◄ Jonah 3:7 ►
Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink.
Study Bible
Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh
The phrase "Then he issued a proclamation" indicates a formal and authoritative command. In the ancient Near Eastern context, proclamations were often used by rulers to communicate important decrees to the populace. The Hebrew word for "proclamation" (קְרִיאָה, qeri'ah) suggests a public announcement meant to reach all inhabitants. Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, was a significant city known for its power and influence. The issuing of a proclamation here underscores the seriousness with which the king of Nineveh took Jonah's message from God.

By the decree of the king and his nobles
The "decree" (טַעַם, ta'am) signifies a binding order, reflecting the authority of the king and his council of nobles. This collective decision-making process highlights the gravity of the situation and the unified response of the leadership. In the ancient world, the king's word was law, and the inclusion of the nobles suggests a consensus among the ruling class, emphasizing the widespread acceptance of the need for repentance.

Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all
The command for "no man or beast" to "taste anything" is a call for a complete fast. The inclusion of animals in the fast is unusual and underscores the depth of the city's repentance. In the Hebrew culture, fasting was a sign of humility and penitence before God. The word "taste" (טָעַם, ta'am) implies even the slightest consumption, indicating the thoroughness of the fast. This comprehensive abstinence from food reflects the urgency and sincerity of their repentance.

They must not eat or drink
The prohibition against eating or drinking further emphasizes the severity of the fast. In the ancient Near East, fasting was often accompanied by prayer and mourning, a physical manifestation of spiritual contrition. The Hebrew words for "eat" (אָכַל, akal) and "drink" (שָׁתָה, shatah) are basic necessities of life, and their denial signifies a desperate plea for divine mercy. This act of self-denial is a powerful expression of the Ninevites' desire to avert the impending judgment prophesied by Jonah.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The King of Nineveh
The ruler of the Assyrian city of Nineveh, who responds to Jonah's message by leading the city in repentance.

2. Nineveh
A major city in the Assyrian Empire, known for its wickedness, which God calls to repentance through Jonah.

3. Jonah
A prophet of God who initially runs from God's command but eventually delivers God's message to Nineveh.

4. The Proclamation
An official decree made by the king and his nobles, calling for a city-wide fast and repentance.

5. The Nobles
The leaders and officials of Nineveh who support the king's decree and participate in the call to repentance.
Teaching Points
The Power of Leadership in Repentance
The king's response to Jonah's message demonstrates the influence leaders have in guiding others toward repentance and change.

The Universality of Repentance
The decree includes both man and beast, symbolizing the comprehensive nature of repentance that involves all aspects of life.

Fasting as a Sign of Sincerity
The call to fast reflects a deep sincerity in seeking God's mercy, showing that true repentance often involves tangible actions.

Collective Responsibility
The entire city of Nineveh participates in the fast, illustrating the importance of community-wide accountability and action in seeking God's forgiveness.

God's Mercy in Response to Repentance
The account of Nineveh highlights God's willingness to relent from judgment when people genuinely turn from their sins.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the king of Nineveh's response to Jonah's message challenge or inspire you in your own leadership roles, whether in family, work, or community?

2. In what ways can fasting be a meaningful part of your spiritual practice today, and how does it relate to the sincerity of your repentance?

3. How can the account of Nineveh's repentance encourage us to take collective action in addressing societal sins and injustices?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's mercy after a period of repentance. How does this shape your understanding of His character?

5. How can the example of Nineveh's repentance inform our approach to evangelism and sharing the message of repentance with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joel 2:12-14
This passage also calls for fasting and repentance, emphasizing the importance of turning to God with sincere hearts.

Matthew 12:41
Jesus references the repentance of Nineveh as a testimony against those who refuse to repent at His preaching.

Esther 4:16
Similar to Nineveh's fast, Esther calls for a fast among the Jews, showing the power of collective repentance and seeking God's favor.

2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse highlights God's promise to forgive and heal the land if His people humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways.

Acts 17:30
Paul speaks of God's command for all people everywhere to repent, aligning with the universal call to repentance seen in Nineveh.
Sermons
A Heathen City in SackclothJ.E. Henry Jonah 3:4-10
Belief Inspired by FearJonah 3:5-9
Effect of Jonah's PreachingSermons by Monday ClubJonah 3:5-9
Genuine ReformationHomilistJonah 3:5-9
God's Purpose of Grace in the Salvation of SinnersN. Paisley.Jonah 3:5-9
Jonah At NinevehSermons by Monday ClubJonah 3:5-9
Jonah's PreachingMontagu Villiers, M. A.Jonah 3:5-9
Jonah's Successful Ministry in NinevehG.T. Coster Jonah 3:5-9
Nineveh Brought to RepentanceJames Menzies.Jonah 3:5-9
RepentanceA. Maclaren, D. D.Jonah 3:5-9
The Nature and Result of True RepentanceA. G. Hellicar, M. A.Jonah 3:5-9
The Repentance of NinevehW.G. Blaikie Jonah 3:5-9
The Repentance of the NinevitesA. Bonar, D. D.Jonah 3:5-9
People
Jonah
Places
Joppa, Nineveh
Topics
Animal, Anything, Beast, Decree, Drink, Eat, Feed, Flock, Herd, Nineveh, Nobles, Proclamation, Published, Saying, Taste
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jonah 3:7

     5187   taste
     5335   herald
     5463   proclamations
     5723   nobles

Jonah 3:1-9

     7712   convincing

Jonah 3:1-10

     1055   God, grace and mercy
     5426   news
     7757   preaching, effects
     8479   self-examination, examples

Jonah 3:3-10

     5345   influence

Jonah 3:4-10

     6027   sin, remedy for

Jonah 3:5-8

     6735   repentance, examples

Jonah 3:5-9

     6742   sackcloth and ashes
     8431   fasting, reasons

Jonah 3:5-10

     6629   conversion, examples
     6740   returning to God

Jonah 3:6-8

     5865   gestures

Jonah 3:6-9

     5794   asceticism
     6227   regret

Jonah 3:6-10

     1120   God, repentance of

Library
Threefold Repentance
'And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 2. Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. 3. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. 4. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall he overthrown. 5. So the people of Ninoveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Who Can Tell?
With this by way of preface, I shall now somewhat turn aside from the narrative, to address myself to those who are trembling on account of sin and who are in the same position as the men of Nineveh, and like them anxiously desiring mercy. I shall notice briefly this morning three things. First, the miserable plight in which the men of Nineveh found themselves; secondly, the scanty reasons which they had for hope; and then, thirdly, I shall observe that we have stronger reasons to compel us to pray, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Of the Public Fast.
A public fast is when, by the authority of the magistrate (Jonah iii. 7; 2 Chron. xx. 3; Ezra viii. 21), either the whole church within his dominion, or some special congregation, whom it concerneth, assemble themselves together, to perform the fore-mentioned duties of humiliation; either for the removing of some public calamity threatened or already inflicted upon them, as the sword, invasion, famine, pestilence, or other fearful sickness (1 Sam. vii. 5, 6; Joel ii. 15; 2 Chron. xx.; Jonah iii. …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Wear Coarser Clothes than Others?
Objection 1: It would seem unlawful for religious to wear coarser clothes than others. For according to the Apostle (1 Thess. 5:22) we ought to "refrain from all appearance of evil." Now coarseness of clothes has an appearance of evil; for our Lord said (Mat. 7:15): "Beware of false prophets who come to you in the clothing of sheep": and a gloss on Apoc. 6:8, "Behold a pale horse," says: "The devil finding that he cannot succeed, neither by outward afflictions nor by manifest heresies, sends in advance …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Things Known or Declared Prophetically Can be False?
Objection 1: It would seem that things known or declared prophetically can be false. For prophecy is about future contingencies, as stated above (A[3] ). Now future contingencies may possibly not happen; else they would happen of necessity. Therefore the matter of prophecy can be false. Objection 2: Further, Isaias prophesied to Ezechias saying (Is. 38:1): "Take order with thy house, for thou shalt surely die, and shalt not live," and yet fifteen years were added to his life (4 Kings 20:6). Again …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether all are Bound to Keep the Fasts of the Church?
Objection 1: It would seem that all are bound to keep the fasts of the Church. For the commandments of the Church are binding even as the commandments of God, according to Lk. 10:16, "He that heareth you heareth Me." Now all are bound to keep the commandments of God. Therefore in like manner all are bound to keep the fasts appointed by the Church. Objection 2: Further, children especially are seemingly not exempt from fasting, on account of their age: for it is written (Joel 2:15): "Sanctify a fast," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Concerning the Sacrament of Penance
In this third part I shall speak of the sacrament of penance. By the tracts and disputations which I have published on this subject I have given offence to very many, and have amply expressed my own opinions. I must now briefly repeat these statements, in order to unveil the tyranny which attacks us on this point as unsparingly as in the sacrament of the bread. In these two sacraments gain and lucre find a place, and therefore the avarice of the shepherds has raged to an incredible extent against …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Upon Our Lord's SermonOn the Mount
Discourse 7 "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: And thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:16-18. 1. It has been the endeavour of Satan, from the beginning of the world, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. Regeneration. D. Justification. E. Adoption. F. Sanctification. G. Prayer.
THE DOCTRINES OF SALVATION. A. REPENTANCE. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE. II. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE. 1. AS TOUCHING THE INTELLECT. 2. AFFECTING THE EMOTIONS. 3. WILL. a) Confess Sin. b) Forsake Sin. c) Turn to God. III. HOW REPENTANCE IS PRODUCED. 1. DIVINE SIDE. 2. HUMAN SIDE. 3. QUESTION OF MEANS. IV. RESULTS OF REPENTANCE. 1. GODWARD. 2. MANWARD. A. REPENTANCE. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DOCTRINE. The prominence given to the doctrine of Repentance in the Scriptures can hardly be overestimated. …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Unchangeableness of God
The next attribute is God's unchangeableness. I am Jehovah, I change not.' Mal 3:3. I. God is unchangeable in his nature. II. In his decree. I. Unchangeable in his nature. 1. There is no eclipse of his brightness. 2. No period put to his being. [1] No eclipse of his brightness. His essence shines with a fixed lustre. With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.' James 1:17. Thou art the same.' Psa 102:27. All created things are full of vicissitudes. Princes and emperors are subject to …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Jonah
The book of Jonah is, in some ways, the greatest in the Old Testament: there is no other which so bravely claims the whole world for the love of God, or presents its noble lessons with so winning or subtle an art. Jonah, a Hebrew prophet, is divinely commanded to preach to Nineveh, the capital of the great Assyrian empire of his day. To escape the unwelcome task of preaching to a heathen people, he takes ship for the distant west, only to be overtaken by a storm, and thrown into the sea, when, by …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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