree for universal repentance, including a call to turn from evil and violence (3:7–9).
5. God sees their repentance and relents from bringing the disaster He had planned (3:10).