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Book Chapter Verse ID SupportReference OrigQuote Occurrence GLQuote OccurrenceNote
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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>1. 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]])
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JON 1 intro xvp2 0 # Jonah 01 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 and who 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 is running away from God. Although the Gentile sailors are not Israelites, they act out of faith and fear of Yahweh when sending Jonah to a 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 going into a ship and sailing to get away from Yahweh. His actions are contrasted by 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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 1 1 qa3z דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה 1 the word of Yahweh **the message of Yahweh**
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JON 1 1 s6av יְהוָ֔ה 1 Yahweh This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament.
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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]])
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JON 1 2 x5ua ק֠וּם לֵ֧ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֛ה הָעִ֥יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city **Go to the large and important city of Nineveh**
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 1 2 rki2 עָלְתָ֥ה רָעָתָ֖ם לְפָנָֽי 1 their wickedness has risen up before my face **I know they have been continually sinning** or **I know that their sin has been getting worse and worse**
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JON 1 2 jd9r figs-metonymy לְפָנָֽ 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]])
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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. Alternate translation: “But Jonah ran away” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 1 3 djv1 וַיֵּ֨רֶד יָפ֜וֹ 1 And he went down to Joppa **Jonah went to Joppa**
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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.
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JON 1 3 pz67 וַיִּתֵּ֨ן שְׂכָרָ֜הּ 1 So he paid the fare **There Jonah paid for the trip**
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JON 1 3 g5xp וַיֵּ֤רֶד בָּהּ֙ 1 and went down into it **got on the ship**
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JON 1 3 i6bi עִמָּהֶם֙ 1 with them The word **them** refers to the others who were going on the ship.
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 1 4 jl77 figs-activepassive לְהִשָּׁבֵֽר 1 to be broken This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “to break apart” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
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JON 1 5 d13r הַמַּלָּחִ֗ים 1 the sailors the men who worked on the ship
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JON 1 5 u2bj אֱלֹהָיו֒ 1 his own god Here **god** refers to false gods and idols that people worship.
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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.
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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**
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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]])
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JON 1 5 f63r יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַסְּפִינָ֔ה 1 the innermost parts of the ship **inside the ship**
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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.
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JON 1 6 laa3 וַיִּקְרַ֤ב אֵלָיו֙ רַ֣ב הַחֹבֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ 1 So the captain of the crew came to him and said to him **The man in charge of the men working on the ship went to Jonah and said**
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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]])
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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 and 1:3. 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]])
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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 ask him loudly for help. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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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]])
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JON 1 6 ab88 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]])
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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]])
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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.
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JON 1 7 d726 הָרָעָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את 1 this evil This refers to the terrible storm.
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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]])
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JON 1 8 wkh6 וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יו 1 Then they said to him **Then the men who were working on the ship said to Jonah**
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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 **Who caused this bad thing that is happening to us?**
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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.
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JON 1 10 ab79 וַיִּֽירְא֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ יִרְאָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה 1 Then the men were afraid with great fear **Then the men were very afraid**
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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]])
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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]])
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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 worshipped. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]])
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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]])
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JON 1 11 kb4c וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ 1 Then they said to him **Then the men on the ship said to Jonah** or **Then the sailors said to Jonah**
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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? **What should we do with you in order to make the sea become calm?**
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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]])
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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]])
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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 **because I know that this huge storm is my fault**
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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]])
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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.
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JON 1 14 ap77 וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ 1 So they cried out **Because of that they called out** or **Because the sea became more violent they called loudly**
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JON 1 14 q2xq וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ אֶל־יְהוָ֜ה 1 So they cried out to Yahweh **Therefore the men prayed loudly to Yahweh**
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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]])
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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 **O Yahweh, please do not kill us because we caused this man to die** or **O Yahweh, even though we are going to cause this man to die, please do not kill us**
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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]])
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JON 1 14 ab73 אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָפַ֖צְתָּ עָשִֽׂיתָ 1 you, Yahweh, have done just as you desired **you, Yahweh, have chosen to do things in this way** or **you, Yahweh, have caused all this to happen**
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JON 1 15 l9cf וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד הַיָּ֖ם מִזַּעְפּֽוֹ 1 the sea ceased from its raging **the sea stopped moving violently**
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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”
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JON 1 16 r3gs וַיִּֽירְא֧וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה 1 Then the men feared Yahweh with great fear **Then the men became greatly awed at Yahweh’s power** or **Then the men worshiped Yahweh with great awe**
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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.
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 2 intro ae4k 0 # Jonah 02 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 trapped is compared to a prison. Jonah is overwhelmed by the depth of the sea and expresses this by speaking about 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 if he was genuinely repentant. If possible, it is best for translators to avoid making 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]])
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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.
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JON 2 2 al5b וַיֹּ֗אמֶר 1 And he said **Jonah said**
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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]])
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JON 2 2 s7fi קָ֠רָאתִי מִצָּ֥רָה לִ֛י אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה 1 I cried out to Yahweh from my distress **I prayed to Yahweh during my great trouble** or **Yahweh, I cried out to you during my distress**
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JON 2 2 wdr4 וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִי 1 he answered me **Yahweh responded to me** or **he helped me** or **you answered me**
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 2 3 p8fd וְנָהָ֖ר יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי 1 a current surrounded me **the sea water closed in around me**
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 2 4 x1w9 figs-activepassive נִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּי 1 I have been driven out This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “You drove me out” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
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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]])
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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.
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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]])
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JON 2 5 rf4b מַ֨יִם֙ 1 Water Here **Water** refers to the sea.
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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”
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JON 2 5 nr3v תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי 1 the deep was surrounding me **deep water was all around me**
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JON 2 5 p1fw ס֖וּף 1 seaweed **seaweed** is grass that grows in the sea
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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]])
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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 possible meanings: (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”
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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**.
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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]])
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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.”
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 2 8 jdre נַפְשִׁ֔י 1 my spirit Here the Hebrew term **my spirit** could also mean **my life**.
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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]])
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JON 2 8 fac9 חַסְדָּ֖ם יַעֲזֹֽבוּ 1 forsake their covenant faithfulness Here, **covenant faithfulness** could refer to (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”
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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]])
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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.
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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).
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JON 2 9 r4j4 figs-abstractnouns יְשׁוּעָ֖תָה לַיהוָֽה 1 Salvation belongs to Yahweh This can be reworded so that the abstract noun **salvation** is expressed as the verb **save**. Alternate translation: “Yahweh is the one who saves people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]])
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JON 2 10 dz3j אֶל־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה 1 onto the dry land **upon the ground** or **onto the shore**
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JON 3 intro z3ut 0 # Jonah 03 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]])
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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). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])
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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/ll6c). Alternate translation: “Yahweh spoke his message” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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JON 3 2 ve4i ק֛וּם לֵ֥ךְ אֶל־נִֽינְוֵ֖ה הָעִ֣יר הַגְּדוֹלָ֑ה 1 Get up, go to Nineveh, the great city **Go to the large and important city of Nineveh**
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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 and 1:3. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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JON 3 2 ir79 וִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ אֶת־הַקְּרִיאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י דֹּבֵ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ 1 call out to it the proclamation that I tell to you **tell the people there what I tell you to tell them**
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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: **This 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]])
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JON 3 3 g4nk figs-metonymy כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה 1 the word of Yahweh **the message of Yahweh** or **the command of Yahweh**
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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 possible meanings: (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.
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JON 3 4 r94k וַיִּקְרָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר 1 and he called out and said **and he proclaimed** or **and he shouted**
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JON 3 4 ab78 ע֚וֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 Until 40 days **After 40 days** or **In 40 days** **There remain 40 days, and**
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JON 3 4 q2nc translate-numbers אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם 1 40 days **forty days** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 3 5 isk5 מִגְּדוֹלָ֖ם וְעַד־קְטַנָּֽם 1 from the greatest of them even to the least of them **from the most significant to the least significant people** or **including all of the important people and all of the unimportant people**
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JON 3 6 pna3 הַדָּבָר֙ 1 the word **Jonah’s message**
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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]])
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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.
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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]])
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JON 3 7 v29b וַיַּזְעֵ֗ק וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙…לֵאמֹ֑ר 1 And he proclaimed and spoke **He sent out an official announcement that said** or **He sent his messengers to announce**
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JON 3 7 ab79 מִטַּ֧עַם הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וּגְדֹלָ֖יו 1 from a decree of the king and his nobles **a command with the full authority of the king and his officials**
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JON 3 7 n5fn וּגְדֹלָ֖יו 1 nobles The term **nobles** refers to important men who helped the king rule the city.
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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”
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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]])
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JON 3 8 mzx6 וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה 1 every animal Here the word **animal** refers to animals that people own.
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 3 9 uvp9 וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד 1 so that we will not perish **and we will not die**
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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 **God saw that they stopped doing evil actions**
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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]])
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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.
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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]])
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JON 4 intro ys57 0 # Jonah 04 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><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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 4 2 jv5c וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד 1 and abundant in covenant faithfulness **and very faithful** or **and you love people very much**
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 4 3 yk5v כִּ֛י ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖י מֵחַיָּֽי 1 for my death is better than my life **I would prefer to die than to live** or **because I want to die. I do not want to live**
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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. Alternate translation: “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]])
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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]])
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JON 4 5 q1f7 וַיֵּצֵ֤א יוֹנָה֙ מִן־הָעִ֔יר 1 Then Jonah went out from the city **Then Jonah left the city of Nineveh**
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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”
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JON 4 6 i4r4 מֵעַ֣ל לְיוֹנָ֗ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ 1 from over Jonah to be a shade over his head **over Jonah’s head for shade**
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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 can choose an Alternate translation: “to protect Jonah from the heat of the sun” or “to save Jonah from his wrong attitude”
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JON 4 7 t7il וַיְמַ֤ן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ תּוֹלַ֔עַת 1 Then God appointed a worm **Then God sent a worm**
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JON 4 7 rw7z וַתַּ֥ךְ אֶת־הַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹן 1 and it attacked the plant **and the worm chewed the plant**
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JON 4 7 d16m וַיִּיבָֽשׁ 1 and it withered The plant became dry and died. Alternate translation: “so that the plant died”
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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]])
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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]])
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JON 4 8 mnu9 וַתַּ֥ךְ הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁ 1 the sun beat down **the sun was very hot**
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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]])
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JON 4 8 z95v וַיִּתְעַלָּ֑ף 1 and he became faint **and he became very weak** or **and he lost his strength**
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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”
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JON 4 8 eln6 ט֥וֹב מוֹתִ֖י מֵחַיָּֽי 1 My death is better than my life **I would prefer to die than live** or **I want to die. I do not want to live**. See how you translated this in [4:3](../04/03/yk5v).
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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]])
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JON 4 9 h43a הֵיטֵ֥ב חָֽרָה־לִ֖י עַד־מָֽוֶת 1 It is right that it burns to me, even as far as death. **I am right to be angry. I am angry enough to die!**
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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]])
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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**
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JON 4 11 c3b7 translate-numbers מִֽשְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם 1 120,000 people **one hundred and twenty thousand people** (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]])
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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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