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front:intro hk4p 0 # Introduction to Jonah\n\n## Part 1: General Introduction\n\n### Outline of the book of Jonah\n\n1. Jonah tries to run away from Yahweh. (1:1–2:10)\n* Jonah disobeys Yahweh’s first call to go to Nineveh. (1:1–3)\n* Jonah and the Gentile sailors. (1:4–16)\n* Yahweh provides a large fish to swallow Jonah, who prays and is rescued. (1:17–2:10)\n2. Jonah in Nineveh (3:1–4:11)\n* Yahweh again calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah proclaims Yahweh’s message. (3:1–4)\n* Nineveh repents. (3:5–9)\n* Yahweh decides not to destroy Nineveh. (3:10)\n* Jonah is very angry with Yahweh. (4:1–3)\n* Yahweh teaches Jonah about grace and mercy. (4:4–11)\n\n### What is the book of Jonah about?\n\nJonah, son of Amittai, was a prophet from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25). This book tells about what happened to Jonah. It tells how Yahweh shows mercy and grace to Gentiles. It also tells how the Ninevites repented and called out to Yahweh for mercy. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]], [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]])\n\nYahweh sent Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that he was ready to punish them. Yahweh said that if they would repent he would not harm them. However, Jonah was an Israelite, and he did not want the Ninevites to repent. So Jonah tried to sail away in the opposite direction instead of doing what Yahweh told him to do, but Yahweh stopped him by sending a storm and a large fish to swallow him.\n\nJonah repented and warned the Ninevites. As a result, Yahweh taught him that he is concerned about all people, not just the Israelites.\n\n### How should the title of this book be translated?\n\nThis book is traditionally titled “The Book of Jonah” or just “Jonah.” Translators may decide to use a clearer title such as “The Book about Jonah.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])\n\n### Who wrote the book of Jonah?\n\nJonah was probably involved in the writing of this book. However, scholars do not know who actually wrote it.\n\nJonah lived in the northern kingdom of Israel. He prophesied sometime between 800 and 750 B.C., during the reign of King Jeroboam II.\n\n## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts\n\n### What was the nation of Assyria?\n\nDuring the time of Jonah, Assyria was the most powerful kingdom in the ancient Near East. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria.\n\nAssyria was cruel to its enemies. Eventually, Yahweh punished the Assyrians for the wicked things they did.\n\n### Did Assyria convert to Judaism?\n\nSome scholars think that the Assyrians started worshiping Yahweh alone. However, most scholars think they continued to worship other false gods. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
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1:intro xvp2 0 # Jonah 1 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThe narrative of this chapter starts abruptly. This could cause difficulty for the translator. The translator should not attempt to smooth this introduction unless absolutely necessary.\n\n## Special Concepts in this Chapter\n\n### Miracle\n\nIn verse [1:17](../01/17.md), there is the mention of “a great fish.” It may be difficult to imagine a sea creature big enough to swallow a man whole. Jonah then survives for three days and nights inside the fish. Translators should not try to explain miraculous events in an attempt to make it easier to understand. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/miracle]])\n\n## Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter\n\n### Situational irony\n\nThere is an ironic situation in this chapter. This means that people do or say things that are the opposite of what one would expect them to do. Jonah is a prophet of God, and as such, he should endeavor to do God’s will. Instead, he runs away from God. Although the Gentile sailors are not Israelites, they act out of faith and fear of Yahweh when sending Jonah to an almost certain death by throwing him overboard. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]], [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/willofgod]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])\n\n### Sea\n\nPeople in the ancient Near East also saw the sea as chaotic and did not trust it. Some of the gods they worshiped were gods of the sea. Jonah’s people, the Hebrews, feared the sea greatly. However, Jonah’s fear of Yahweh was not enough to keep him from sailing on a ship to get away from Yahweh. His actions are contrasted to the actions of the Gentiles. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/fear]])\n\n## Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter\n\n### Implicit information\n\nEven though no one knows for sure where Tarshish was, the writer assumes that the reader knows that Jonah had to face away from Nineveh to go there. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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1:1 jdr1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 This phrase introduces the first half of the story of Jonah. The same phrase introduces the second half of the story (3:1). This is a common way of beginning a historical story about a prophet. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event.
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1:1 ll6c rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke or communicated his message in some way. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message”
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1:1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh”
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1:1 jv8c rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names אֲמִתַּ֖י 1 **Amittai** is the name of Jonah’s father.
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1:2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָעִ֥יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Alternate translation: “Arise and go to the large and important city, Nineveh”
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1:2 v2xt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֠וּם 1 **Get up** is an idiom that means that Jonah should take action and go. It does not mean that he was sitting or lying down at the time that God spoke to him. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Many languages would use only one verb, such as “go.”
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1:2 jqz9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וּקְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑יהָ 1 The word **it** here, meaning the city of Nineveh, refers to the people living in and around the city. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and warn the people”
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1:2 rki2 עָלְתָ֥ה רָעָתָ֖ם לְפָנָֽי 1 Alternate translation: “I know they have been continually sinning” or “I know that their sin has been getting worse and worse”
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1:2 jd9r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy לְפָנָֽי 1 This is an expression that uses the **face** of Yahweh to represent his presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The idea of Yahweh’s presence also includes his knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. Yahweh is saying that he has noticed how wicked the people of Nineveh have become.
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1:3 f5sr rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיָּ֤קָם יוֹנָה֙ לִבְרֹ֣חַ 1 Here the words **got up** mean that Jonah took action in response to God’s command, but his action was to disobey instead of to obey. If your readers would misunderstand this, you could state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: “but Jonah ran away”
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1:3 n96t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה & מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָֽה 1 The expression **the face of Yahweh** represents his presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The idea of Yahweh’s presence also includes his knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. By running away, Jonah is hoping that Yahweh will not notice that he is disobeying. Alternate translation: “from the presence of Yahweh” … “away from Yahweh”
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1:3 g66v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לִבְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁה 1 This city named Tarshish was in the direction opposite to Nineveh. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and went in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish, away”
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1:3 djv1 וַיֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah went to Joppa”
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1:3 w3uc rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown אָנִיָּ֣ה 1 A **ship** is a a very large type of boat that can travel on the sea and carry many passengers or heavy cargo. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of boat, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term.
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1:3 pz67 וַיִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜הּ 1 Alternate translation: “There Jonah paid the cost of his trip”
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1:3 g5xp וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּהּ֙ 1 Alternate translation: “and got on the ship”
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1:3 i6bi rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-pronouns עִמָּהֶם֙ 1 The pronoun **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship. If this is not clear for your readers, you could use the person's name here. Alternate translation: “the crew and passengers"
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1:3 sw66 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִלִּפְנֵ֖י יְהוָֽה 1 This is an expression that refers to the face of Yahweh to represent his presence. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. The idea of Yahweh’s presence also includes his knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. By running away, Jonah may be hoping that Yahweh will not notice that he is disobeying. Alternate translation: “out of the presence of Yahweh” or “away from Yahweh”
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1:4 jdr2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַֽיהוָ֗ה הֵטִ֤יל רֽוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה֙ אֶל־הַיָּ֔ם 1 This clause introduces the new event of Yahweh’s response to Jonah's disobedience. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event. Translate this so that your readers know that this event brings a change in the story.
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1:4 jdra rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וְהָ֣אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְהִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 Here, the author speaks of **the ship** as if it were a person who could think. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. The clause means that the storm was so severe that the ship was close to breaking apart. Alternate translation: “so that the ship was almost breaking apart”
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1:4 jl77 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive לְהִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “to break apart”
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1:5 d13r הַמַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 Alternate translation: “the men who worked on the ship” or "the crew"
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1:5 u2bj rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אֱלֹהָיו֒ 1 The author assumes that his audience will know that by **his own god** he does not mean the true God, Yahweh. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state this explicitly in your translation. Alternate translation: "the idol or false god that he worshiped"
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1:5 tg27 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom לְהָקֵ֖ל מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם 1 This could mean: (1) to make the ship lighter so that it would float better, Alternate translation: “to help the ship float better” or (2) to lighten or relieve a dangerous situation, Alternate translation: “to lessen the danger they were in”
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1:5 uzt4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְיוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַסְּפִינָ֔ה 1 This verse provides background information about Jonah's circumstances to help readers understand what happens next in the story. In your translation, present this information in a way that makes it clear that this is background information and that Jonah had already done this before the storm started.
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1:5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַסְּפִינָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “the interior of the ship”
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1:5 g4y4 וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַיֵּרָדַֽם 1 Alternate translation: “and was lying there fast asleep” or “and lay sound asleep”
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1:6 laa3 וַיִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָיו֙ רַ֣ב הַחֹבֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “Then the man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said”
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1:6 yx7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מַה־לְּךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם 1 The captain is using the question form to scold Jonah. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “Stop sleeping!”
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1:6 bd4f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֚וּם 1 This is a command to begin some activity, which is named in the sentence following this word. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md). In this verse, the captain is telling Jonah to pray to his god. Because Jonah was lying down, the captain may also be telling Jonah literally to stand up.
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1:6 k7a5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ 1 To **Cry out to** someone means to loudly ask him for help. Alternate translation: “Pray to your god”
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1:6 sk7i rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖נוּ וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 The implication is that Jonah's god might save them. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Maybe your god will hear and save us so that we will not die”
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1:6 zi04 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle **not** and the negative verb **perish**. Alternate translation: “and he will save us” or "and we will survive"
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1:7 sc57 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ 1 The phrase **every man said to his friend** is an idiom expressing reciprocal action. This means that all the men in the group were saying this to each other. Alternate translation: “the sailors all said to each other”
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1:7 l5xq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לְכוּ֙ וְנַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּשֶׁלְּמִ֛י הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָ֑נוּ 1 The phrase **so that we may know** implies that the men believed that the gods would control how the lots fell in order to tell them what they wanted to know. This was a form of divination. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “We should cast lots to know who has caused this trouble”
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1:7 d726 הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את 1 Alternate translation: "this terrible storm"
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1:7 at67 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיִּפֹּ֥ל הַגּוֹרָ֖ל עַל־יוֹנָֽה 1 The expression **the lot fell on Jonah** is an idiom meaning that when the men cast lots, the result indicated Jonah. This does not mean that the lot literally fell down on top of Jonah. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the lot showed that Jonah was the guilty person”
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1:8 wkh6 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו 1 Alternate translation: “Then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah”
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1:8 e7wb הַגִּידָה־נָּ֣א לָ֔נוּ בַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר לְמִי־הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָ֑נוּ 1 Alternate translation: “Reveal to us who caused this bad thing that is happening to us”
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1:9 wav5 יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א 1 Here, **I fear Yahweh** is an idiom that means “I worship Yahweh and not any other god.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly.
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1:10 zi05 וַיִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “Then the men were extremely frightened”
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1:10 peg3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑יתָ 1 The men on the ship use a rhetorical question to show how afraid and angry they were that Jonah was causing so much trouble for all of them. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “You have done a terrible thing!”
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1:10 us1r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִלִּפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ 1 This is an expression that refers to the face of Yahweh to represent his presence. The idea of Yahweh’s presence also includes his knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. By running away, Jonah is hoping that Yahweh will not notice that he is disobeying. Alternate translation: “from the presence of Yahweh” or “from Yahweh”
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1:10 jdrb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָהֶֽם 1 This verse provides background information about Jonah's disobedience to help readers understand what happens next in the story. Before the sailors cast lots, Jonah had already told them that he was running away from Yahweh, the God he worshiped. In your translation, present this information in a way that makes it clear that this is background information.
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1:10 hw1p rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָהֶֽם 1 What **he told them** can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “because he had said to them, ‘I am trying to get away from Yahweh’”
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1:11 kb4c וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Then the men on the ship said to Jonah” or “Then the sailors said to Jonah”
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1:11 ik6d מַה־נַּ֣עֲשֶׂה לָּ֔ךְ וְיִשְׁתֹּ֥ק הַיָּ֖ם מֵֽעָלֵ֑ינוּ 1 Alternate translation: “What should we do with you in order to make the sea become calm?”
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1:11 wxr7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הַיָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵֽר 1 This is an idiom that means that the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. Alternate translation: “the strength of the storm was increasing”
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1:11 dji8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result הַיָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵֽר 1 This was the reason that the men asked Jonah what they should do. If it is more clear in your language to put the reason first, this can be stated at the beginning of verse 11, connecting to the result with a word like “so” or “therefore.”
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1:12 h982 כִּ֚י יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי כִּ֣י בְשֶׁלִּ֔י הַסַּ֧עַר הַגָּד֛וֹל הַזֶּ֖ה עֲלֵיכֶֽם 1 Alternate translation: “because I know that this huge storm is my fault”
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1:13 lcd3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְהָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָׁ֖ה 1 They did not do as Jonah suggested. The implication is that the men did not want to throw Jonah into the sea. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers.
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1:13 m3iq rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הַיָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְסֹעֵ֖ר 1 See how you translated this idiom in [1:11](../01/11.md). Alternate translation: “the storm became worse, and even taller waves broke”
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1:14 ap77 וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 Alternate translation: “Because of that they called out” or “Because the sea became more violent, they called loudly”
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1:14 q2xq וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 Alternate translation: “Therefore, the men prayed loudly to Yahweh”
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1:14 jdr3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 **Ah!** is an exclamation that is expressing intense desperation. Use an exclamation that would communicate that meaning in your language.
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1:14 wz6z אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אַל־נָ֣א נֹאבְדָ֗ה בְּנֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “O Yahweh, please do not kill us because we caused this man to die” or “O Yahweh, even though we are going to cause this man to die, please do not kill us”
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1:14 vv5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וְאַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖ינוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא 1 Here, **do not put innocent blood upon us** is an idiom that means ““do not consider us guilty of killing an innocent person.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and please do not blame us for his death” or “and do not hold us accountable for having killed someone who did not deserve to die”
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1:14 ab73 אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ 1 Alternate translation: “you, Yahweh, have chosen to do things in this way” or “you, Yahweh, have caused all this to happen”
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1:15 l9cf וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַיָּ֖ם מִזַּעְפּֽוֹ 1 Alternate translation: “the sea stopped moving violently”
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1:16 r3gs וַיִּֽירְא֧וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “then the men became greatly awed at Yahweh’s power” or “then the men worshiped Yahweh with great awe”
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1:17 q87y 0 # General Information:\n\nSome versions number this verse as the first verse of chapter 2. You may want to number the verses according to the main version that your language group uses.
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1:17 jdr4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַיְמַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל לִבְלֹ֖עַ אֶת־יוֹנָ֑ה 1 The author is using the word translated **Now** to introduce a new event in the story. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event. The first clause introduces the next part of the story, where Yahweh saves Jonah from the sea, and Jonah prays.
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1:17 cjb6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת 1 Perhaps this expression is an idiom in Hebrew meaning “a couple of days” or “a few days” or something similar, but this is uncertain. Alternate translation: “three days and nights”
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2:intro ae4k 0 # Jonah 2 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThis chapter begins with a prayer by Jonah, and many translators have chosen to set it apart by setting its lines farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. Translators can follow this practice, but they are not obligated to.\n\n## Special Concepts in this Chapter\n\n### Sea\n\nThis chapter contains many terms from the sea.\n\n## Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter\n\n### Poetry\n\nPrayers in Scripture often contain a poetic form. Poetry frequently uses metaphors to communicate something with a special meaning. For example, since Jonah was in a fish in the sea, being so trapped is compared to a prison. Jonah is overwhelmed by the depth of the sea and expresses this by speaking about being at the “base of the mountains” and in the “belly of Sheol.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])\n\n## Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter\n\n### Repentance\n\nScholars are divided over whether Jonah’s repentance was genuine or whether he was trying to save his life. In light of his attitude in chapter 4, it is uncertain whether he was genuinely repentant. If possible, it is best for translators to avoid taking a definitive stance on whether Jonah’s repentance was genuine. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
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2:1 alr2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-possession יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו 1 Here, the author is using the possessive form to describe **Yahweh** as the God whom Jonah worshiped. The word **his** does not mean that Jonah owned God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly.
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2:2 al5b וַיֹּ֗אמֶר 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah said”
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2:2 jdrc rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry קָ֠רָאתִי מִצָּ֥רָה לִ֛י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי 1 This is poetic language. If your language has a way to indicate poetry, you could use it here. This line begins a poem describing Jonah’s experience and prayer in the belly of the fish. The poem does not give the exact words that Jonah prayed at the time because the poem was written later, describing Jonah’s experience in the fish, his prayer, and God’s answer as if they had already happened. This first line of the poem can be understood in one of two ways: either as being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer, or as being addressed to another person as an introduction to the description of the prayer. See also the Note concerning the phrase “Salvation belongs to Yahweh!” in [2:9](../02/09/jdrh).
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2:2 s7fi קָ֠רָאתִי מִצָּ֥רָה לִ֛י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 Alternate translation: “I prayed to Yahweh during my great trouble” or “Yahweh, I cried out to you during my distress”
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2:2 wdr4 וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי 1 Alternate translation: “and Yahweh responded to me" or "and he helped me" or "and you answered me”
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2:2 w8wn rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִבֶּ֧טֶן שְׁא֛וֹל 1 The possible meanings of the metaphor **from the belly of Sheol** could include: (1) that Jonah was speaking of being in the belly of the fish as being in Sheol; or (2) that Jonah believed that he was about to die and go to Sheol; or (3) that he was speaking as if he already had died and gone to Sheol.
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2:2 ab77 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names שְׁא֛וֹל 1 **Sheol** was the name of the place where people went after they died. It was thought to be a shadowy world located somewhere under the ground. The New Testament equivalent seems to be “Hades,” where the dead wait for judgment (see Rev. 20:13). If your language has a word for this place, you may want to use it here, or borrow the word “Sheol.”
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2:2 jdrd rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ קוֹלִֽי 1 This phrase probably has both a literal and a figurative meaning. The phrase probably means literally that Yahweh heard Jonah’s voice while he was praying inside the belly of the fish. However, the phrase “to hear someone’s voice” in the Old Testament often means “to listen and obey (comply).” In this context, Jonah is expressing that Yahweh both heard him and acted to save him. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly.
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2:3 glp2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor בִּלְבַ֣ב יַמִּ֔ים 1 Here the term **heart** is a metaphor for “being inside” something. The phrase “in the heart of” means to be “in the middle of” or “completely surrounded by” sea water. Alternate translation: “in the middle of the sea”
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2:3 p8fd וְנָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי 1 Alternate translation: “the sea water flowed all around me”
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2:3 c6jx rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָ וְגַלֶּ֖יךָ 1 Both of these are disturbances on the surface of the ocean. They could be combined into one term, such as “waves.”
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2:4 jdr5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַאֲנִ֣י 1 This expression shows that there is a contrast between the actions of Yahweh, which Jonah had just talked about, and his own response. Now he is going to speak of his own response. Alternate translation: “And I”
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2:4 x1w9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive נִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּי 1 If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “You drove me out”
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2:4 z1yx rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy מִנֶּ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑יךָ 1 Here, **eyes** is a metonym meaning seeing, and seeing is a metonym for the knowledge, notice, and attention of God. Alternate translation: “from before you” or “from your presence” or “to where you do not notice me”
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2:4 b8vk אַ֚ךְ אוֹסִ֣יף לְהַבִּ֔יט אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁךָ 1 Jonah still has hope that, in spite of all that he is going through, God will allow him to see the temple in Jerusalem again.
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2:5 abc2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי 1 Jonah uses two similar phrases to express the severity and hopelessness of his situation.
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2:5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Alternate translation: "The sea"
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2:5 ca31 עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ 1 Here the Hebrew term **life** can possibly mean “my life” or “my neck” or “my spirit.” In any case, the water was threatening to end his life. Alternate translation: “up to my neck” or “as far as my spirit”
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2:5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי 1 Alternate translation: “deep water was all around me”
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2:5 p1fw rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown ס֖וּף 1 **Seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea.
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2:6 z36i rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor הָאָ֛רֶץ בְּרִחֶ֥יהָ בַעֲדִ֖י לְעוֹלָ֑ם 1 Here Jonah uses a metaphor to compare the earth to a prison. Alternate translation: “the earth was like a prison that was about to lock me in forever”
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2:6 dc3r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַתַּ֧עַל מִשַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖י 1 Here the term **pit** has more than one meaning. This could mean: (1) a way to describe being in a very deep place underground or underwater. Alternate translation: “but you saved me from dying in a deep place” (2) a metaphor meaning the place of the dead. In either case, the term probably refers to the fact that Jonah felt certain that he would die. Alternate translation: “but you saved my life from the place of the dead”
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2:6 i3mx rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-infostructure יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי 1 If it would be more natural in your language, you could put this at the beginning of the sentence or next to the word “you.”
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2:7 jdr6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֤ף עָלַי֙ נַפְשִׁ֔י 1 This phrase could mean that: (1) Jonah was already in the process of dying when he remembered Yahweh. Alternate translation: Alternate translation: “when my life was fainting away from me” (2) Jonah had given up hope of being rescued and resigned himself to the fact that he would die. Alternate translation: “when my spirit inside me had fainted”
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2:7 l2b6 אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה זָכָ֑רְתִּי 1 Alternate translation: “Yahweh, I thought about you”
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2:7 ue9g rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַתָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ תְּפִלָּתִ֔י אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁךָ 1 Jonah speaks as if his prayers could travel to God and his temple. This means that God heard his prayer and responded to it. Alternate translation: “then you in your holy temple heard my prayer”
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2:7 jdrf rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁךָ 1 Here the term **holy temple** may have either a literal or a figurative meaning or perhaps both. Jonah might be speaking about the literal temple in Jerusalem, or he might be speaking about God’s dwelling place in heaven.
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2:7 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔י 1 Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
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2:8 u1l9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom מְשַׁמְּרִ֖ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא 1 Here the term **empty vanities** is probably an idiom referring to idols of false gods. Alternate translation: “Those who give attention to useless idols” or “Those who pay attention to useless gods”
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2:8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 Here, **covenant faithfulness** could mean: (1) the faithfulness of God. Alternate translation: “are rejecting you, who would be faithful to them” (2) the faithfulness of the people. Alternate translation: “are abandoning their commitment to you”
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2:9 q3yb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַאֲנִ֗י 1 This expression shows that there is a contrast between Jonah himself and the people about whom Jonah had just spoken. They paid attention to useless gods, but he would worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “But I”
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2:9 nfd2 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom בְּק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔ךְ 1 The phrase **with a voice of thanksgiving** is an idiom that means “giving God praise.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. This full phrase probably means that Jonah would thank God while he offered a sacrifice to him. It is not clear whether Jonah planned to thank God by singing or shouting joyfully.
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2:9 jdrh יְשׁוּעָ֖תָה לַיהוָֽה 1 This last line of the poem could be understood as: (1) being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer. (2) being addressed to another person as a conclusion to the description of the prayer. See also the Note concerning the phrase “I cried out to Yahweh from my distress … ” in [2:2](../02/02/jdrc).
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2:9 r4j4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns יְשׁוּעָ֖תָה לַיהוָֽה 1 If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word **Salvation**, you can express the same idea with a verbal form such as “save.” Alternate translation: “Yahweh is the one who saves people”
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2:10 dz3j אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 Alternate translation: “upon the ground” or “onto the shore”
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3:intro z3ut 0 # Jonah 3 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nThis chapter returns to a narrative of Jonah’s life.\n\n## Special Concepts in this Chapter\n\n### Animals\n\nAccording to the king’s proclamation, the animals had to participate in the fast which he had ordered. This most likely reflects their pagan mindset. There was nothing in the law of Moses that instructed the people to have the animals participate in any religious acts. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])\n\n## Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter\n\n### Size of Nineveh\n\nWhen the author talks about the size of Nineveh, the measurements he gives are confusing. The phrase “three days’ journey” is ambiguous in Hebrew, as many scholars have remarked. In Jonah’s day, cities were not as big as they are today. So, although Nineveh was a big city, it was not as big as most modern cities.\n\n### God repenting or relenting\n\nThe last verse of this chapter says, “So then God changed his mind about the punishment that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.” This concept of God changing His mind may seem inconsistent with the fact that God’s character and his plans do not change. But this whole book is written from a human viewpoint, and so it presents the actions of God as Jonah saw them. God had told Jonah to warn the Ninevites of judgment for their sin.\n\nYahweh is just, but he is also merciful. Because the Ninevites repented, God did not follow through with a judgment in this instance, and Jonah described that in a human way as “changing his mind.” The reader understands that this was God’s plan from the beginning. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]], [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]])
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3:1 jdr7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 This phrase introduces the second half of the story of Jonah. The same phrase introduced the first half of the story [1:1](../01/01.md).
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3:1 xj6n rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke in some way. See how you translated this in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Then Yahweh spoke his message”
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3:2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָעִ֣יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “Go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
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3:2 cl3b rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֛וּם 1 **Get up** here is an idiom intended to motivate Jonah to obey the next command, which is “go.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated this in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md).
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3:2 ir79 וִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ אֶת־הַקְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ 1 Alternate translation: “and tell the people there what I tell you to tell them”
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3:3 k7k9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיָּ֣קָם יוֹנָ֗ה וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֶ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 Here the words **got up** mean that Jonah took action in response to God’s command to go, and this time he obeyed instead of disobeying. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “This time Jonah obeyed Yahweh and went to Nineveh” or “So Jonah left the beach and went to Nineveh, as Yahweh had commanded him”
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3:3 g4nk rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “as instructed by the message of Yahweh” or “obeying the command of Yahweh”
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3:3 dt1b rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְנִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 This verse provides background information about the city of Nineveh to help readers understand what happens next in the story. In your translation, present this information in a way that makes it clear that this is background information.
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3:3 jd8r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים 1 Here, **great city** is an idiom that means “the city is both extremely large and one of the largest cities in the world.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly.
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3:3 ye82 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 This appears to mean that a person had to walk for three days to completely go through it from one side of the city to the opposite side. It could also mean that it took three days to see the whole city. If this phrase does not have a similar meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “a city so large that it would take a person three days to walk through it”
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3:4 r2al rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיָּ֤חֶל יוֹנָה֙ לָב֣וֹא בָעִ֔יר מַהֲלַ֖ךְ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד וַיִּקְרָא֙ 1 The phrase **a journey of one day** could mean: (1) Jonah walked a day’s journey into the city and then he started calling out. (2) while Jonah was walking through the city on the first day, he started calling out.
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3:4 r94k וַיִּקְרָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר 1 Alternate translation: “and he proclaimed” or “and he shouted”
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3:4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Alternate translation: “After 40 days” or “in 40 days” or “When 40 days have passed”
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3:4 q2nc rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 **forty days**
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3:5 ab90 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַיִּקְרְאוּ־צוֹם֙ 1 The men of Nineveh **proclaimed a fast** as a symbolic action to show that they were repentant. People fasted to show sadness or devotion to God or both. If this would not be clear to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action in the text or in a footnote.
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3:5 e5lm rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים 1 The implication for why they **put on sackcloth** is that they repented of their sin. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “they also put on coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for having sinned”
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3:5 isk5 מִגְּדוֹלָ֖ם וְעַד־קְטַנָּֽם 1 Alternate translation: “from the most significant to the least significant people” or “including all of the important people and all of the unimportant people”
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3:6 pna3 הַדָּבָר֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah’s message”
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3:6 h9wz rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַיָּ֨קָם֙ מִכִּסְא֔וֹ 1 The king **rose up from his throne** as a symbolic action to show that he was acting humbly. If this would not be clear to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action in the text or in a footnote. Alternate translation: “he got up from his throne” or “he stood up from his throne”
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3:6 pvp7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown מִכִּסְא֔וֹ 1 A **throne** is a a special, ceremonial chair that a king sits on when performing his official duties as king. It is reserved for only the king. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of royal seat, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: "his royal chair"
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3:6 ab91 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָאֵֽפֶר 1 The act of sitting **on the ash heap** as a symbolic action meant to show deep sorrow. If this would not be clear to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action in the text or in a footnote. Alternate translation: "and sat among the ashes to show his humility and deep sorrow"
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3:7 v29b וַיַּזְעֵ֗ק וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ & לֵאמֹ֑ר 1 Alternate translation: “And he sent out an official announcement … which said” or “And he sent his messengers to announce … and they said”
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3:7 zi06 מִטַּ֧עַם הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וּגְדֹלָ֖יו 1 Alternate translation: “a command with the full authority of the king and his officials”
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3:7 n5fn rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown וּגְדֹלָ֖יו 1 The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of person, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term.
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3:7 xw6c rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown הַבָּקָ֣ר וְהַצֹּ֗אן 1 This refers to two groups of animals that people care for. A **herd** is made up of large livestock (such as oxen or cattle) and a **flock** is made up of small livestock (such as sheep or goats). If your readers would not be familiar with these terms, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “cattle or sheep”
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3:7 fw18 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אַ֨ל־יִרְע֔וּ וּמַ֖יִם אַל־יִשְׁתּֽוּ 1 The implication is that they were not to eat or drink anything in order to show that they are sorry for their sins. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “they must not eat or drink anything”
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3:8 mzx6 וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: "and every animal that they own"
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3:8 jh7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְיִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּחָזְקָ֑ה 1 The writer assumes that his readers will understand that what the people were to pray for. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and they must cry out loudly to God and ask for mercy” or “and they must pray earnestly to God for mercy”
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3:8 n3ls rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy הֶחָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם 1 Here, **hands** represents "doing." This refers to the violence that the people of Nineveh were doing. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “the violent things that he has done”
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3:9 wbt6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ 1 The king used this rhetorical question to get the people to think about something that is possible but uncertain: that if they would stop sinning, God might not kill them. It could be translated as a statement: “We do not know.” Or it could be stated as a word and be part of the next sentence: “Perhaps”
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3:9 z3jj rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor יָשׁ֔וּב וְנִחַ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים 1 Here the author speaks of God changing his mind about bringing judgment as if God were turning around and walking in the opposite direction. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “God may decide instead to have compassion” or “God may do the opposite of what he said and be merciful”
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3:9 jdrg rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖וֹ 1 Here **the burning of his nose** is an idiom meaning that the person is angry. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from his anger”
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3:9 uvp9 וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 Alternate translation: “and spare our lives”
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3:10 w3uu וַיַּ֤רְא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָעָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “God saw that they stopped doing evil actions”
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3:10 k8am rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor שָׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָעָ֑ה 1 Here the author is speaking of them stopping their sinning as if they **turned away** from walking on a path toward **evil ways** and started walking in the opposite direction. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: "they repented from doing evil"
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3:10 ab85 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים עַל־הָרָעָ֛ה 1 The word translated as “evil” here is very broad, including moral evil, physical evil, and everything that is bad. It is the same word used in the previous sentence (and verse 8) to describe the actions of the Ninevites. The author is showing that when people repent of moral evil, God relents from doing physical evil (punishment). God never does moral evil. If this is clear in your language, you may want to use the same word in both sentences. If that is not clear, you may want to use different words.
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3:10 it1a rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְלֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה 1 Here, what God **did not do** could be made explicit if it would be helpful in your language. Alternate translation: “and he did not punish them” or “and he did not destroy them”
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4:intro ys57 0 # Jonah 4 General Notes\n\n## Structure and Formatting\n\nJonah continues the narrative while bringing the book to what seems like an unusual end. This emphasizes that the book is not really about Jonah. It is about God’s desire to be merciful to everyone, whether Jew or pagan. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]])\n\n## Special Concepts in this Chapter\n\n### Prophecy not coming true\n\nIt is important to see the relationship between a prophet and Yahweh. A prophet was to prophesy for Yahweh, and his words must come true. According to the law of Moses, if that did not happen, the penalty was death, because that shows that he was not a real prophet. But when Jonah told the city of Nineveh that it was going to be destroyed in 40 days, it did not happen at that time. This is because God reserves the right to be merciful. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])\n\n## Jonah’s anger\n\nWhen God did not destroy Nineveh, Jonah was angry with God because Jonah hated the people of Nineveh. They were enemies of Israel. But God wanted Jonah and the readers of this book to learn that God loves all people.\n\n## Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter\n\n### Rhetorical questions\n\nAs in other places, Jonah asks rhetorical questions to show how angry he was at Yahweh. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])\n\n### Parallel to Mount Sinai\n\nIn verse 2, Jonah attributes a series of characteristics to God. A Jewish reader of this book would recognize this as a formula Moses used in speaking about God when he was meeting God on Mount Sinai. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])\n\n## Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter\n\n### God’s grace\n\nWhen Jonah went outside the city, he got very hot; God graciously provided some relief through the plant. God was trying to teach Jonah through an object lesson. It is important for the reader to see this clearly. (See: [[rc://*/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]])
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4:1 jdr8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַיֵּ֥רַע אֶל־יוֹנָ֖ה רָעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַיִּ֖חַר לֽוֹ׃ 1 The author is using the word translated **But** to introduce a new event in the story. This sentence introduces the next part of the story, where Jonah responds to God saving the city of Nineveh. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for introducing a new event. Alternate translation: “Now”
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4:1 abc3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַיִּ֖חַר לֽוֹ 1 The phrase **it burned to him** is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. Alternate translation: “and he was very angry”
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4:2 q6bb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 This is an exclamation that is emphasizing intense frustration. Use an exclamation that would communicate that meaning in your language.
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4:2 k24b rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion יְהוָה֙ הֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗י עַד־הֱיוֹתִי֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔י 1 Jonah used this rhetorical question to tell God how angry he was. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “Yahweh, this is what I said when I was still in my own country”
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4:2 ab79 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit יְהוָה֙ הֲלוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗י עַד־הֱיוֹתִי֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔י 1 The implication is that Jonah correctly foretold what would happen. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. What Jonah said when he was back in his own country can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “now Yahweh, when I was still in my own country, I knew that if I warned the people of Nineveh, they would repent, and you would not destroy them”
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4:2 ab81 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ 1 The phrase **long of nostrils** is an idiom meaning that Yahweh does not get angry quickly. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “slow to get angry” or “very patient”
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4:2 jv5c וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 Alternate translation: “and very faithful” or “and full of love for your people”
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4:2 wl7j rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְנִחָ֖ם עַל־הָרָעָֽה 1 Here, **evil** refers to the physical destruction of the city of Nineveh and its people. It does not refer to moral evil. In this context, this phrase means that God feels sadness about causing bad things to happen to people who sin, and he acts differently when sinners repent of their sin. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “and you feel sadness about causing disaster for sinners” or “and you decide not to punish sinners who repent”
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4:3 dm5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י מִמֶּ֑נִּי 1 Jonah’s reason for wanting to die, that now God will not punish his former enemies, can be stated explicitly. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die”
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4:3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖י מֵחַיָּֽי 1 Alternate translation: “for I would prefer to die rather than to live” or “because I want to die. I do not want to live”
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4:4 ab82 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הַהֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽךְ 1 The phrase **it burns to you** is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. See how you translated it in [4:1](../04/01.md). Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry about this”
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4:4 ab83 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit הַהֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽךְ 1 The reason for Jonah’s anger can be made explicit. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Is it right for you to be angry that I did not destroy Nineveh”
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4:5 q1f7 וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָעִ֔יר 1 Alternate translation: “then Jonah left the city of Nineveh”
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4:5 af46 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּעִֽיר 1 The implication is that Jonah wanted to see whether God would destroy the city or not. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “what would become of the city” or “what God would do to the city”
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4:6 i4r4 מֵעַ֣ל לְיוֹנָ֗ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “over Jonah’s head for shade”
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4:6 t21k לְהַצִּ֥יל ל֖וֹ מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ 1 Here the term **evil** could mean two things (or both at the same time). It could mean: (1) “discomfort” or “distress,” meaning the intense heat of the sun shining on Jonah’s head. Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” (2) “wrong,” meaning Jonah’s wrong attitude concerning God’s decision not to destroy Nineveh. Alternate translation: “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude” If both meanings can be preserved, that is preferable. Alternate translation: “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
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4:7 t7il וַיְמַ֤ן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Alternate translation: “then God sent a worm”
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4:7 rw7z וַתַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 Alternate translation: “and the worm chewed the plant”
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4:7 d16m rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיִּיבָֽשׁ 1 The implication of **it withered** is that the plant became dry and died and would no longer shelter Jonah from the hot sun. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
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4:8 jdr9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background וַיְהִ֣י׀ כִּזְרֹ֣חַ הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ 1 This clause provides background information about the time of day to help readers understand what happens next in the story. In your translation, present this information in a way that makes it clear that this is background information.
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4:8 hmi4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיְמַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים ר֤וּחַ קָדִים֙ חֲרִישִׁ֔ית 1 The implication is that **a hot east wind** will make Jonah very uncomfortable. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. If “wind” in your language can only mean a cool air, then you can try this alternate translation: “God sent a great warmth from the east to Jonah.”
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4:8 mnu9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וַתַּ֥ךְ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 Here, the author speaks of **the sun** as if it were a person who could **beat** another person. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “and the sun was very hot” or “and the sun sent its great heat”
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4:8 u2pl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ יוֹנָ֖ה 1 The phrase **on the head of Jonah** may have a literal meaning or a figurative meaning. Perhaps Jonah felt the heat most on his head, or perhaps the phrase **the head of Jonah** is means Jonah’s entire body. Alternate translation: “on Jonah”
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4:8 z95v וַיִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 Alternate translation: “and he became very weak” or “and he lost his strength”
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4:8 ab87 וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ לָמ֔וּת 1 Alternate translation: “Then, he talked to himself of his desire for death” or “Then he told himself that he wanted to die”
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4:8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖י מֵחַיָּֽי 1 Alternate translation: “I would rather die than live” or “I want to die; I do not want to live” See how you translated this in [4:3](../04/03/yk5v).
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4:9 w24z rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit הַהֵיטֵ֥ב חָרָֽה־לְךָ֖ עַל־הַקִּֽיקָי֑וֹן 1 In this context, God’s question is intended to lead Jonah to draw a conclusion about his selfish attitude. The implication is that Jonah is wrong to be angry about the plant. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Is it right that you should be so angry about the plant that only gave shade to you”
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4:9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 Alternate translation: “I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die”
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4:10 gkz7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה 1 Here Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “Yahweh said to Jonah”
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4:10 ab88 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שֶׁבִּן־לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּבִן־לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד 1 The expression **son of** describes a person or thing which shares the qualities of something else. This idiom, **son of a night** means that the plant existed only briefly. If it would be helpful, you could use an equivalent idiom from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “it grew in one night and died the next” or “it grew quickly and died just as quickly”
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4:11 jdr0 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases וַֽאֲנִי֙ 1 This expression, **So as for me,** paired with "As for you" in verse [4:10](../04/10.md), shows a comparison between Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh and Jonah’s attitude toward the plant. Express this comparison in a natural way in your language.
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4:11 ecl1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion וַֽאֲנִי֙ לֹ֣א אָח֔וּס עַל־נִינְוֵ֖ה הָעִ֣יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ מִֽשְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣וֹ לִשְׂמֹאל֔וֹ וּבְהֵמָ֖ה רַבָּֽה 1 God used this rhetorical question to emphasize his claim that he should have compassion on Nineveh. Alternate translation: “I certainly should have compassion for Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand, and also many cattle”
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4:11 dqi1 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ 1 This part of the question can also be translated as the beginning of a new sentence. To do that, end the previous phrase, **the great city**, with a question mark, and end this new sentence with a period. Alternate translation: “There are more” or “It has more”
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4:11 c3b7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers מִֽשְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 Alternate translation: "one hundred twenty thousand people"
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4:11 j35h rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣וֹ לִשְׂמֹאל֔וֹ 1 This idiom means “who do not know the difference between right and wrong.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly.
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