Jonah 4:3

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

American Standard Version (1901)

Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Bible in Basic English

So now, O Lord, give ear to my prayer and take my life from me; for death is better for me than life.

Free Bible Version

So just kill me now, Lord, because I'd prefer to die than to live!”

Geneva Bible 1599

Therefore nowe O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me: for it is better for me to die then to liue.

King James (Authorized) Version

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Translation for Translators

So now, O Yahweh, since you will not destroy Nineveh city as you said you would, allow me to die, because it would be better for me to die than to continue to live.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Therefore now, Yahweh, I beg you, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Noah Webster Bible

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

World English Bible

Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Young's Literal Translation

And now, O Jehovah, take, I pray Thee, my soul from me, for better [is] my death than my life.'

Context

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

²So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.³And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Sermons

There Is a Samaritan Here for You

Gary Wilkerson

Summary

In Jonah 4:3, Jonah expresses his frustration and anger towards God for showing mercy to the people of Nineveh. Despite being used by God to deliver a message of repentance to the city, Jonah resents God's compassion towards the Ninevites, as he had hoped for their destruction. This verse reveals Jonah's struggle with his own prejudices and lack of understanding of God's boundless love and forgiveness for all people, regardless of their past sins. It serves as a reminder of the importance of humility, compassion, and aligning our hearts with God's will, even when it challenges our own desires or beliefs.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Take, I beseech thee, my life from me - קח נא את נפשי kach na eth naphshi, "Take, I beseech thee, even my Soul." Do not let me survive this disgrace. Thou hast spared this city. I thought thou wouldst do so, because thou art merciful and gracious, and it was on this account that I refused to go at first, as I knew that thou mightest change thy purpose, though thou hadst commanded me to make an absolute denunciation of judgment. God has left this example on record to show that an inconsiderate man is not fit to be employed in his work; and he chose this one example that it might serve as an endless warning to his Church to employ no man in the work of the ministry that is not scripturally acquainted with God's justice and mercy.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me,.... Or, "my soul" (x). This, as Drusius remarks, may be observed against those that think the soul is not immortal; for by this it appears that it my be taken from the body, and that it exists separate from it, and does not die with it; and since the body dies upon its removal, for "the body without the spirit is dead", as James says; death is expressed by this phrase, Job 27:8; here Jonah allows that God is the God of life, the author and giver of it, and is the sole disposer of it; it is in his own power to take it away, and not man's: so far Jonah was right, that he did not in his passion attempt to take away his own life; only desires the Lord to do it, though in that he is not to be justified; for though it may be lawful for good men to desire to die, with submission to the will of God; that they might be free from sin, and serve him without it, and be with Christ, and in the enjoyment of the divine Presence, as the Apostle Paul and others did, Co2 5:6; but not through discontent, as Elijah, Kg1 19:4; or merely to be rid of troubles, and to be free from pain and afflictions, as Job, Job 6:1; and much less in a pet and passion, as Jonah here, giving this reason for it, for it is better for me to die than to live; not being able to bear the reproach of being a false prophet, which he imagined would be cast upon him; or, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi, that he might not see the evil come upon Israel, which he feared the repentance of the Ninevites would be the occasion of, Jonah was in a very poor frame of spirit to die in; this would not have been dying in faith and hope in God; which graces cannot be thought to be in lively exercise in him when he was quarrelling with God; neither in love to God, with whom he was angry; nor in love to men, at whose repentance, and finding mercy with the Lord, he was displeased. (x) "animam meam", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellins, Piscator, Drusius, Cocceius.

Jonah 4:3

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

American Standard Version (1901)

Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Bible in Basic English

So now, O Lord, give ear to my prayer and take my life from me; for death is better for me than life.

Free Bible Version

So just kill me now, Lord, because I'd prefer to die than to live!”

Geneva Bible 1599

Therefore nowe O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me: for it is better for me to die then to liue.

King James (Authorized) Version

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

Translation for Translators

So now, O Yahweh, since you will not destroy Nineveh city as you said you would, allow me to die, because it would be better for me to die than to continue to live.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Therefore now, Yahweh, I beg you, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Noah Webster Bible

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

World English Bible

Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Young's Literal Translation

And now, O Jehovah, take, I pray Thee, my soul from me, for better [is] my death than my life.'

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Jonah 4:3

Verse

Context

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Jonah 4:3

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

There Is a Samaritan Here for You

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes