Jonah 3

1 Then the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah] came [was given, came into being] to Jonah [the prophet, a messenger of God] a second [again, another time] time [occasion, instance] [saying, to speak, to command]: word study 2 “Get up [arise, stand up]! Go to the great [large, important] city of Nineveh [the capital of Assyria] and proclaim [preach, announce] to it the message [preaching, proclamation] that I [the Lord] give you [command, bid].” word study 3 This time Jonah [the prophet, son of Amittai] got up [rose, stood] and went to Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria], in accordance with the word [command, instruction] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly [very, extremely] great [large, important] city, requiring [needing, taking] a three-day [thrice, triune] [24-hour period, time of opportunity] journey [path, travel]. word study 4 On the first day of his journey [path, travel], Jonah [the prophet, son of Amittai] set out [began to walk, entered] into the city [Nineveh, the capital of Assyria] and proclaimed [cried out, shouted], “Forty [a significant period of time, 40 days] more days [a period of time, a season] and Nineveh [the great city, the capital of Assyria] will be overturned [destroyed, turned upside down]!” word study 5 And the Ninevites believed [trusted, had faith in] God [Elohim, the one supreme God]. They proclaimed [called out, announced] a fast [time of abstaining from food, spiritual discipline] and dressed in sackcloth [coarse cloth], from the greatest [most important, highest in rank] of them to the least [smallest, lowest in position]. word study 6 When word [the tidings, news] reached the king [ruler, monarch] of Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria], he got up [arose, stood up] from his throne [seat of authority], took off [laid aside, removed] his royal robe [cloak, garment], covered himself [wrapped himself] with sackcloth [coarse cloth], and sat [dwelt, remained] in ashes. word study 7 Then he issued a proclamation [publicly declared, cried out] in Nineveh [the capital city of Assyria]: “By the decree [official command, royal edict] of the king [ruler, sovereign] and his nobles [great ones, high officials]: Let no man [human being, person] or beast [animal, creature], herd [cattle, livestock] or flock [sheep, goats], taste [eat, consume] anything at all [nothing, not a thing]. They must not eat [feed, consume food] or drink [take in, swallow]. word study 8 Furthermore, let both man [human, the first created being] and beast [animal, living creature] be covered with sackcloth [coarse cloth], and have everyone call out [cry mightily, pray sincerely] earnestly to God [Elohim, the supreme Being]. Let each one turn [return, repent] from his evil [bad, wicked] ways [path, manner of life] and from the violence [injustice, cruelty] in his hands [palm, actions]. word study 9 Who knows [perhaps, maybe]? God [Elohim, the supreme One] may turn [change direction, relent] and relent [be sorry, show compassion]; He may turn [change His mind, turn away] from His fierce anger [burning wrath, intense emotion], so that we will not perish [be destroyed, lost].” word study 10 When God [Elohim, the supreme God] saw their actions [works, deeds]—that they had turned [repented, changed direction] from their evil [bad, wicked] ways [path, manner of life]—He relented [repented, showed pity] from the disaster [evil, calamity] He had threatened [spoken of, promised] to bring upon them [to do to them, against them]. word study