Introduction

Jonah 4 concludes the story with Jonah’s reaction to God’s mercy on Nineveh, revealing his anger and self-centeredness. Through dialogue and a real-life lesson with a plant, God highlights His boundless compassion, contrasting it with Jonah’s narrow perspective.

Key Points

• Synopsis: Jonah resents God’s mercy on Nineveh, but God teaches him about His compassion for all creation, challenging Jonah’s misplaced anger.
• Themes: God’s boundless compassion transcends human prejudice, and His mercy extends to all people, even those deemed undeserving.

Jonah 4:1–2

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 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.

Jonah was furious that God had spared Nineveh, revealing that he had fled to Tarshish precisely because he knew God’s character—gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Unlike the other prophets, who typically pleaded with God for mercy, Jonah resented God’s compassion, not wanting the Ninevites to receive the same mercy Israel had.

Jonah 4:3–4

Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. And the LORD said, Do you do well to be angry?

In a dramatic outburst, Jonah declared that he would rather die than witness Nineveh’s survival. Ironically, the same God who had rescued him from drowning (2:10) was now the reason for his despair. But instead of striking him down, God patiently questioned Jonah’s anger, challenging him to reflect on whether his emotions were justified.

Jonah 4:5

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

Ignoring God’s question, Jonah left the city and set up a makeshift shelter, waiting to see if God would change His mind and destroy Nineveh. His actions suggest he was still hoping for divine judgment, unwilling to accept God’s mercy toward the city.

Jonah 4:6–9a

Now the LORD God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, It is better for me to die than to live. But God said to Jonah, Do you do well to be angry for the plant?

God orchestrated a practical lesson for Jonah by providing a plant for shade, which made Jonah exceedingly happy. However, God then sent a worm to destroy the plant, followed by a scorching wind, causing Jonah great discomfort. Once again, Jonah wished for death. But when God asked if his anger was justified, Jonah stubbornly insisted that it was.

Jonah 4:9b–11

And he said, Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die. And the LORD said, You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 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?

God pointed out Jonah’s misplaced priorities—he was deeply concerned about a temporary plant he had not cultivated, yet he had no compassion for the 120,000 people (and even animals) of Nineveh. If Jonah could pity a plant, how much more should God care for human lives? The book ends on this unanswered question, forcing readers to consider their own hearts toward God’s mercy. If we resent God’s mercy toward those we dislike, we align with Jonah’s rebellious heart rather than God’s gracious one. Instead of wishing judgment upon our enemies, we are called to reflect God’s love and desire their repentance (Mt 5:43–48; Rm 5:8).

Conclusion

Jonah 4 reveals Jonah’s struggle with accepting God’s boundless mercy, which challenges human tendencies toward self-righteousness and prejudice. God’s compassionate response to Jonah contrasts sharply with the prophet’s anger, underscoring His love for all creation, including those outside the covenant community.

Summary

1. Jonah expresses anger at God’s mercy on Nineveh and reveals the reason for his initial flight (4:1–2).
2. Jonah’s request to die highlights his misplaced priorities, and God questions his anger (4:3–4).
3. Jonah waits outside Nineveh, hoping for its destruction despite the city’s repentance (4:5).
4. God provides and then removes a plant to teach Jonah a lesson on compassion and perspective (4:6–9a).
5. God contrasts Jonah’s pity for the plant with His rightful compassion for Nineveh’s people and animals (4:9b–11).