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Book Chapter Verse ID SupportReference OrigQuote Occurrence GLQuote OccurrenceNote
JON front intro hk4p 0 # Introduction to Jonah<br><br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of Jonah<br><br>1. Jonah tries to run away from Yahweh. (1:1-2:10)<br>* Jonah disobeys Yahweh’s first call to go to Nineveh. (1:1–3)<br>* Jonah and the Gentile sailors. (1:4–16)<br>* Yahweh provides a large fish to swallow Jonah, and he prays and is rescued. (1:17–2:10)<br>2. Jonah in Nineveh (3:1-4:11)<br>* Yahweh again calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah proclaims Yahweh’s message. (3:1–4)<br>* Nineveh repents. (3:5-9)<br>* Yahweh decides not to destroy Nineveh. (3:10)<br>* Jonah is very angry with Yahweh. (4:1–3)<br>* Yahweh teaches Jonah about grace and mercy. (4:4–11)<br><br>### What is the Book of Jonah about?<br><br>Jonah, 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]])<br><br>Yahweh 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.<br><br>Jonah repented and warned the Ninevites. As a result, Yahweh taught him that he is concerned about all people, not just the Israelites.<br><br>### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>This 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://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])<br><br>### Who wrote the Book of Jonah?<br><br>Jonah was probably involved in the writing of this book. However, scholars do not know who actually wrote it.<br><br>Jonah lived in the northern kingdom of Israel. He prophesied sometime between 800 and 750 B.C., during the reign of King Jeroboam II.<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>### What was the nation of Assyria?<br><br>During the time of Jonah, Assyria was the most powerful kingdom in the ancient Near East. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria.<br><br>Assyria was cruel to its enemies. Eventually, Yahweh punished the Assyrians for the wicked things they did.<br><br>### Did Assyria convert to Judaism?<br><br>Some scholars think that the Assyrians started worshiping Yahweh alone. However, most scholars think they continued to worship other false gods. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
JON 1 intro xvp2 0 # Jonah 1 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>The 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.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Miracle<br><br>In verse [Jonah 17](./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; he then survives for three days and nights inside. Translators should not try to explain miraculous events in an attempt to make it easier to understand. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/miracle]])<br><br>## Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Situational irony<br><br>There 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 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/willofgod]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])<br><br>### Sea<br><br>People 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/fear]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Implicit information<br><br>Even 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 1 1 jdr1 writing-newevent וַֽ⁠יְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Now the word of Yahweh came 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
JON 1 1 ll6c figs-idiom וַֽ⁠יְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Now the word of Yahweh came This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke or communicated his message in some way. Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 the word of Yahweh Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh”
JON 1 1 s6av יְהוָ֔ה 1 Yahweh This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.
JON 1 1 jv8c translate-names אֲמִתַּ֖י 1 Amittai This is the name of Jonah’s father. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
JON 1 2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָ⁠עִ֥יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city Alternate translation: “go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
JON 1 2 v2xt figs-idiom ק֠וּם 1 Get up This 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. Many languages would use only one verb, such as “go.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 2 jqz9 figs-metonymy וּ⁠קְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 call out against it The word **it** here, meaning the city of Nineveh, is a metonym referring to the people living in and around the city. Alternate translation: “warn the people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
JON 1 2 rki2 עָלְתָ֥ה רָעָתָ֖⁠ם לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 1 their wickedness has risen up before my face Alternate translation: “I know they have been continually sinning” or “I know that their sin has been getting worse and worse”
JON 1 2 jd9r figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 1 before my face 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. Yahweh is saying that he can has noticed how wicked the people of Nineveh have become. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
JON 1 3 f5sr figs-idiom וַ⁠יָּ֤קָם יוֹנָה֙ לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ 1 But Jonah got up to run away 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. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: “but Jonah ran away” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 3 n96t figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה -1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 1 3 g66v figs-explicit לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ⁠ה 1 to run away to Tarshish “to flee to Tarshish” This city named Tarshish was in the opposite direction to Nineveh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and went in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish, away” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 1 3 djv1 וַ⁠יֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 And he went down to Joppa Alternate translation: “Jonah went to Joppa”
JON 1 3 w3uc אָנִיָּ֣ה 1 ship A **ship** is a very large type of boat that can travel on the sea and carry many passengers or heavy cargo.
JON 1 3 pz67 וַ⁠יִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜⁠הּ 1 So he paid the fare Alternate translation: “there Jonah paid for the trip”
JON 1 3 g5xp וַ⁠יֵּ֤רֶד בָּ⁠הּ֙ 1 and went down into it Alternate translation: “got on the ship”
JON 1 3 i6bi עִמָּ⁠הֶם֙ 1 with them The word **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship.
JON 1 3 sw66 figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָֽה 1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 1 4 jdr2 writing-newevent וַֽ⁠יהוָ֗ה הֵטִ֤יל רֽוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה֙ אֶל־הַ⁠יָּ֔ם 1 But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea This clause introduces the new event of Yahweh’s response to Jonah running away. Translate this so that your readers know that this event brings a change in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
JON 1 4 jdra figs-personification וְ⁠הָ֣⁠אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 so that the ship was thinking to be broken apart Here the term **thinking** describes the ship as if it were a person. This 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
JON 1 4 jl77 figs-activepassive לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 to be broken 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: “to break apart” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
JON 1 5 d13r הַ⁠מַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 the sailors Alternate translation: “the men who worked on the ship”
JON 1 5 u2bj אֱלֹהָי⁠ו֒ 1 his own god Here, **god** refers to false gods and idols that people worship.
JON 1 5 sh1b וַ⁠יָּטִ֨לוּ אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּֽ⁠אֳנִיָּה֙ 1 And they threw the things that were in the ship “the men threw the heavy things off the ship” By doing this, they hoped to keep the ship from sinking.
JON 1 5 tg27 לְ⁠הָקֵ֖ל מֵֽ⁠עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֑ם 1 to lighten it from upon them 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”
JON 1 5 uzt4 writing-background וְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship This is background information. Translate this in a way that it is clear that Jonah had already done this before the storm started. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
JON 1 5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 the innermost parts of the ship Alternate translation: “inside the ship”
JON 1 5 g4y4 וַ⁠יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַ⁠יֵּרָדַֽם 1 and had lain down, and was deeply asleep “and was lying there fast asleep” or “and was lying there and sleeping deeply” For this reason, the storm did not wake him up.
JON 1 6 laa3 וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָי⁠ו֙ רַ֣ב הַ⁠חֹבֵ֔ל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖⁠וֹ 1 So the captain of the crew came to him and said to him Alternate translation: “the man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said”
JON 1 6 yx7e figs-rquestion מַה־לְּ⁠ךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם 1 What are you doing sleeping? **Why are you sleeping?** Here the captain uses a rhetorical question to scold Jonah. Alternate translation: “stop sleeping” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
JON 1 6 bd4f figs-idiom ק֚וּם 1 Get up! This is a command to begin some activity that is named following this word. 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 6 k7a5 figs-idiom קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔י⁠ךָ 1 Cry out to your god! “pray to your god” To **cry out to** someone means to loudly ask him for help. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 6 sk7i figs-explicit אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖⁠נוּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 Maybe that god will notice us and we will not perish The implicit information that Jonah’s god might save them could be made explicit. Alternate translation: “maybe your god will hear and save us so that we will not die” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 1 6 zi04 figs-doublenegatives וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 and we will not perish This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “and he will save us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])
JON 1 7 sc57 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗⁠הוּ 1 Then every man said to his friend The phrase **each man … 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 7 l5xq לְכוּ֙ וְ⁠נַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְ⁠נֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּ⁠שֶׁ⁠לְּ⁠מִ֛י הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Come, and let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this evil is happening to us “we should cast lots to know who has caused this trouble” 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.
JON 1 7 d726 הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את 1 this evil This refers to the terrible storm.
JON 1 7 at67 וַ⁠יִּפֹּ֥ל הַ⁠גּוֹרָ֖ל עַל־יוֹנָֽה 1 the lot fell on Jonah 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. Alternate translation: “the lot showed that Jonah was the guilty person” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 8 wkh6 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔י⁠ו 1 Then they said to him Alternate translation: “then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah”
JON 1 8 e7wb הַגִּידָ⁠ה־נָּ֣א לָ֔⁠נוּ בַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֛ר לְ⁠מִי־הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Please tell us on whose account this evil is happening to us Alternate translation: “who caused this bad thing that is happening to us”
JON 1 9 wav5 יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א 1 I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven Here the word **fear** means that Jonah worshiped Yahweh and not any other god.
JON 1 10 zi05 וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽ⁠אֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Then the men were afraid with great fear Alternate translation: “then the men were very afraid”
JON 1 10 peg3 figs-rquestion מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑יתָ 1 What is this that you have done? The men on the ship use a rhetorical question to show how afraid and angry they were at Jonah for causing so much trouble for all of them. Alternate translation: “you have done a terrible thing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
JON 1 10 us1r figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ 1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 1 10 jdrb grammar-connect-time-background כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 because he had told them Before the sailors cast lots, Jonah had already told them that he was running away from Yahweh, the God he worshiped. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
JON 1 10 hw1p figs-explicit כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 because he had told them What he told them can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “because he had said to them, ‘I am trying to get away from Yahweh’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 1 11 kb4c וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָי⁠ו֙ 1 Then they said to him Alternate translation: “Then the men on the ship said to Jonah” or “Then the sailors said to Jonah”
JON 1 11 ik6d מַה־נַּ֣עֲשֶׂה לָּ֔⁠ךְ וְ⁠יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מֵֽ⁠עָלֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 What should we do to you so that the sea will calm down from upon us? Alternate translation: “What should we do with you in order to make the sea become calm?”
JON 1 11 wxr7 figs-idiom הַ⁠יָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵֽר 1 the sea was going forward and storming This is an idiom that means that the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. Alternate translation: “the strength of the storm was increasing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 11 dji8 grammar-connect-logic-result הַ⁠יָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵֽר 1 the sea was going forward and storming 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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
JON 1 12 h982 כִּ֚י יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי כִּ֣י בְ⁠שֶׁ⁠לִּ֔⁠י הַ⁠סַּ֧עַר הַ⁠גָּד֛וֹל הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה עֲלֵי⁠כֶֽם 1 for I know that this great storm is upon you because of me Alternate translation: “because I know that this huge storm is my fault”
JON 1 13 lcd3 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְ⁠הָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה 1 But the men rowed hard to return themselves to land The men did not want to throw Jonah into the sea, so they did not do as Jonah suggested. This information can be made explicit. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 1 13 m3iq הַ⁠יָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵ֖ר 1 the sea was going forward and storming “the storm became worse, and the waves became bigger” See how you translated this idiom in [verse 11](../01/11.md).
JON 1 14 ap77 וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 So they cried out Alternate translation: “because of that they called out” or “because the sea became more violent they called loudly”
JON 1 14 q2xq וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 So they cried out to Yahweh Alternate translation: “therefore the men prayed loudly to Yahweh”
JON 1 14 jdr3 figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 Ah! In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense desperation. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
JON 1 14 wz6z אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אַל־נָ֣א נֹאבְדָ֗ה בְּ⁠נֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ הָ⁠אִ֣ישׁ הַ⁠זֶּ֔ה 1 O Yahweh, please do not let us perish on account of the life of this man 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”
JON 1 14 vv5t figs-idiom וְ⁠אַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖י⁠נוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא 1 and do not put innocent blood upon us This is an idiom that means “do not consider us guilty of killing an innocent person.” 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 1 14 ab73 אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ 1 you, Yahweh, have done just as you desired Alternate translation: “you, Yahweh, have chosen to do things in this way” or “you, Yahweh, have caused all this to happen”
JON 1 15 l9cf וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 the sea ceased from its raging “the sea stopped moving violently:
JON 1 15 ab89 וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 the sea ceased from its raging This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “the sea became calm”
JON 1 16 r3gs וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֧וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה 1 Then the men feared Yahweh with great fear Alternate translation: “then the men became greatly awed at Yahweh’s power” or “then the men worshiped Yahweh with great awe”
JON 1 17 q87y 0 General Information: Some 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.
JON 1 17 jdr4 writing-newevent וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל לִ⁠בְלֹ֖עַ אֶת־יוֹנָ֑ה 1 Now Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, This clause introduces the next part of the story, where Yahweh saves Jonah from the sea, and Jonah prays. In this context, the word **Now** is used in English to introduce a new part of the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
JON 1 17 cjb6 figs-idiom שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּ⁠שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת 1 three days and three nights 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 2 intro ae4k 0 # Jonah 2 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>This 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.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Sea<br><br>This chapter contains many terms from the sea.<br><br>## Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Poetry<br><br>Prayers 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Repentance<br><br>Scholars 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
JON 2 1 alr2 יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑י⁠ו 1 Yahweh his God This means “Yahweh, the God he worshiped.” The word **his** does not mean that Jonah owned God.
JON 2 2 al5b וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר 1 And he said Alternate translation: “Jonah said”
JON 2 2 jdrc writing-poetry קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 I cried out to Yahweh from my distress, and he answered me 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 in the past. 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). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry]])
JON 2 2 s7fi קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 I cried out to Yahweh from my distress Alternate translation: “I prayed to Yahweh during my great trouble” or “Yahweh, I cried out to you during my distress”
JON 2 2 wdr4 וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 he answered me Alternate translation: “Yahweh responded to me or he helped me or you answered me”
JON 2 2 w8wn figs-metaphor מִ⁠בֶּ֧טֶן שְׁא֛וֹל 1 from the belly of Sheol “from the center of Sheol” or “from the deep part of Sheol” Possible meanings include: (1) Jonah was speaking of being in the belly of the fish as being in Sheol; or (2) Jonah believed that he was about to die and go to Sheol; or (3) He was speaking as if he already had died and gone to Sheol. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 2 2 ab77 translate-names שְׁא֛וֹל 1 Sheol **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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
JON 2 2 jdrd figs-idiom שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ קוֹלִֽ⁠י 1 you heard my voice 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 2 3 glp2 בִּ⁠לְבַ֣ב יַמִּ֔ים 1 into the heart of the seas 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 2 3 p8fd וְ⁠נָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 a current surrounded me Alternate translation: “the sea water closed in around me”
JON 2 3 c6jx figs-doublet מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥י⁠ךָ וְ⁠גַלֶּ֖י⁠ךָ 1 your billows and your waves Both of these are disturbances on the surface of the ocean. They could be combined into one term, such as “waves” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
JON 2 4 jdr5 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֣י 1 But as for me, This expression shows that there is a contrast between the actions of Yahweh, which Jonah had just talked about, and his own response. Alternate translation: “then I” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
JON 2 4 x1w9 figs-activepassive נִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּי 1 I have been driven out 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
JON 2 4 z1yx figs-metonymy מִ⁠נֶּ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑י⁠ךָ 1 from before your eyes 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 “where you do not notice me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
JON 2 4 b8vk אַ֚ךְ אוֹסִ֣יף לְ⁠הַבִּ֔יט אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 yet I might again look toward your holy temple 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.
JON 2 5 abc2 figs-parallelism אֲפָפ֤וּ⁠נִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Water had closed around me even as far as life; the deep was surrounding me; Jonah uses two similar phrases to express the severity and hopelessness of his situation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
JON 2 5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Water Here, **water** refers to the sea.
JON 2 5 ca31 עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ 1 even as far as life 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”
JON 2 5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 the deep was surrounding me Alternate translation: “deep water was all around me”
JON 2 5 p1fw ס֖וּף 1 seaweed **Seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea.
JON 2 6 z36i figs-metaphor הָ⁠אָ֛רֶץ בְּרִחֶ֥י⁠הָ בַעֲדִ֖⁠י לְ⁠עוֹלָ֑ם 1 the earth with its bars was around me forever 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 2 6 dc3r figs-metaphor וַ⁠תַּ֧עַל מִ⁠שַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖⁠י 1 but you brought up my life from the pit Here the term **pit** has two This could mean: (1) this could be a way to describe being in a very deep place underground or underwater or (2) this could be a metaphor meaning the place of the dead (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]). In either case, the term probably refers to the fact that Jonah felt certain that he would die. Alternate translation: “but you saved me from dying in a deep place” or “but you saved my life from the place of the dead”
JON 2 6 i3mx יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽ⁠י 1 Yahweh, my God! In some languages, it may be more natural to put this at the beginning of the sentence or next to the word “you.”
JON 2 7 jdr6 grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף עָלַ⁠י֙ נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 When my spirit fainted upon me, This phrase could mean either: (1) Jonah was already in the process of dying when he remembered Yahweh; or (2) Jonah had given up hope of being rescued and resigned himself to the fact that he would die. Alternate translation: “when my life was fainting away from me” or “when my spirit inside me had fainted” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]])
JON 2 7 l2b6 אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה זָכָ֑רְתִּי 1 I remembered Yahweh Since Jonah was praying to Yahweh, it might be more clear in some languages to say “I thought about you, Yahweh” or “Yahweh, I thought about you.”
JON 2 7 ue9g figs-metaphor וַ⁠תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ תְּפִלָּתִ֔⁠י אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 2 7 jdrf figs-metonymy הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 your holy temple 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. See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
JON 2 7 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 my spirit Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
JON 2 8 u1l9 figs-idiom מְשַׁמְּרִ֖ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא 1 Those who give attention to empty vanities 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 2 8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖⁠ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 forsake their covenant faithfulness Here, **covenant faithfulness** could mean: (1) the faithfulness of God or (2) the faithfulness of the people. Therefore, it could mean (1) “are rejecting you, who would be faithful to them” or (2) “are abandoning their commitment to you”
JON 2 9 q3yb grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֗י 1 But as for me, This expression shows that there is a contrast between the people Jonah had just spoken about and himself. They paid attention to useless gods, but he would worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “but I” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
JON 2 9 nfd2 בְּ⁠ק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔⁠ךְ 1 I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving This 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.
JON 2 9 jdrh יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 Salvation belongs to Yahweh This last line of the poem can be understood in one of two ways: either (1) as being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer; or (2) as 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).
JON 2 9 r4j4 figs-abstractnouns יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 Salvation belongs to Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
JON 2 10 dz3j אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 onto the dry land Alternate translation: “upon the ground” or “onto the shore”
JON 3 intro z3ut 0 # Jonah 3 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>This chapter returns to a narrative of Jonah’s life.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Animals<br><br>According to the king’s proclamation, the animals had to participate in the fast he 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Size of Nineveh<br><br>When 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.<br><br>### God repenting or relenting<br><br>The 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.<br><br>Yahweh 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]])
JON 3 1 jdr7 writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 The word of Yahweh came This phrase introduces the second half of the story of Jonah. The same phrase introduces the first half of the story [1:1](../01/01.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
JON 3 1 xj6n figs-idiom וַ⁠יְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 The word of Yahweh came This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke in some way. See how you translated this in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city Alternate translation: “Go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
JON 3 2 cl3b figs-idiom ק֛וּם 1 Get up **Get up** here is an idiom intended to motivate Jonah to obey the next command, which is “go.” See how you translated this in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 2 ir79 וִּ⁠קְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠קְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽי⁠ךָ 1 call out to it the proclamation that I tell to you Alternate translation: “tell the people there what I tell you to tell them”
JON 3 3 k7k9 figs-idiom וַ⁠יָּ֣קָם יוֹנָ֗ה וַ⁠יֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֶ֖ה כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh 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. Alternate translation: “his time Jonah obeyed Yahweh and went to Nineveh” or “so Jonah left the beach and went to Nineveh, as Yahweh had commanded him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 3 g4nk figs-metonymy כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 the word of Yahweh Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh” or “the command of Yahweh”
JON 3 3 dt1b writing-background וְ⁠נִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 Now Nineveh was a great city to Gpd, a journey of three days This sentence gives background information about the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
JON 3 3 jd8r figs-idiom עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים 1 a great city to God This is an idiom meaning that the city is both extremely large and one of the largest cities in the world. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 3 ye82 figs-idiom מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 a journey of three days 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. Alternate translation: “a city so large that it would take a person three days to walk through it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 4 r2al וַ⁠יָּ֤חֶל יוֹנָה֙ לָ⁠ב֣וֹא בָ⁠עִ֔יר מַהֲלַ֖ךְ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ 1 So Jonah began to go into the city a journey of one day, and he called out This phrase has two This could mean: (1) Jonah walked a day’s journey into the city, then he started calling out; or (2) while Jonah was walking through the city on the first day, he started calling out.
JON 3 4 r94k וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ וַ⁠יֹּאמַ֔ר 1 and he called out and said Alternate translation: “and he proclaimed” or “and he shouted”
JON 3 4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Until 40 days Alternate translation: “after 40 days” or “in 40 days” or “there remain 40 days, and”
JON 3 4 q2nc translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 40 days **forty days** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
JON 3 5 ab90 translate-symaction וַ⁠יִּקְרְאוּ־צוֹם֙ 1 they proclaimed a fast People fasted to show sadness or devotion to God or both. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
JON 3 5 e5lm figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים 1 and put on sackcloth The reason why people **put on sackcloth** can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “they also put on coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for having sinned” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 3 5 isk5 מִ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖⁠ם וְ⁠עַד־קְטַנָּֽ⁠ם 1 from the greatest of them even to the least of them Alternate translation: “from the most significant to the least significant people” or “including all of the important people and all of the unimportant people”
JON 3 6 pna3 הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ 1 the word Alternate translation: “Jonah’s message”
JON 3 6 h9wz translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨קָם֙ מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 and he rose up from his throne “he got up from his throne” or “he stood up from his throne” The king left his throne to show that he was acting humbly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
JON 3 6 pvp7 מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 his throne A **throne** is a special chair that a king sits on when performing his official duties as king. It is reserved for only the king.
JON 3 6 ab91 translate-symaction וַ⁠יֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָ⁠אֵֽפֶר 1 and sat down on the ash heap **Sitting in ashes** was a way to show great humility and sorrow. In this case, it was to show how sorry he was for his sin. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
JON 3 7 v29b וַ⁠יַּזְעֵ֗ק וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙…לֵ⁠אמֹ֑ר 1 And he proclaimed and spoke Alternate translation: “he sent out an official announcement that said” or “he sent his messengers to announce”
JON 3 7 zi06 מִ⁠טַּ֧עַם הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 from a decree of the king and his nobles Alternate translation: “a command with the full authority of the king and his officials”
JON 3 7 n5fn וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 nobles The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city.
JON 3 7 xw6c הַ⁠בָּקָ֣ר וְ⁠הַ⁠צֹּ֗אן 1 herd or flock This refers to two kinds 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). Alternate translation: “cattle or sheep”
JON 3 7 fw18 figs-explicit אַ֨ל־יִרְע֔וּ וּ⁠מַ֖יִם אַל־יִשְׁתּֽוּ 1 they must not graze, and they must not drink water “they must not eat or drink anything” The reason they were not to eat or drink anything can be made explicit by adding “in order to show that they are sorry for their sins.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 3 8 mzx6 וְ⁠הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 every animal Here the word **animal** refers to animals that people own.
JON 3 8 jh7e figs-explicit וְ⁠יִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּ⁠חָזְקָ֑ה 1 and they must cry out to God with strength “and they must pray earnestly to God” What the people were to pray for can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and they must cry out loudly to God and ask for mercy” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 3 8 n3ls הֶ⁠חָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּ⁠כַפֵּי⁠הֶֽם 1 the violence that is in his hands Here, **hands** is a metonym meaning doing. This refers to the violence that the people of Nineveh were doing. Alternate translation: “the violent things that he has done” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 3 9 wbt6 figs-rquestion מִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ 1 Who knows? 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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
JON 3 9 z3jj figs-metaphor יָשׁ֔וּב וְ⁠נִחַ֖ם הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים 1 This god might turn back and have compassion Here the author speaks of God changing his mind about bringing judgment as if God were turning around and walking in the opposite direction. Alternate translation: “God may decide instead to have compassion” or “God may do the opposite of what he said and be merciful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 3 9 jdrg figs-idiom מֵ⁠חֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖⁠וֹ 1 from the burning of his nose Here **the burning of his nose** is an idiom meaning that the person is angry. Alternate translation: “from his anger” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 3 9 uvp9 וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 so that we will not perish Alternate translation: “and we will not die”
JON 3 10 w3uu וַ⁠יַּ֤רְא הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂי⁠הֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 And God saw their deeds, that they turned away from their evil ways Alternate translation: “God saw that they stopped doing evil actions”
JON 3 10 k8am figs-metaphor שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 they turned from their evil ways Here the author speaks of the people stopping their sinning as if they turned around from walking on a path toward evil and started walking in the opposite direction. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
JON 3 10 ab85 וַ⁠יִּנָּ֣חֶם הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֗ים עַל־הָ⁠רָעָ֛ה 1 And God relented in regard to the evil 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 of 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.
JON 3 10 it1a figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה 1 and he did not do it What God did not do can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and he did not punish them” or “and he did not destroy them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 intro ys57 0 # Jonah 4 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>Jonah 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]])<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Prophecy not coming true<br><br>It 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 forty days, it did not happen at that time. This is because God reserves the right to be merciful. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])<br><br>## Jonah’s anger<br><br>When 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.<br><br>### Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Rhetorical questions<br><br>As in other places, Jonah asks rhetorical questions to show how angry he was at Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])<br><br>### Parallel to Mount Sinai<br><br>In 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### God’s grace<br><br>When Jonah went outside the city, he got very hot and 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]])
JON 4 1 jdr8 writing-newevent וַ⁠יֵּ֥רַע אֶל־יוֹנָ֖ה רָעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ׃ 1 But this was evil to Jonah, a great evil, and it burned to him. This sentence introduces the next part of the story where Jonah responds to God saving the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
JON 4 1 abc3 figs-idiom וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ 1 and it burned to him This 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 4 2 q6bb figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 Ah! In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense frustration. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
JON 4 2 k24b figs-rquestion יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 Yahweh, was this not my word while I was in my country? Jonah used this rhetorical question to tell God how angry he was. If it is more clear, this can be made into a statement. Alternate translation: “ah, Yahweh, this is what I said when I was still in my own country” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
JON 4 2 ab79 figs-explicit יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 Yahweh, was this not my word while I was in my country? 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 2 ab81 figs-idiom אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ 1 long of nostrils This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh does not get angry quickly. Alternate translation: “slow to get angry” or “very patient” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 4 2 jv5c וְ⁠רַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 and abundant in covenant faithfulness Alternate translation: “and very faithful” or “and you love people very much”
JON 4 2 wl7j figs-explicit וְ⁠נִחָ֖ם עַל־הָ⁠רָעָֽה 1 and one who relents from evil 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 changes his mind when sinners repent of their sin. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and you feel sadness about causing disaster for sinners” or “and you decide not to punish sinners who repent” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 3 dm5t figs-explicit קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖⁠י מִמֶּ֑⁠נִּי 1 I beg you, take my life from me Jonah’s reason for wanting to die can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 for my death is better than my life Alternate translation: “I would prefer to die rather than to live” or “because I want to die. I do not want to live”
JON 4 4 ab82 figs-idiom הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 Is it right that it burns to you? This is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. See how you translated it in [4:1](../04/01.md). Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 4 4 ab83 figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 Is it right that it burns to you? The reason for Jonah’s anger can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry that I did not destroy Nineveh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 5 q1f7 וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָ⁠עִ֔יר 1 Then Jonah went out from the city Alternate translation: “then Jonah left the city of Nineveh”
JON 4 5 af46 מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּ⁠עִֽיר 1 what would transpire within the city Jonah wanted to see if God would destroy the city or not. Alternate translation: “what would become of the city” or “what God would do to the city”
JON 4 6 i4r4 מֵ⁠עַ֣ל לְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה לִֽ⁠הְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔⁠וֹ 1 from over Jonah to be a shade over his head Alternate translation: “over Jonah’s head for shade”
JON 4 6 t21k לְ⁠הַצִּ֥יל ל֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠רָֽעָת֑⁠וֹ 1 to rescue him from his evil Here the term **evil** could mean two things (or both at the same time): (1) “discomfort” or “distress,” meaning the intense heat of the sun shining on Jonah’s head; or (2) “wrong,” meaning Jonah’s wrong attitude concerning God’s decision not to destroy Nineveh. If both meanings can be preserved, that is preferable. If not, you could choose an Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” or “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
JON 4 7 t7il וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Then God appointed a worm Alternate translation: “then God sent a worm”
JON 4 7 rw7z וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 and it attacked the plant Alternate translation: “and the worm chewed the plant”
JON 4 7 d16m וַ⁠יִּיבָֽשׁ 1 and it withered The plant became dry and died. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
JON 4 8 jdr9 grammar-connect-time-background וַ⁠יְהִ֣י׀ כִּ⁠זְרֹ֣חַ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ 1 And as soon as the rising of the sun happened The **rising of the sun** is background information that gives the time when the hot wind from the east started blowing. Express this relationship in a natural way in your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
JON 4 8 hmi4 figs-explicit וַ⁠יְמַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים ר֤וּחַ קָדִים֙ חֲרִישִׁ֔ית 1 then God appointed a hot east wind God caused a hot wind from the east to blow on Jonah. If “wind” in your language can only mean a cool or cold wind, then you can try this alternate translation: “God sent a very hot warmth from the east to Jonah.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 8 mnu9 וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 the sun beat down Alternate translation: “the sun was very hot”
JON 4 8 u2pl figs-synecdoche עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ יוֹנָ֖ה 1 on the head of Jonah This phrase 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 a synecdoche meaning Jonah’s entire body. Alternate translation: “on Jonah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])
JON 4 8 z95v וַ⁠יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 and he became faint Alternate translation: “and he became very weak” or “and he lost his strength”
JON 4 8 ab87 וַ⁠יִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁ⁠וֹ֙ לָ⁠מ֔וּת 1 he asked his spirit to die Jonah is talking to himself. Alternate translation: “he wished he would die” or “he wanted to die”
JON 4 8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 My death is better than my life “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).
JON 4 9 w24z figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֥ב חָרָֽה־לְ⁠ךָ֖ עַל־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֑וֹן 1 Is it right that it burns to you about the plant? In this context, God’s question is intended to lead Jonah to draw a conclusion about his selfish attitude. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right that you should be so angry about the plant that only gave shade to you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖⁠י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 It is right that it burns to me, even as far as death. Alternate translation: “I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die”
JON 4 10 gkz7 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה 1 Yahweh said Here Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Yahweh said to Jonah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
JON 4 10 ab88 figs-idiom שֶׁ⁠בִּן־ לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּ⁠בִן־ לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד־ לַ֥יְלָה 1 it came as a son of a night, and it perished as a son of a night This idiom means that the plant existed only briefly. Alternate translation: “it grew in one night and died the next” or “it grew quickly and died just as quickly” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
JON 4 11 jdr0 grammar-connect-words-phrases וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙ 1 So as for me, This expression, paired with **As for you** in verse 10, shows a comparison between Jonah’s attitude toward the plant and Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Express this comparison in a natural way in your language.(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
JON 4 11 ecl1 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 So as for me, should I not feel troubled about Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand, and many animals? 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
JON 4 11 dqi1 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ 1 in which there are more than This can also be translated as the beginning of a new sentence. Alternate translation: “There are more than” or “it has more than”
JON 4 11 c3b7 translate-numbers מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 120,000 people **one hundred twenty thousand people** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
JON 4 11 j35h figs-idiom אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣⁠וֹ לִ⁠שְׂמֹאל֔⁠וֹ 1 who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand This idiom means “who do not know the difference between right and wrong.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1 Book Chapter Verse ID SupportReference OrigQuote Occurrence GLQuote OccurrenceNote
2 JON front intro hk4p 0 # Introduction to Jonah<br><br>## Part 1: General Introduction<br><br>### Outline of the Book of Jonah<br><br>1. Jonah tries to run away from Yahweh. (1:1-2:10)<br>* Jonah disobeys Yahweh’s first call to go to Nineveh. (1:1–3)<br>* Jonah and the Gentile sailors. (1:4–16)<br>* Yahweh provides a large fish to swallow Jonah, and he prays and is rescued. (1:17–2:10)<br>2. Jonah in Nineveh (3:1-4:11)<br>* Yahweh again calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah proclaims Yahweh’s message. (3:1–4)<br>* Nineveh repents. (3:5-9)<br>* Yahweh decides not to destroy Nineveh. (3:10)<br>* Jonah is very angry with Yahweh. (4:1–3)<br>* Yahweh teaches Jonah about grace and mercy. (4:4–11)<br><br>### What is the Book of Jonah about?<br><br>Jonah, 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]])<br><br>Yahweh 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.<br><br>Jonah repented and warned the Ninevites. As a result, Yahweh taught him that he is concerned about all people, not just the Israelites.<br><br>### How should the title of this book be translated?<br><br>This 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://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])<br><br>### Who wrote the Book of Jonah?<br><br>Jonah was probably involved in the writing of this book. However, scholars do not know who actually wrote it.<br><br>Jonah lived in the northern kingdom of Israel. He prophesied sometime between 800 and 750 B.C., during the reign of King Jeroboam II.<br><br>## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts<br><br>### What was the nation of Assyria?<br><br>During the time of Jonah, Assyria was the most powerful kingdom in the ancient Near East. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria.<br><br>Assyria was cruel to its enemies. Eventually, Yahweh punished the Assyrians for the wicked things they did.<br><br>### Did Assyria convert to Judaism?<br><br>Some scholars think that the Assyrians started worshiping Yahweh alone. However, most scholars think they continued to worship other false gods. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/falsegod]])
3 JON 1 intro xvp2 0 # Jonah 1 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>The 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.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Miracle<br><br>In verse [Jonah 17](./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; he then survives for three days and nights inside. Translators should not try to explain miraculous events in an attempt to make it easier to understand. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/miracle]])<br><br>## Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Situational irony<br><br>There 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 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/willofgod]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]])<br><br>### Sea<br><br>People 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-irony]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/fear]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Implicit information<br><br>Even 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4 JON 1 1 jdr1 writing-newevent וַֽ⁠יְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Now the word of Yahweh came 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
5 JON 1 1 ll6c figs-idiom וַֽ⁠יְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Now the word of Yahweh came This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke or communicated his message in some way. Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
6 JON 1 1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 the word of Yahweh Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh”
7 JON 1 1 s6av יְהוָ֔ה 1 Yahweh This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.
8 JON 1 1 jv8c translate-names אֲמִתַּ֖י 1 Amittai This is the name of Jonah’s father. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
9 JON 1 2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָ⁠עִ֥יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city Alternate translation: “go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
10 JON 1 2 v2xt figs-idiom ק֠וּם 1 Get up This 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. Many languages would use only one verb, such as “go.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
11 JON 1 2 jqz9 figs-metonymy וּ⁠קְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 call out against it The word **it** here, meaning the city of Nineveh, is a metonym referring to the people living in and around the city. Alternate translation: “warn the people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
12 JON 1 2 rki2 עָלְתָ֥ה רָעָתָ֖⁠ם לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 1 their wickedness has risen up before my face Alternate translation: “I know they have been continually sinning” or “I know that their sin has been getting worse and worse”
13 JON 1 2 jd9r figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 1 before my face 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. Yahweh is saying that he can has noticed how wicked the people of Nineveh have become. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
14 JON 1 3 f5sr figs-idiom וַ⁠יָּ֤קָם יוֹנָה֙ לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ 1 But Jonah got up to run away 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. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: “but Jonah ran away” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
15 JON 1 3 n96t figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה -1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
16 JON 1 3 g66v figs-explicit לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ⁠ה 1 to run away to Tarshish “to flee to Tarshish” This city named Tarshish was in the opposite direction to Nineveh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and went in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish, away” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
17 JON 1 3 djv1 וַ⁠יֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 And he went down to Joppa Alternate translation: “Jonah went to Joppa”
18 JON 1 3 w3uc אָנִיָּ֣ה 1 ship A **ship** is a very large type of boat that can travel on the sea and carry many passengers or heavy cargo.
19 JON 1 3 pz67 וַ⁠יִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜⁠הּ 1 So he paid the fare Alternate translation: “there Jonah paid for the trip”
20 JON 1 3 g5xp וַ⁠יֵּ֤רֶד בָּ⁠הּ֙ 1 and went down into it Alternate translation: “got on the ship”
21 JON 1 3 i6bi עִמָּ⁠הֶם֙ 1 with them The word **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship.
22 JON 1 3 sw66 figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָֽה 1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
23 JON 1 4 jdr2 writing-newevent וַֽ⁠יהוָ֗ה הֵטִ֤יל רֽוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה֙ אֶל־הַ⁠יָּ֔ם 1 But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea This clause introduces the new event of Yahweh’s response to Jonah running away. Translate this so that your readers know that this event brings a change in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
24 JON 1 4 jdra figs-personification וְ⁠הָ֣⁠אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 so that the ship was thinking to be broken apart Here the term **thinking** describes the ship as if it were a person. This 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
25 JON 1 4 jl77 figs-activepassive לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 to be broken 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: “to break apart” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
26 JON 1 5 d13r הַ⁠מַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 the sailors Alternate translation: “the men who worked on the ship”
27 JON 1 5 u2bj אֱלֹהָי⁠ו֒ 1 his own god Here, **god** refers to false gods and idols that people worship.
28 JON 1 5 sh1b וַ⁠יָּטִ֨לוּ אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּֽ⁠אֳנִיָּה֙ 1 And they threw the things that were in the ship “the men threw the heavy things off the ship” By doing this, they hoped to keep the ship from sinking.
29 JON 1 5 tg27 לְ⁠הָקֵ֖ל מֵֽ⁠עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֑ם 1 to lighten it from upon them 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”
30 JON 1 5 uzt4 writing-background וְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship This is background information. Translate this in a way that it is clear that Jonah had already done this before the storm started. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
31 JON 1 5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 the innermost parts of the ship Alternate translation: “inside the ship”
32 JON 1 5 g4y4 וַ⁠יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַ⁠יֵּרָדַֽם 1 and had lain down, and was deeply asleep “and was lying there fast asleep” or “and was lying there and sleeping deeply” For this reason, the storm did not wake him up.
33 JON 1 6 laa3 וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָי⁠ו֙ רַ֣ב הַ⁠חֹבֵ֔ל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖⁠וֹ 1 So the captain of the crew came to him and said to him Alternate translation: “the man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said”
34 JON 1 6 yx7e figs-rquestion מַה־לְּ⁠ךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם 1 What are you doing sleeping? **Why are you sleeping?** Here the captain uses a rhetorical question to scold Jonah. Alternate translation: “stop sleeping” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
35 JON 1 6 bd4f figs-idiom ק֚וּם 1 Get up! This is a command to begin some activity that is named following this word. 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
36 JON 1 6 k7a5 figs-idiom קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔י⁠ךָ 1 Cry out to your god! “pray to your god” To **cry out to** someone means to loudly ask him for help. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
37 JON 1 6 sk7i figs-explicit אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖⁠נוּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 Maybe that god will notice us and we will not perish The implicit information that Jonah’s god might save them could be made explicit. Alternate translation: “maybe your god will hear and save us so that we will not die” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
38 JON 1 6 zi04 figs-doublenegatives וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 and we will not perish This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “and he will save us” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])
39 JON 1 7 sc57 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗⁠הוּ 1 Then every man said to his friend The phrase **each man … 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
40 JON 1 7 l5xq לְכוּ֙ וְ⁠נַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְ⁠נֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּ⁠שֶׁ⁠לְּ⁠מִ֛י הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Come, and let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this evil is happening to us “we should cast lots to know who has caused this trouble” 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.
41 JON 1 7 d726 הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את 1 this evil This refers to the terrible storm.
42 JON 1 7 at67 וַ⁠יִּפֹּ֥ל הַ⁠גּוֹרָ֖ל עַל־יוֹנָֽה 1 the lot fell on Jonah 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. Alternate translation: “the lot showed that Jonah was the guilty person” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
43 JON 1 8 wkh6 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔י⁠ו 1 Then they said to him Alternate translation: “then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah”
44 JON 1 8 e7wb הַגִּידָ⁠ה־נָּ֣א לָ֔⁠נוּ בַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֛ר לְ⁠מִי־הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Please tell us on whose account this evil is happening to us Alternate translation: “who caused this bad thing that is happening to us”
45 JON 1 9 wav5 יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א 1 I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven Here the word **fear** means that Jonah worshiped Yahweh and not any other god.
46 JON 1 10 zi05 וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽ⁠אֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Then the men were afraid with great fear Alternate translation: “then the men were very afraid”
47 JON 1 10 peg3 figs-rquestion מַה־זֹּ֣את עָשִׂ֑יתָ 1 What is this that you have done? The men on the ship use a rhetorical question to show how afraid and angry they were at Jonah for causing so much trouble for all of them. Alternate translation: “you have done a terrible thing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
48 JON 1 10 us1r figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ 1 from before the face of Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
49 JON 1 10 jdrb grammar-connect-time-background כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 because he had told them Before the sailors cast lots, Jonah had already told them that he was running away from Yahweh, the God he worshiped. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
50 JON 1 10 hw1p figs-explicit כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 because he had told them What he told them can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “because he had said to them, ‘I am trying to get away from Yahweh’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
51 JON 1 11 kb4c וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָי⁠ו֙ 1 Then they said to him Alternate translation: “Then the men on the ship said to Jonah” or “Then the sailors said to Jonah”
52 JON 1 11 ik6d מַה־נַּ֣עֲשֶׂה לָּ֔⁠ךְ וְ⁠יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מֵֽ⁠עָלֵ֑י⁠נוּ 1 What should we do to you so that the sea will calm down from upon us? Alternate translation: “What should we do with you in order to make the sea become calm?”
53 JON 1 11 wxr7 figs-idiom הַ⁠יָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵֽר 1 the sea was going forward and storming This is an idiom that means that the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. Alternate translation: “the strength of the storm was increasing” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
54 JON 1 11 dji8 grammar-connect-logic-result הַ⁠יָּ֖ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵֽר 1 the sea was going forward and storming 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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
55 JON 1 12 h982 כִּ֚י יוֹדֵ֣עַ אָ֔נִי כִּ֣י בְ⁠שֶׁ⁠לִּ֔⁠י הַ⁠סַּ֧עַר הַ⁠גָּד֛וֹל הַ⁠זֶּ֖ה עֲלֵי⁠כֶֽם 1 for I know that this great storm is upon you because of me Alternate translation: “because I know that this huge storm is my fault”
56 JON 1 13 lcd3 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְ⁠הָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה 1 But the men rowed hard to return themselves to land The men did not want to throw Jonah into the sea, so they did not do as Jonah suggested. This information can be made explicit. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
57 JON 1 13 m3iq הַ⁠יָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵ֖ר 1 the sea was going forward and storming “the storm became worse, and the waves became bigger” See how you translated this idiom in [verse 11](../01/11.md).
58 JON 1 14 ap77 וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 So they cried out Alternate translation: “because of that they called out” or “because the sea became more violent they called loudly”
59 JON 1 14 q2xq וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 So they cried out to Yahweh Alternate translation: “therefore the men prayed loudly to Yahweh”
60 JON 1 14 jdr3 figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 Ah! In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense desperation. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
61 JON 1 14 wz6z אָנָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ אַל־נָ֣א נֹאבְדָ֗ה בְּ⁠נֶ֨פֶשׁ֙ הָ⁠אִ֣ישׁ הַ⁠זֶּ֔ה 1 O Yahweh, please do not let us perish on account of the life of this man 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”
62 JON 1 14 vv5t figs-idiom וְ⁠אַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖י⁠נוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא 1 and do not put innocent blood upon us This is an idiom that means “do not consider us guilty of killing an innocent person.” 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
63 JON 1 14 ab73 אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ 1 you, Yahweh, have done just as you desired Alternate translation: “you, Yahweh, have chosen to do things in this way” or “you, Yahweh, have caused all this to happen”
64 JON 1 15 l9cf וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 the sea ceased from its raging “the sea stopped moving violently:
65 JON 1 15 ab89 וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 the sea ceased from its raging This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “the sea became calm”
66 JON 1 16 r3gs וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֧וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה 1 Then the men feared Yahweh with great fear Alternate translation: “then the men became greatly awed at Yahweh’s power” or “then the men worshiped Yahweh with great awe”
67 JON 1 17 q87y 0 General Information: Some 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.
68 JON 1 17 jdr4 writing-newevent וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל לִ⁠בְלֹ֖עַ אֶת־יוֹנָ֑ה 1 Now Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, This clause introduces the next part of the story, where Yahweh saves Jonah from the sea, and Jonah prays. In this context, the word **Now** is used in English to introduce a new part of the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
69 JON 1 17 cjb6 figs-idiom שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה יָמִ֖ים וּ⁠שְׁלֹשָׁ֥ה לֵילֽוֹת 1 three days and three nights 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
70 JON 2 intro ae4k 0 # Jonah 2 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>This 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.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Sea<br><br>This chapter contains many terms from the sea.<br><br>## Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Poetry<br><br>Prayers 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Repentance<br><br>Scholars 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/repent]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]])
71 JON 2 1 alr2 יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑י⁠ו 1 Yahweh his God This means “Yahweh, the God he worshiped.” The word **his** does not mean that Jonah owned God.
72 JON 2 2 al5b וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר 1 And he said Alternate translation: “Jonah said”
73 JON 2 2 jdrc writing-poetry קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 I cried out to Yahweh from my distress, and he answered me 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 in the past. 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). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry]])
74 JON 2 2 s7fi קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 I cried out to Yahweh from my distress Alternate translation: “I prayed to Yahweh during my great trouble” or “Yahweh, I cried out to you during my distress”
75 JON 2 2 wdr4 וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 he answered me Alternate translation: “Yahweh responded to me or he helped me or you answered me”
76 JON 2 2 w8wn figs-metaphor מִ⁠בֶּ֧טֶן שְׁא֛וֹל 1 from the belly of Sheol “from the center of Sheol” or “from the deep part of Sheol” Possible meanings include: (1) Jonah was speaking of being in the belly of the fish as being in Sheol; or (2) Jonah believed that he was about to die and go to Sheol; or (3) He was speaking as if he already had died and gone to Sheol. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
77 JON 2 2 ab77 translate-names שְׁא֛וֹל 1 Sheol **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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
78 JON 2 2 jdrd figs-idiom שָׁמַ֥עְתָּ קוֹלִֽ⁠י 1 you heard my voice 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. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
79 JON 2 3 glp2 בִּ⁠לְבַ֣ב יַמִּ֔ים 1 into the heart of the seas 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
80 JON 2 3 p8fd וְ⁠נָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 a current surrounded me Alternate translation: “the sea water closed in around me”
81 JON 2 3 c6jx figs-doublet מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥י⁠ךָ וְ⁠גַלֶּ֖י⁠ךָ 1 your billows and your waves Both of these are disturbances on the surface of the ocean. They could be combined into one term, such as “waves” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
82 JON 2 4 jdr5 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֣י 1 But as for me, This expression shows that there is a contrast between the actions of Yahweh, which Jonah had just talked about, and his own response. Alternate translation: “then I” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
83 JON 2 4 x1w9 figs-activepassive נִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּי 1 I have been driven out 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
84 JON 2 4 z1yx figs-metonymy מִ⁠נֶּ֣גֶד עֵינֶ֑י⁠ךָ 1 from before your eyes 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 “where you do not notice me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
85 JON 2 4 b8vk אַ֚ךְ אוֹסִ֣יף לְ⁠הַבִּ֔יט אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 yet I might again look toward your holy temple 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.
86 JON 2 5 abc2 figs-parallelism אֲפָפ֤וּ⁠נִי מַ֨יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Water had closed around me even as far as life; the deep was surrounding me; Jonah uses two similar phrases to express the severity and hopelessness of his situation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
87 JON 2 5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Water Here, **water** refers to the sea.
88 JON 2 5 ca31 עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ 1 even as far as life 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”
89 JON 2 5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 the deep was surrounding me Alternate translation: “deep water was all around me”
90 JON 2 5 p1fw ס֖וּף 1 seaweed **Seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea.
91 JON 2 6 z36i figs-metaphor הָ⁠אָ֛רֶץ בְּרִחֶ֥י⁠הָ בַעֲדִ֖⁠י לְ⁠עוֹלָ֑ם 1 the earth with its bars was around me forever 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
92 JON 2 6 dc3r figs-metaphor וַ⁠תַּ֧עַל מִ⁠שַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖⁠י 1 but you brought up my life from the pit Here the term **pit** has two This could mean: (1) this could be a way to describe being in a very deep place underground or underwater or (2) this could be a metaphor meaning the place of the dead (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]). In either case, the term probably refers to the fact that Jonah felt certain that he would die. Alternate translation: “but you saved me from dying in a deep place” or “but you saved my life from the place of the dead”
93 JON 2 6 i3mx יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽ⁠י 1 Yahweh, my God! In some languages, it may be more natural to put this at the beginning of the sentence or next to the word “you.”
94 JON 2 7 jdr6 grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף עָלַ⁠י֙ נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 When my spirit fainted upon me, This phrase could mean either: (1) Jonah was already in the process of dying when he remembered Yahweh; or (2) Jonah had given up hope of being rescued and resigned himself to the fact that he would die. Alternate translation: “when my life was fainting away from me” or “when my spirit inside me had fainted” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]])
95 JON 2 7 l2b6 אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה זָכָ֑רְתִּי 1 I remembered Yahweh Since Jonah was praying to Yahweh, it might be more clear in some languages to say “I thought about you, Yahweh” or “Yahweh, I thought about you.”
96 JON 2 7 ue9g figs-metaphor וַ⁠תָּב֤וֹא אֵלֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ תְּפִלָּתִ֔⁠י אֶל־הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 and my prayer came to you, to your holy temple 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
97 JON 2 7 jdrf figs-metonymy הֵיכַ֖ל קָדְשֶֽׁ⁠ךָ 1 your holy temple 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. See the UST. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
98 JON 2 7 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 my spirit Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
99 JON 2 8 u1l9 figs-idiom מְשַׁמְּרִ֖ים הַבְלֵי־שָׁ֑וְא 1 Those who give attention to empty vanities 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
100 JON 2 8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖⁠ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 forsake their covenant faithfulness Here, **covenant faithfulness** could mean: (1) the faithfulness of God or (2) the faithfulness of the people. Therefore, it could mean (1) “are rejecting you, who would be faithful to them” or (2) “are abandoning their commitment to you”
101 JON 2 9 q3yb grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֗י 1 But as for me, This expression shows that there is a contrast between the people Jonah had just spoken about and himself. They paid attention to useless gods, but he would worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “but I” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
102 JON 2 9 nfd2 בְּ⁠ק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔⁠ךְ 1 I will sacrifice to you with a voice of thanksgiving This 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.
103 JON 2 9 jdrh יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 Salvation belongs to Yahweh This last line of the poem can be understood in one of two ways: either (1) as being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer; or (2) as 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).
104 JON 2 9 r4j4 figs-abstractnouns יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 Salvation belongs to Yahweh 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
105 JON 2 10 dz3j אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 onto the dry land Alternate translation: “upon the ground” or “onto the shore”
106 JON 3 intro z3ut 0 # Jonah 3 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>This chapter returns to a narrative of Jonah’s life.<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Animals<br><br>According to the king’s proclamation, the animals had to participate in the fast he 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### Size of Nineveh<br><br>When 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.<br><br>### God repenting or relenting<br><br>The 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.<br><br>Yahweh 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/justice]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/judge]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]])
107 JON 3 1 jdr7 writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 The word of Yahweh came This phrase introduces the second half of the story of Jonah. The same phrase introduces the first half of the story [1:1](../01/01.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
108 JON 3 1 xj6n figs-idiom וַ⁠יְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה 1 The word of Yahweh came This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh spoke in some way. See how you translated this in [1:1](../01/01.md). Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
109 JON 3 2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city Alternate translation: “Go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
110 JON 3 2 cl3b figs-idiom ק֛וּם 1 Get up **Get up** here is an idiom intended to motivate Jonah to obey the next command, which is “go.” See how you translated this in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
111 JON 3 2 ir79 וִּ⁠קְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠קְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽי⁠ךָ 1 call out to it the proclamation that I tell to you Alternate translation: “tell the people there what I tell you to tell them”
112 JON 3 3 k7k9 figs-idiom וַ⁠יָּ֣קָם יוֹנָ֗ה וַ⁠יֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֶ֖ה כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh 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. Alternate translation: “his time Jonah obeyed Yahweh and went to Nineveh” or “so Jonah left the beach and went to Nineveh, as Yahweh had commanded him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
113 JON 3 3 g4nk figs-metonymy כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 the word of Yahweh Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh” or “the command of Yahweh”
114 JON 3 3 dt1b writing-background וְ⁠נִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 Now Nineveh was a great city to Gpd, a journey of three days This sentence gives background information about the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
115 JON 3 3 jd8r figs-idiom עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים 1 a great city to God This is an idiom meaning that the city is both extremely large and one of the largest cities in the world. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
116 JON 3 3 ye82 figs-idiom מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 a journey of three days 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. Alternate translation: “a city so large that it would take a person three days to walk through it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
117 JON 3 4 r2al וַ⁠יָּ֤חֶל יוֹנָה֙ לָ⁠ב֣וֹא בָ⁠עִ֔יר מַהֲלַ֖ךְ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ 1 So Jonah began to go into the city a journey of one day, and he called out This phrase has two This could mean: (1) Jonah walked a day’s journey into the city, then he started calling out; or (2) while Jonah was walking through the city on the first day, he started calling out.
118 JON 3 4 r94k וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ וַ⁠יֹּאמַ֔ר 1 and he called out and said Alternate translation: “and he proclaimed” or “and he shouted”
119 JON 3 4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Until 40 days Alternate translation: “after 40 days” or “in 40 days” or “there remain 40 days, and”
120 JON 3 4 q2nc translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 40 days **forty days** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
121 JON 3 5 ab90 translate-symaction וַ⁠יִּקְרְאוּ־צוֹם֙ 1 they proclaimed a fast People fasted to show sadness or devotion to God or both. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
122 JON 3 5 e5lm figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים 1 and put on sackcloth The reason why people **put on sackcloth** can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “they also put on coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for having sinned” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
123 JON 3 5 isk5 מִ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖⁠ם וְ⁠עַד־קְטַנָּֽ⁠ם 1 from the greatest of them even to the least of them Alternate translation: “from the most significant to the least significant people” or “including all of the important people and all of the unimportant people”
124 JON 3 6 pna3 הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ 1 the word Alternate translation: “Jonah’s message”
125 JON 3 6 h9wz translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨קָם֙ מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 and he rose up from his throne “he got up from his throne” or “he stood up from his throne” The king left his throne to show that he was acting humbly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
126 JON 3 6 pvp7 מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 his throne A **throne** is a special chair that a king sits on when performing his official duties as king. It is reserved for only the king.
127 JON 3 6 ab91 translate-symaction וַ⁠יֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָ⁠אֵֽפֶר 1 and sat down on the ash heap **Sitting in ashes** was a way to show great humility and sorrow. In this case, it was to show how sorry he was for his sin. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
128 JON 3 7 v29b וַ⁠יַּזְעֵ֗ק וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙…לֵ⁠אמֹ֑ר 1 And he proclaimed and spoke Alternate translation: “he sent out an official announcement that said” or “he sent his messengers to announce”
129 JON 3 7 zi06 מִ⁠טַּ֧עַם הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 from a decree of the king and his nobles Alternate translation: “a command with the full authority of the king and his officials”
130 JON 3 7 n5fn וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 nobles The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city.
131 JON 3 7 xw6c הַ⁠בָּקָ֣ר וְ⁠הַ⁠צֹּ֗אן 1 herd or flock This refers to two kinds 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). Alternate translation: “cattle or sheep”
132 JON 3 7 fw18 figs-explicit אַ֨ל־יִרְע֔וּ וּ⁠מַ֖יִם אַל־יִשְׁתּֽוּ 1 they must not graze, and they must not drink water “they must not eat or drink anything” The reason they were not to eat or drink anything can be made explicit by adding “in order to show that they are sorry for their sins.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
133 JON 3 8 mzx6 וְ⁠הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 every animal Here the word **animal** refers to animals that people own.
134 JON 3 8 jh7e figs-explicit וְ⁠יִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּ⁠חָזְקָ֑ה 1 and they must cry out to God with strength “and they must pray earnestly to God” What the people were to pray for can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and they must cry out loudly to God and ask for mercy” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
135 JON 3 8 n3ls הֶ⁠חָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּ⁠כַפֵּי⁠הֶֽם 1 the violence that is in his hands Here, **hands** is a metonym meaning doing. This refers to the violence that the people of Nineveh were doing. Alternate translation: “the violent things that he has done” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
136 JON 3 9 wbt6 figs-rquestion מִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ 1 Who knows? 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.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
137 JON 3 9 z3jj figs-metaphor יָשׁ֔וּב וְ⁠נִחַ֖ם הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים 1 This god might turn back and have compassion Here the author speaks of God changing his mind about bringing judgment as if God were turning around and walking in the opposite direction. Alternate translation: “God may decide instead to have compassion” or “God may do the opposite of what he said and be merciful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
138 JON 3 9 jdrg figs-idiom מֵ⁠חֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖⁠וֹ 1 from the burning of his nose Here **the burning of his nose** is an idiom meaning that the person is angry. Alternate translation: “from his anger” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
139 JON 3 9 uvp9 וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 so that we will not perish Alternate translation: “and we will not die”
140 JON 3 10 w3uu וַ⁠יַּ֤רְא הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂי⁠הֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 And God saw their deeds, that they turned away from their evil ways Alternate translation: “God saw that they stopped doing evil actions”
141 JON 3 10 k8am figs-metaphor שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 they turned from their evil ways Here the author speaks of the people stopping their sinning as if they turned around from walking on a path toward evil and started walking in the opposite direction. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
142 JON 3 10 ab85 וַ⁠יִּנָּ֣חֶם הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֗ים עַל־הָ⁠רָעָ֛ה 1 And God relented in regard to the evil 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 of 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.
143 JON 3 10 it1a figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה 1 and he did not do it What God did not do can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and he did not punish them” or “and he did not destroy them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
144 JON 4 intro ys57 0 # Jonah 4 General Notes<br><br>## Structure and formatting<br><br>Jonah 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/mercy]])<br><br>## Special concepts in this chapter<br><br>### Prophecy not coming true<br><br>It 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 forty days, it did not happen at that time. This is because God reserves the right to be merciful. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/prophet]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]])<br><br>## Jonah’s anger<br><br>When 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.<br><br>### Important figures of speech in this chapter<br><br>### Rhetorical questions<br><br>As in other places, Jonah asks rhetorical questions to show how angry he was at Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])<br><br>### Parallel to Mount Sinai<br><br>In 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://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])<br><br>## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter<br><br>### God’s grace<br><br>When Jonah went outside the city, he got very hot and 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://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/grace]])
145 JON 4 1 jdr8 writing-newevent וַ⁠יֵּ֥רַע אֶל־יוֹנָ֖ה רָעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ׃ 1 But this was evil to Jonah, a great evil, and it burned to him. This sentence introduces the next part of the story where Jonah responds to God saving the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
146 JON 4 1 abc3 figs-idiom וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ 1 and it burned to him This 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
147 JON 4 2 q6bb figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 Ah! In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense frustration. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
148 JON 4 2 k24b figs-rquestion יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 Yahweh, was this not my word while I was in my country? Jonah used this rhetorical question to tell God how angry he was. If it is more clear, this can be made into a statement. Alternate translation: “ah, Yahweh, this is what I said when I was still in my own country” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
149 JON 4 2 ab79 figs-explicit יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 Yahweh, was this not my word while I was in my country? 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
150 JON 4 2 ab81 figs-idiom אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ 1 long of nostrils This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh does not get angry quickly. Alternate translation: “slow to get angry” or “very patient” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
151 JON 4 2 jv5c וְ⁠רַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 and abundant in covenant faithfulness Alternate translation: “and very faithful” or “and you love people very much”
152 JON 4 2 wl7j figs-explicit וְ⁠נִחָ֖ם עַל־הָ⁠רָעָֽה 1 and one who relents from evil 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 changes his mind when sinners repent of their sin. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and you feel sadness about causing disaster for sinners” or “and you decide not to punish sinners who repent” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
153 JON 4 3 dm5t figs-explicit קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖⁠י מִמֶּ֑⁠נִּי 1 I beg you, take my life from me Jonah’s reason for wanting to die can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
154 JON 4 3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 for my death is better than my life Alternate translation: “I would prefer to die rather than to live” or “because I want to die. I do not want to live”
155 JON 4 4 ab82 figs-idiom הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 Is it right that it burns to you? This is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. See how you translated it in [4:1](../04/01.md). Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry about this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
156 JON 4 4 ab83 figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 Is it right that it burns to you? The reason for Jonah’s anger can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry that I did not destroy Nineveh” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
157 JON 4 5 q1f7 וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָ⁠עִ֔יר 1 Then Jonah went out from the city Alternate translation: “then Jonah left the city of Nineveh”
158 JON 4 5 af46 מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּ⁠עִֽיר 1 what would transpire within the city Jonah wanted to see if God would destroy the city or not. Alternate translation: “what would become of the city” or “what God would do to the city”
159 JON 4 6 i4r4 מֵ⁠עַ֣ל לְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה לִֽ⁠הְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔⁠וֹ 1 from over Jonah to be a shade over his head Alternate translation: “over Jonah’s head for shade”
160 JON 4 6 t21k לְ⁠הַצִּ֥יל ל֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠רָֽעָת֑⁠וֹ 1 to rescue him from his evil Here the term **evil** could mean two things (or both at the same time): (1) “discomfort” or “distress,” meaning the intense heat of the sun shining on Jonah’s head; or (2) “wrong,” meaning Jonah’s wrong attitude concerning God’s decision not to destroy Nineveh. If both meanings can be preserved, that is preferable. If not, you could choose an Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” or “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
161 JON 4 7 t7il וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Then God appointed a worm Alternate translation: “then God sent a worm”
162 JON 4 7 rw7z וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 and it attacked the plant Alternate translation: “and the worm chewed the plant”
163 JON 4 7 d16m וַ⁠יִּיבָֽשׁ 1 and it withered The plant became dry and died. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
164 JON 4 8 jdr9 grammar-connect-time-background וַ⁠יְהִ֣י׀ כִּ⁠זְרֹ֣חַ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ 1 And as soon as the rising of the sun happened The **rising of the sun** is background information that gives the time when the hot wind from the east started blowing. Express this relationship in a natural way in your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
165 JON 4 8 hmi4 figs-explicit וַ⁠יְמַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים ר֤וּחַ קָדִים֙ חֲרִישִׁ֔ית 1 then God appointed a hot east wind God caused a hot wind from the east to blow on Jonah. If “wind” in your language can only mean a cool or cold wind, then you can try this alternate translation: “God sent a very hot warmth from the east to Jonah.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
166 JON 4 8 mnu9 וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 the sun beat down Alternate translation: “the sun was very hot”
167 JON 4 8 u2pl figs-synecdoche עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ יוֹנָ֖ה 1 on the head of Jonah This phrase 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 a synecdoche meaning Jonah’s entire body. Alternate translation: “on Jonah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])
168 JON 4 8 z95v וַ⁠יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 and he became faint Alternate translation: “and he became very weak” or “and he lost his strength”
169 JON 4 8 ab87 וַ⁠יִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁ⁠וֹ֙ לָ⁠מ֔וּת 1 he asked his spirit to die Jonah is talking to himself. Alternate translation: “he wished he would die” or “he wanted to die”
170 JON 4 8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 My death is better than my life “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).
171 JON 4 9 w24z figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֥ב חָרָֽה־לְ⁠ךָ֖ עַל־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֑וֹן 1 Is it right that it burns to you about the plant? In this context, God’s question is intended to lead Jonah to draw a conclusion about his selfish attitude. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right that you should be so angry about the plant that only gave shade to you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
172 JON 4 9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖⁠י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 It is right that it burns to me, even as far as death. Alternate translation: “I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die”
173 JON 4 10 gkz7 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה 1 Yahweh said Here Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Yahweh said to Jonah” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
174 JON 4 10 ab88 figs-idiom שֶׁ⁠בִּן־ לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּ⁠בִן־ לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד־ לַ֥יְלָה 1 it came as a son of a night, and it perished as a son of a night This idiom means that the plant existed only briefly. Alternate translation: “it grew in one night and died the next” or “it grew quickly and died just as quickly” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
175 JON 4 11 jdr0 grammar-connect-words-phrases וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙ 1 So as for me, This expression, paired with **As for you** in verse 10, shows a comparison between Jonah’s attitude toward the plant and Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Express this comparison in a natural way in your language.(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
176 JON 4 11 ecl1 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 So as for me, should I not feel troubled about Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand, and many animals? 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” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
177 JON 4 11 dqi1 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ 1 in which there are more than This can also be translated as the beginning of a new sentence. Alternate translation: “There are more than” or “it has more than”
178 JON 4 11 c3b7 translate-numbers מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 120,000 people **one hundred twenty thousand people** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
179 JON 4 11 j35h figs-idiom אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣⁠וֹ לִ⁠שְׂמֹאל֔⁠וֹ 1 who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand This idiom means “who do not know the difference between right and wrong.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])

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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, and he 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]])
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 [Jonah 17](./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; he then survives for three days and nights inside. 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 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]])
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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
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. Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh”
1:1 s6av יְהוָ֔ה 1 This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.
1:1 jv8c rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names אֲמִתַּ֖י 1 This is the name of Jonah’s father. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
1:2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָ⁠עִ֥יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Alternate translation: “go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
1:2 v2xt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֠וּם 1 This 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. Many languages would use only one verb, such as “go.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:2 jqz9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וּ⁠קְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 The word **it** here, meaning the city of Nineveh, is a metonym referring to the people living in and around the city. Alternate translation: “warn the people” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
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”
1:2 jd9r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 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. Yahweh is saying that he can has noticed how wicked the people of Nineveh have become. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
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. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: “but Jonah ran away” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:3 n96t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה -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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
1:3 g66v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ⁠ה 1 “to flee to Tarshish” This city named Tarshish was in the opposite direction to Nineveh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and went in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish, away” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
1:3 djv1 וַ⁠יֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah went to Joppa”
1:3 w3uc אָנִיָּ֣ה 1 A **ship** is a very large type of boat that can travel on the sea and carry many passengers or heavy cargo.
1:3 pz67 וַ⁠יִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜⁠הּ 1 Alternate translation: “there Jonah paid for the trip”
1:3 g5xp וַ⁠יֵּ֤רֶד בָּ⁠הּ֙ 1 Alternate translation: “got on the ship”
1:3 i6bi עִמָּ⁠הֶם֙ 1 The word **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship.
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. 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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 running away. Translate this so that your readers know that this event brings a change in the story. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
1:4 jdra rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וְ⁠הָ֣⁠אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 Here the term **thinking** describes the ship as if it were a person. This 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
1:4 jl77 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 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: “to break apart” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
1:5 d13r הַ⁠מַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 Alternate translation: “the men who worked on the ship”
1:5 u2bj אֱלֹהָי⁠ו֒ 1 Here, **god** refers to false gods and idols that people worship.
1:5 sh1b וַ⁠יָּטִ֨לוּ אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּֽ⁠אֳנִיָּה֙ 1 “the men threw the heavy things off the ship” By doing this, they hoped to keep the ship from sinking.
1:5 tg27 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”
1:5 uzt4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 This is background information. Translate this in a way that it is clear that Jonah had already done this before the storm started. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
1:5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “inside the ship”
1:5 g4y4 וַ⁠יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַ⁠יֵּרָדַֽם 1 “and was lying there fast asleep” or “and was lying there and sleeping deeply” For this reason, the storm did not wake him up.
1:6 laa3 וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָי⁠ו֙ רַ֣ב הַ⁠חֹבֵ֔ל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖⁠וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “the man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said”
1:6 yx7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מַה־לְּ⁠ךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם 1 **Why are you sleeping?** Here the captain uses a rhetorical question to scold Jonah. Alternate translation: “stop sleeping” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
1:6 bd4f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֚וּם 1 This is a command to begin some activity that is named following this word. 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:6 k7a5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔י⁠ךָ 1 “pray to your god” To **cry out to** someone means to loudly ask him for help. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:6 sk7i rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖⁠נוּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 The implicit information that Jonah’s god might save them could be made explicit. Alternate translation: “maybe your god will hear and save us so that we will not die” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
1:6 zi04 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “and he will save us” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])
1:7 sc57 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗⁠הוּ 1 The phrase **each man … 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:7 l5xq לְכוּ֙ וְ⁠נַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְ⁠נֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּ⁠שֶׁ⁠לְּ⁠מִ֛י הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 “we should cast lots to know who has caused this trouble” 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.
1:7 d726 הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את 1 This refers to the terrible storm.
1:7 at67 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. Alternate translation: “the lot showed that Jonah was the guilty person” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1:8 wkh6 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔י⁠ו 1 Alternate translation: “then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah”
1:8 e7wb הַגִּידָ⁠ה־נָּ֣א לָ֔⁠נוּ בַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֛ר לְ⁠מִי־הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Alternate translation: “who caused this bad thing that is happening to us”
1:9 wav5 יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א 1 Here the word **fear** means that Jonah worshiped Yahweh and not any other god.
1:10 zi05 וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽ⁠אֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “then the men were very afraid”
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 at Jonah for causing so much trouble for all of them. Alternate translation: “you have done a terrible thing” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
1:10 jdrb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 Before the sailors cast lots, Jonah had already told them that he was running away from Yahweh, the God he worshiped. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
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’” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
1:11 kb4c וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָי⁠ו֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Then the men on the ship said to Jonah” or “Then the sailors said to Jonah”
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?”
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
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”
1:13 lcd3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְ⁠הָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה 1 The men did not want to throw Jonah into the sea, so they did not do as Jonah suggested. This information can be made explicit. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
1:13 m3iq הַ⁠יָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵ֖ר 1 “the storm became worse, and the waves became bigger” See how you translated this idiom in [verse 11](../01/11.md).
1:14 ap77 וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 Alternate translation: “because of that they called out” or “because the sea became more violent they called loudly”
1:14 q2xq וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 Alternate translation: “therefore the men prayed loudly to Yahweh”
1:14 jdr3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense desperation. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
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”
1:14 vv5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וְ⁠אַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖י⁠נוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא 1 This is an idiom that means “do not consider us guilty of killing an innocent person.” 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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”
1:15 l9cf וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 “the sea stopped moving violently:
1:15 ab89 וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “the sea became calm”
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”
1:17 q87y General Information: 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.
1:17 jdr4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל לִ⁠בְלֹ֖עַ אֶת־יוֹנָ֑ה 1 This clause introduces the next part of the story, where Yahweh saves Jonah from the sea, and Jonah prays. In this context, the word **Now** is used in English to introduce a new part of the story. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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]])
2:1 alr2 יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑י⁠ו 1 This means “Yahweh, the God he worshiped.” The word **his** does not mean that Jonah owned God.
2:2 al5b וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah said”
2:2 jdrc rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 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 in the past. 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). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry]])
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”
2:2 wdr4 וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “Yahweh responded to me or he helped me or you answered me”
2:2 w8wn rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִ⁠בֶּ֧טֶן שְׁא֛וֹל 1 “from the center of Sheol” or “from the deep part of Sheol” Possible meanings include: (1) Jonah was speaking of being in the belly of the fish as being in Sheol; or (2) Jonah believed that he was about to die and go to Sheol; or (3) He was speaking as if he already had died and gone to Sheol. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
2:3 glp2 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
2:3 p8fd וְ⁠נָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “the sea water closed in around me”
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
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. Alternate translation: “then I” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
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 “where you do not notice me” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
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.
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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
2:5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Here, **water** refers to the sea.
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”
2:5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “deep water was all around me”
2:5 p1fw ס֖וּף 1 **Seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea.
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
2:6 dc3r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠תַּ֧עַל מִ⁠שַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖⁠י 1 Here the term **pit** has two This could mean: (1) this could be a way to describe being in a very deep place underground or underwater or (2) this could be a metaphor meaning the place of the dead (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]). In either case, the term probably refers to the fact that Jonah felt certain that he would die. Alternate translation: “but you saved me from dying in a deep place” or “but you saved my life from the place of the dead”
2:6 i3mx יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽ⁠י 1 In some languages, it may be more natural to put this at the beginning of the sentence or next to the word “you.”
2:7 jdr6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף עָלַ⁠י֙ נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 This phrase could mean either: (1) Jonah was already in the process of dying when he remembered Yahweh; or (2) Jonah had given up hope of being rescued and resigned himself to the fact that he would die. Alternate translation: “when my life was fainting away from me” or “when my spirit inside me had fainted” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]])
2:7 l2b6 אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה זָכָ֑רְתִּי 1 Since Jonah was praying to Yahweh, it might be more clear in some languages to say “I thought about you, Yahweh” or “Yahweh, I thought about you.”
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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. See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
2:7 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
2:8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖⁠ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 Here, **covenant faithfulness** could mean: (1) the faithfulness of God or (2) the faithfulness of the people. Therefore, it could mean (1) “are rejecting you, who would be faithful to them” or (2) “are abandoning their commitment to you”
2:9 q3yb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֗י 1 This expression shows that there is a contrast between the people Jonah had just spoken about and himself. They paid attention to useless gods, but he would worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “but I” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
2:9 nfd2 בְּ⁠ק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔⁠ךְ 1 This 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.
2:9 jdrh יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 This last line of the poem can be understood in one of two ways: either (1) as being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer; or (2) as 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).
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
2:10 dz3j אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 Alternate translation: “upon the ground” or “onto the shore”
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 he 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]])
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 introduces the first half of the story [1:1](../01/01.md). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
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: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3:2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “Go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
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.” See how you translated this in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3:2 ir79 וִּ⁠קְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠קְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽי⁠ךָ 1 Alternate translation: “tell the people there what I tell you to tell them”
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. Alternate translation: “his time Jonah obeyed Yahweh and went to Nineveh” or “so Jonah left the beach and went to Nineveh, as Yahweh had commanded him” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3:3 g4nk rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh” or “the command of Yahweh”
3:3 dt1b rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְ⁠נִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 This sentence gives background information about the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
3:3 jd8r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים 1 This is an idiom meaning that the city is both extremely large and one of the largest cities in the world. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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. Alternate translation: “a city so large that it would take a person three days to walk through it” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3:4 r2al וַ⁠יָּ֤חֶל יוֹנָה֙ לָ⁠ב֣וֹא בָ⁠עִ֔יר מַהֲלַ֖ךְ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ 1 This phrase has two This could mean: (1) Jonah walked a day’s journey into the city, then he started calling out; or (2) while Jonah was walking through the city on the first day, he started calling out.
3:4 r94k וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ וַ⁠יֹּאמַ֔ר 1 Alternate translation: “and he proclaimed” or “and he shouted”
3:4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Alternate translation: “after 40 days” or “in 40 days” or “there remain 40 days, and”
3:4 q2nc rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 **forty days** (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
3:5 ab90 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יִּקְרְאוּ־צוֹם֙ 1 People fasted to show sadness or devotion to God or both. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
3:5 e5lm rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים 1 The reason why people **put on sackcloth** can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “they also put on coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for having sinned” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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”
3:6 pna3 הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah’s message”
3:6 h9wz rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨קָם֙ מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 “he got up from his throne” or “he stood up from his throne” The king left his throne to show that he was acting humbly. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
3:6 pvp7 מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 A **throne** is a special chair that a king sits on when performing his official duties as king. It is reserved for only the king.
3:6 ab91 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָ⁠אֵֽפֶר 1 **Sitting in ashes** was a way to show great humility and sorrow. In this case, it was to show how sorry he was for his sin. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
3:7 v29b וַ⁠יַּזְעֵ֗ק וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ & לֵ⁠אמֹ֑ר 1 Alternate translation: “he sent out an official announcement that said” or “he sent his messengers to announce”
3:7 zi06 מִ⁠טַּ֧עַם הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 Alternate translation: “a command with the full authority of the king and his officials”
3:7 n5fn וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city.
3:7 xw6c הַ⁠בָּקָ֣ר וְ⁠הַ⁠צֹּ֗אן 1 This refers to two kinds 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). Alternate translation: “cattle or sheep”
3:7 fw18 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אַ֨ל־יִרְע֔וּ וּ⁠מַ֖יִם אַל־יִשְׁתּֽוּ 1 “they must not eat or drink anything” The reason they were not to eat or drink anything can be made explicit by adding “in order to show that they are sorry for their sins.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
3:8 mzx6 וְ⁠הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 Here the word **animal** refers to animals that people own.
3:8 jh7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠יִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּ⁠חָזְקָ֑ה 1 “and they must pray earnestly to God” What the people were to pray for can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and they must cry out loudly to God and ask for mercy” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
3:8 n3ls הֶ⁠חָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּ⁠כַפֵּי⁠הֶֽם 1 Here, **hands** is a metonym meaning doing. This refers to the violence that the people of Nineveh were doing. Alternate translation: “the violent things that he has done” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
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. Alternate translation: “God may decide instead to have compassion” or “God may do the opposite of what he said and be merciful” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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. Alternate translation: “from his anger” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
3:9 uvp9 וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 Alternate translation: “and we will not die”
3:10 w3uu וַ⁠יַּ֤רְא הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂי⁠הֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “God saw that they stopped doing evil actions”
3:10 k8am rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 Here the author speaks of the people stopping their sinning as if they turned around from walking on a path toward evil and started walking in the opposite direction. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
3:10 ab85 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 of 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.
3:10 it1a rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה 1 What God did not do can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and he did not punish them” or “and he did not destroy them” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
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 forty 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 and 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]])
4:1 jdr8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יֵּ֥רַע אֶל־יוֹנָ֖ה רָעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ׃ 1 This sentence introduces the next part of the story where Jonah responds to God saving the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
4:1 abc3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ 1 This 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
4:2 q6bb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense frustration. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
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 it is more clear, this can be made into a statement. Alternate translation: “ah, Yahweh, this is what I said when I was still in my own country” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
4:2 ab79 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:2 ab81 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ 1 This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh does not get angry quickly. Alternate translation: “slow to get angry” or “very patient” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
4:2 jv5c וְ⁠רַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 Alternate translation: “and very faithful” or “and you love people very much”
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 changes his mind when sinners repent of their sin. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and you feel sadness about causing disaster for sinners” or “and you decide not to punish sinners who repent” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:3 dm5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖⁠י מִמֶּ֑⁠נִּי 1 Jonah’s reason for wanting to die can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 Alternate translation: “I would prefer to die rather than to live” or “because I want to die. I do not want to live”
4:4 ab82 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 This is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. See how you translated it in [4:1](../04/01.md). Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry about this” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
4:4 ab83 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 The reason for Jonah’s anger can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry that I did not destroy Nineveh” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:5 q1f7 וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָ⁠עִ֔יר 1 Alternate translation: “then Jonah left the city of Nineveh”
4:5 af46 מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּ⁠עִֽיר 1 Jonah wanted to see if God would destroy the city or not. Alternate translation: “what would become of the city” or “what God would do to the city”
4:6 i4r4 מֵ⁠עַ֣ל לְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה לִֽ⁠הְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔⁠וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “over Jonah’s head for shade”
4:6 t21k לְ⁠הַצִּ֥יל ל֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠רָֽעָת֑⁠וֹ 1 Here the term **evil** could mean two things (or both at the same time): (1) “discomfort” or “distress,” meaning the intense heat of the sun shining on Jonah’s head; or (2) “wrong,” meaning Jonah’s wrong attitude concerning God’s decision not to destroy Nineveh. If both meanings can be preserved, that is preferable. If not, you could choose an Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” or “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
4:7 t7il וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Alternate translation: “then God sent a worm”
4:7 rw7z וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 Alternate translation: “and the worm chewed the plant”
4:7 d16m וַ⁠יִּיבָֽשׁ 1 The plant became dry and died. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
4:8 jdr9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background וַ⁠יְהִ֣י׀ כִּ⁠זְרֹ֣חַ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ 1 The **rising of the sun** is background information that gives the time when the hot wind from the east started blowing. Express this relationship in a natural way in your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
4:8 hmi4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יְמַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים ר֤וּחַ קָדִים֙ חֲרִישִׁ֔ית 1 God caused a hot wind from the east to blow on Jonah. If “wind” in your language can only mean a cool or cold wind, then you can try this alternate translation: “God sent a very hot warmth from the east to Jonah.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:8 mnu9 וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 Alternate translation: “the sun was very hot”
4:8 u2pl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ יוֹנָ֖ה 1 This phrase 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 a synecdoche meaning Jonah’s entire body. Alternate translation: “on Jonah” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])
4:8 z95v וַ⁠יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 Alternate translation: “and he became very weak” or “and he lost his strength”
4:8 ab87 וַ⁠יִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁ⁠וֹ֙ לָ⁠מ֔וּת 1 Jonah is talking to himself. Alternate translation: “he wished he would die” or “he wanted to die”
4:8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 “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).
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. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right that you should be so angry about the plant that only gave shade to you” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖⁠י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 Alternate translation: “I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die”
4:10 gkz7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה 1 Here Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Yahweh said to Jonah” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
4:10 ab88 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שֶׁ⁠בִּן־ לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּ⁠בִן־ לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד־ לַ֥יְלָה 1 This idiom means that the plant existed only briefly. Alternate translation: “it grew in one night and died the next” or “it grew quickly and died just as quickly” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
4:11 jdr0 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙ 1 This expression, paired with **As for you** in verse 10, shows a comparison between Jonah’s attitude toward the plant and Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Express this comparison in a natural way in your language.(See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
4:11 dqi1 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ 1 This can also be translated as the beginning of a new sentence. Alternate translation: “There are more than” or “it has more than”
4:11 c3b7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 **one hundred twenty thousand people** (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
1 Reference ID Tags SupportReference Quote Occurrence Note
2 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, and he 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]])
3 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 [Jonah 17](./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; he then survives for three days and nights inside. 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 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]])
4 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
5 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. Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
6 1:1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh”
7 1:1 s6av יְהוָ֔ה 1 This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.
8 1:1 jv8c rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names אֲמִתַּ֖י 1 This is the name of Jonah’s father. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
9 1:2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָ⁠עִ֥יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Alternate translation: “go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
10 1:2 v2xt rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֠וּם 1 This 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. Many languages would use only one verb, such as “go.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
11 1:2 jqz9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy וּ⁠קְרָ֣א עָלֶ֑י⁠הָ 1 The word **it** here, meaning the city of Nineveh, is a metonym referring to the people living in and around the city. Alternate translation: “warn the people” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
12 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”
13 1:2 jd9r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנָֽ⁠י 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. Yahweh is saying that he can has noticed how wicked the people of Nineveh have become. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
14 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. See how you translated this idiom in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: “but Jonah ran away” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
15 1:3 n96t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֖י יְהוָ֑ה -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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
16 1:3 g66v rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit לִ⁠בְרֹ֣חַ תַּרְשִׁ֔ישָׁ⁠ה 1 “to flee to Tarshish” This city named Tarshish was in the opposite direction to Nineveh. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and went in the opposite direction, toward Tarshish, away” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
17 1:3 djv1 וַ⁠יֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah went to Joppa”
18 1:3 w3uc אָנִיָּ֣ה 1 A **ship** is a very large type of boat that can travel on the sea and carry many passengers or heavy cargo.
19 1:3 pz67 וַ⁠יִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜⁠הּ 1 Alternate translation: “there Jonah paid for the trip”
20 1:3 g5xp וַ⁠יֵּ֤רֶד בָּ⁠הּ֙ 1 Alternate translation: “got on the ship”
21 1:3 i6bi עִמָּ⁠הֶם֙ 1 The word **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship.
22 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. 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
23 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 running away. Translate this so that your readers know that this event brings a change in the story. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
24 1:4 jdra rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification וְ⁠הָ֣⁠אֳנִיָּ֔ה חִשְּׁבָ֖ה לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 Here the term **thinking** describes the ship as if it were a person. This 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])
25 1:4 jl77 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive לְ⁠הִשָּׁבֵֽר 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: “to break apart” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
26 1:5 d13r הַ⁠מַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 Alternate translation: “the men who worked on the ship”
27 1:5 u2bj אֱלֹהָי⁠ו֒ 1 Here, **god** refers to false gods and idols that people worship.
28 1:5 sh1b וַ⁠יָּטִ֨לוּ אֶת־הַ⁠כֵּלִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּֽ⁠אֳנִיָּה֙ 1 “the men threw the heavy things off the ship” By doing this, they hoped to keep the ship from sinking.
29 1:5 tg27 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”
30 1:5 uzt4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה יָרַד֙ אֶל־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 This is background information. Translate this in a way that it is clear that Jonah had already done this before the storm started. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
31 1:5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַ⁠סְּפִינָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “inside the ship”
32 1:5 g4y4 וַ⁠יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַ⁠יֵּרָדַֽם 1 “and was lying there fast asleep” or “and was lying there and sleeping deeply” For this reason, the storm did not wake him up.
33 1:6 laa3 וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָי⁠ו֙ רַ֣ב הַ⁠חֹבֵ֔ל וַ⁠יֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖⁠וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “the man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said”
34 1:6 yx7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion מַה־לְּ⁠ךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם 1 **Why are you sleeping?** Here the captain uses a rhetorical question to scold Jonah. Alternate translation: “stop sleeping” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
35 1:6 bd4f rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom ק֚וּם 1 This is a command to begin some activity that is named following this word. 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
36 1:6 k7a5 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom קְרָ֣א אֶל־אֱלֹהֶ֔י⁠ךָ 1 “pray to your god” To **cry out to** someone means to loudly ask him for help. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
37 1:6 sk7i rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אוּלַ֞י יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָ֖⁠נוּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 The implicit information that Jonah’s god might save them could be made explicit. Alternate translation: “maybe your god will hear and save us so that we will not die” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
38 1:6 zi04 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “and he will save us” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])
39 1:7 sc57 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־רֵעֵ֗⁠הוּ 1 The phrase **each man … 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
40 1:7 l5xq לְכוּ֙ וְ⁠נַפִּ֣ילָה גֽוֹרָל֔וֹת וְ⁠נֵ֣דְעָ֔ה בְּ⁠שֶׁ⁠לְּ⁠מִ֛י הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 “we should cast lots to know who has caused this trouble” 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.
41 1:7 d726 הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את 1 This refers to the terrible storm.
42 1:7 at67 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. Alternate translation: “the lot showed that Jonah was the guilty person” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
43 1:8 wkh6 וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔י⁠ו 1 Alternate translation: “then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah”
44 1:8 e7wb הַגִּידָ⁠ה־נָּ֣א לָ֔⁠נוּ בַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֛ר לְ⁠מִי־הָ⁠רָעָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּ֖את לָ֑⁠נוּ 1 Alternate translation: “who caused this bad thing that is happening to us”
45 1:9 wav5 יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א 1 Here the word **fear** means that Jonah worshiped Yahweh and not any other god.
46 1:10 zi05 וַ⁠יִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽ⁠אֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Alternate translation: “then the men were very afraid”
47 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 at Jonah for causing so much trouble for all of them. Alternate translation: “you have done a terrible thing” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
48 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
49 1:10 jdrb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background כִּ֥י הִגִּ֖יד לָ⁠הֶֽם 1 Before the sailors cast lots, Jonah had already told them that he was running away from Yahweh, the God he worshiped. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
50 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’” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
51 1:11 kb4c וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָי⁠ו֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Then the men on the ship said to Jonah” or “Then the sailors said to Jonah”
52 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?”
53 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
54 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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]])
55 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”
56 1:13 lcd3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּחְתְּר֣וּ הָ⁠אֲנָשִׁ֗ים לְ⁠הָשִׁ֛יב אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָׁ֖ה 1 The men did not want to throw Jonah into the sea, so they did not do as Jonah suggested. This information can be made explicit. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
57 1:13 m3iq הַ⁠יָּ֔ם הוֹלֵ֥ךְ וְ⁠סֹעֵ֖ר 1 “the storm became worse, and the waves became bigger” See how you translated this idiom in [verse 11](../01/11.md).
58 1:14 ap77 וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 Alternate translation: “because of that they called out” or “because the sea became more violent they called loudly”
59 1:14 q2xq וַ⁠יִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 Alternate translation: “therefore the men prayed loudly to Yahweh”
60 1:14 jdr3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense desperation. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
61 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”
62 1:14 vv5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וְ⁠אַל־תִּתֵּ֥ן עָלֵ֖י⁠נוּ דָּ֣ם נָקִ֑יא 1 This is an idiom that means “do not consider us guilty of killing an innocent person.” 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
63 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”
64 1:15 l9cf וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 “the sea stopped moving violently:
65 1:15 ab89 וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠יָּ֖ם מִ⁠זַּעְפּֽ⁠וֹ 1 This can be stated positively. Alternate translation: “the sea became calm”
66 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”
67 1:17 q87y General Information: 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.
68 1:17 jdr4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן יְהוָה֙ דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל לִ⁠בְלֹ֖עַ אֶת־יוֹנָ֑ה 1 This clause introduces the next part of the story, where Yahweh saves Jonah from the sea, and Jonah prays. In this context, the word **Now** is used in English to introduce a new part of the story. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
69 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
70 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]])
71 2:1 alr2 יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑י⁠ו 1 This means “Yahweh, the God he worshiped.” The word **his** does not mean that Jonah owned God.
72 2:2 al5b וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah said”
73 2:2 jdrc rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry קָ֠רָאתִי מִ⁠צָּ֥רָה לִ֛⁠י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 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 in the past. 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). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-poetry]])
74 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”
75 2:2 wdr4 וַֽ⁠יַּעֲנֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “Yahweh responded to me or he helped me or you answered me”
76 2:2 w8wn rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor מִ⁠בֶּ֧טֶן שְׁא֛וֹל 1 “from the center of Sheol” or “from the deep part of Sheol” Possible meanings include: (1) Jonah was speaking of being in the belly of the fish as being in Sheol; or (2) Jonah believed that he was about to die and go to Sheol; or (3) He was speaking as if he already had died and gone to Sheol. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
77 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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names]])
78 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
79 2:3 glp2 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
80 2:3 p8fd וְ⁠נָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “the sea water closed in around me”
81 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]])
82 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. Alternate translation: “then I” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
83 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
84 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 “where you do not notice me” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
85 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.
86 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. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]])
87 2:5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Here, **water** refers to the sea.
88 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”
89 2:5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑⁠נִי 1 Alternate translation: “deep water was all around me”
90 2:5 p1fw ס֖וּף 1 **Seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea.
91 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
92 2:6 dc3r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor וַ⁠תַּ֧עַל מִ⁠שַּׁ֛חַת חַיַּ֖⁠י 1 Here the term **pit** has two This could mean: (1) this could be a way to describe being in a very deep place underground or underwater or (2) this could be a metaphor meaning the place of the dead (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]). In either case, the term probably refers to the fact that Jonah felt certain that he would die. Alternate translation: “but you saved me from dying in a deep place” or “but you saved my life from the place of the dead”
93 2:6 i3mx יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽ⁠י 1 In some languages, it may be more natural to put this at the beginning of the sentence or next to the word “you.”
94 2:7 jdr6 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִתְעַטֵּ֤ף עָלַ⁠י֙ נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 This phrase could mean either: (1) Jonah was already in the process of dying when he remembered Yahweh; or (2) Jonah had given up hope of being rescued and resigned himself to the fact that he would die. Alternate translation: “when my life was fainting away from me” or “when my spirit inside me had fainted” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]])
95 2:7 l2b6 אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה זָכָ֑רְתִּי 1 Since Jonah was praying to Yahweh, it might be more clear in some languages to say “I thought about you, Yahweh” or “Yahweh, I thought about you.”
96 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
97 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. See the UST. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])
98 2:7 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י 1 Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
99 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
100 2:8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖⁠ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 Here, **covenant faithfulness** could mean: (1) the faithfulness of God or (2) the faithfulness of the people. Therefore, it could mean (1) “are rejecting you, who would be faithful to them” or (2) “are abandoning their commitment to you”
101 2:9 q3yb rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠אֲנִ֗י 1 This expression shows that there is a contrast between the people Jonah had just spoken about and himself. They paid attention to useless gods, but he would worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “but I” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])
102 2:9 nfd2 בְּ⁠ק֤וֹל תּוֹדָה֙ אֶזְבְּחָה־לָּ֔⁠ךְ 1 This 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.
103 2:9 jdrh יְשׁוּעָ֖תָ⁠ה לַ⁠יהוָֽה 1 This last line of the poem can be understood in one of two ways: either (1) as being addressed to Yahweh as part of the description of the prayer; or (2) as 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).
104 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
105 2:10 dz3j אֶל־הַ⁠יַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 Alternate translation: “upon the ground” or “onto the shore”
106 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 he 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]])
107 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 introduces the first half of the story [1:1](../01/01.md). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
108 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: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
109 3:2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “Go to the large and important city of Nineveh”
110 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.” See how you translated this in [1:2](../01/02.md) and [1:3](../01/03.md). (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
111 3:2 ir79 וִּ⁠קְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ אֶת־הַ⁠קְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽי⁠ךָ 1 Alternate translation: “tell the people there what I tell you to tell them”
112 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. Alternate translation: “his time Jonah obeyed Yahweh and went to Nineveh” or “so Jonah left the beach and went to Nineveh, as Yahweh had commanded him” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
113 3:3 g4nk rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy כִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “the message of Yahweh” or “the command of Yahweh”
114 3:3 dt1b rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background וְ⁠נִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים מַהֲלַ֖ךְ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים 1 This sentence gives background information about the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])
115 3:3 jd8r rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽ⁠אלֹהִ֔ים 1 This is an idiom meaning that the city is both extremely large and one of the largest cities in the world. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
116 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. Alternate translation: “a city so large that it would take a person three days to walk through it” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
117 3:4 r2al וַ⁠יָּ֤חֶל יוֹנָה֙ לָ⁠ב֣וֹא בָ⁠עִ֔יר מַהֲלַ֖ךְ י֣וֹם אֶחָ֑ד וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ 1 This phrase has two This could mean: (1) Jonah walked a day’s journey into the city, then he started calling out; or (2) while Jonah was walking through the city on the first day, he started calling out.
118 3:4 r94k וַ⁠יִּקְרָא֙ וַ⁠יֹּאמַ֔ר 1 Alternate translation: “and he proclaimed” or “and he shouted”
119 3:4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Alternate translation: “after 40 days” or “in 40 days” or “there remain 40 days, and”
120 3:4 q2nc rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 **forty days** (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
121 3:5 ab90 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יִּקְרְאוּ־צוֹם֙ 1 People fasted to show sadness or devotion to God or both. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
122 3:5 e5lm rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ שַׂקִּ֔ים 1 The reason why people **put on sackcloth** can be stated more clearly. Alternate translation: “they also put on coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for having sinned” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
123 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”
124 3:6 pna3 הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ 1 Alternate translation: “Jonah’s message”
125 3:6 h9wz rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨קָם֙ מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 “he got up from his throne” or “he stood up from his throne” The king left his throne to show that he was acting humbly. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
126 3:6 pvp7 מִ⁠כִּסְא֔⁠וֹ 1 A **throne** is a special chair that a king sits on when performing his official duties as king. It is reserved for only the king.
127 3:6 ab91 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction וַ⁠יֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הָ⁠אֵֽפֶר 1 **Sitting in ashes** was a way to show great humility and sorrow. In this case, it was to show how sorry he was for his sin. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]])
128 3:7 v29b וַ⁠יַּזְעֵ֗ק וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙ & לֵ⁠אמֹ֑ר 1 Alternate translation: “he sent out an official announcement that said” or “he sent his messengers to announce”
129 3:7 zi06 מִ⁠טַּ֧עַם הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 Alternate translation: “a command with the full authority of the king and his officials”
130 3:7 n5fn וּ⁠גְדֹלָ֖י⁠ו 1 The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city.
131 3:7 xw6c הַ⁠בָּקָ֣ר וְ⁠הַ⁠צֹּ֗אן 1 This refers to two kinds 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). Alternate translation: “cattle or sheep”
132 3:7 fw18 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit אַ֨ל־יִרְע֔וּ וּ⁠מַ֖יִם אַל־יִשְׁתּֽוּ 1 “they must not eat or drink anything” The reason they were not to eat or drink anything can be made explicit by adding “in order to show that they are sorry for their sins.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
133 3:8 mzx6 וְ⁠הַ⁠בְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 Here the word **animal** refers to animals that people own.
134 3:8 jh7e rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠יִקְרְא֥וּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּ⁠חָזְקָ֑ה 1 “and they must pray earnestly to God” What the people were to pray for can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and they must cry out loudly to God and ask for mercy” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
135 3:8 n3ls הֶ⁠חָמָ֖ס אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּ⁠כַפֵּי⁠הֶֽם 1 Here, **hands** is a metonym meaning doing. This refers to the violence that the people of Nineveh were doing. Alternate translation: “the violent things that he has done” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
136 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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
137 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. Alternate translation: “God may decide instead to have compassion” or “God may do the opposite of what he said and be merciful” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
138 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. Alternate translation: “from his anger” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
139 3:9 uvp9 וְ⁠לֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 Alternate translation: “and we will not die”
140 3:10 w3uu וַ⁠יַּ֤רְא הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂי⁠הֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 Alternate translation: “God saw that they stopped doing evil actions”
141 3:10 k8am rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor שָׁ֖בוּ מִ⁠דַּרְכָּ֣⁠ם הָ⁠רָעָ֑ה 1 Here the author speaks of the people stopping their sinning as if they turned around from walking on a path toward evil and started walking in the opposite direction. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
142 3:10 ab85 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 of 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.
143 3:10 it1a rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה 1 What God did not do can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and he did not punish them” or “and he did not destroy them” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
144 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 forty 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 and 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]])
145 4:1 jdr8 rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent וַ⁠יֵּ֥רַע אֶל־יוֹנָ֖ה רָעָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ׃ 1 This sentence introduces the next part of the story where Jonah responds to God saving the city of Nineveh. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
146 4:1 abc3 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom וַ⁠יִּ֖חַר לֽ⁠וֹ 1 This 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
147 4:2 q6bb rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations אָנָּ֤ה 1 In this context, the word **Ah!** shows intense frustration. Represent this emotion in the most natural way for your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclamations]])
148 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 it is more clear, this can be made into a statement. Alternate translation: “ah, Yahweh, this is what I said when I was still in my own country” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
149 4:2 ab79 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit יְהוָה֙ הֲ⁠לוֹא־זֶ֣ה דְבָרִ֗⁠י עַד־הֱיוֹתִ⁠י֙ עַל־אַדְמָתִ֔⁠י 1 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
150 4:2 ab81 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ 1 This is an idiom meaning that Yahweh does not get angry quickly. Alternate translation: “slow to get angry” or “very patient” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
151 4:2 jv5c וְ⁠רַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 Alternate translation: “and very faithful” or “and you love people very much”
152 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 changes his mind when sinners repent of their sin. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “and you feel sadness about causing disaster for sinners” or “and you decide not to punish sinners who repent” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
153 4:3 dm5t rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit קַח־נָ֥א אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖⁠י מִמֶּ֑⁠נִּי 1 Jonah’s reason for wanting to die can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “since you will not destroy Nineveh as you said you would, please allow me to die” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
154 4:3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 Alternate translation: “I would prefer to die rather than to live” or “because I want to die. I do not want to live”
155 4:4 ab82 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 This is an idiom that speaks of Jonah’s anger as if it were a fire burning inside him. See how you translated it in [4:1](../04/01.md). Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry about this” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
156 4:4 ab83 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit הַ⁠הֵיטֵ֖ב חָ֥רָה לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 The reason for Jonah’s anger can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right for you to be angry that I did not destroy Nineveh” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
157 4:5 q1f7 וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָ⁠עִ֔יר 1 Alternate translation: “then Jonah left the city of Nineveh”
158 4:5 af46 מַה־יִּהְיֶ֖ה בָּ⁠עִֽיר 1 Jonah wanted to see if God would destroy the city or not. Alternate translation: “what would become of the city” or “what God would do to the city”
159 4:6 i4r4 מֵ⁠עַ֣ל לְ⁠יוֹנָ֗ה לִֽ⁠הְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔⁠וֹ 1 Alternate translation: “over Jonah’s head for shade”
160 4:6 t21k לְ⁠הַצִּ֥יל ל֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠רָֽעָת֑⁠וֹ 1 Here the term **evil** could mean two things (or both at the same time): (1) “discomfort” or “distress,” meaning the intense heat of the sun shining on Jonah’s head; or (2) “wrong,” meaning Jonah’s wrong attitude concerning God’s decision not to destroy Nineveh. If both meanings can be preserved, that is preferable. If not, you could choose an Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” or “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
161 4:7 t7il וַ⁠יְמַ֤ן הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Alternate translation: “then God sent a worm”
162 4:7 rw7z וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַ⁠קִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 Alternate translation: “and the worm chewed the plant”
163 4:7 d16m וַ⁠יִּיבָֽשׁ 1 The plant became dry and died. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
164 4:8 jdr9 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background וַ⁠יְהִ֣י׀ כִּ⁠זְרֹ֣חַ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ 1 The **rising of the sun** is background information that gives the time when the hot wind from the east started blowing. Express this relationship in a natural way in your language. (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
165 4:8 hmi4 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יְמַ֨ן אֱלֹהִ֜ים ר֤וּחַ קָדִים֙ חֲרִישִׁ֔ית 1 God caused a hot wind from the east to blow on Jonah. If “wind” in your language can only mean a cool or cold wind, then you can try this alternate translation: “God sent a very hot warmth from the east to Jonah.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
166 4:8 mnu9 וַ⁠תַּ֥ךְ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 Alternate translation: “the sun was very hot”
167 4:8 u2pl rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ יוֹנָ֖ה 1 This phrase 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 a synecdoche meaning Jonah’s entire body. Alternate translation: “on Jonah” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]])
168 4:8 z95v וַ⁠יִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 Alternate translation: “and he became very weak” or “and he lost his strength”
169 4:8 ab87 וַ⁠יִּשְׁאַ֤ל אֶת־נַפְשׁ⁠וֹ֙ לָ⁠מ֔וּת 1 Jonah is talking to himself. Alternate translation: “he wished he would die” or “he wanted to die”
170 4:8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖⁠י מֵ⁠חַיָּֽ⁠י 1 “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).
171 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. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “is it right that you should be so angry about the plant that only gave shade to you” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
172 4:9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖⁠י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 Alternate translation: “I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die”
173 4:10 gkz7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָ֔ה 1 Here Yahweh is speaking to Jonah. This implicit information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Yahweh said to Jonah” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
174 4:10 ab88 rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom שֶׁ⁠בִּן־ לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּ⁠בִן־ לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד־ לַ֥יְלָה 1 This idiom means that the plant existed only briefly. Alternate translation: “it grew in one night and died the next” or “it grew quickly and died just as quickly” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
175 4:11 jdr0 rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙ 1 This expression, paired with **As for you** in verse 10, shows a comparison between Jonah’s attitude toward the plant and Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Express this comparison in a natural way in your language.(See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases]])
176 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” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])
177 4:11 dqi1 אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ 1 This can also be translated as the beginning of a new sentence. Alternate translation: “There are more than” or “it has more than”
178 4:11 c3b7 rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 **one hundred twenty thousand people** (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
179 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.” (See: [[rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])