◄ Jonah 3:8 ►
Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.
Study Bible
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth
The use of "sackcloth" in this context is deeply symbolic, representing repentance and humility before God. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, sackcloth was a coarse material, often made from goat's hair, worn as a sign of mourning or penitence. The inclusion of "beast" alongside "man" emphasizes the totality of the city's repentance, suggesting that the entire creation is involved in this act of contrition. This reflects the Hebrew understanding of communal responsibility and the interconnectedness of all creation under God's sovereignty.

Let everyone call out earnestly to God
The phrase "call out earnestly" indicates a sincere and fervent plea to God, highlighting the urgency and depth of the Ninevites' repentance. The Hebrew root for "call out" (קָרָא, qara) often implies a public proclamation or a cry for help, suggesting that the people of Nineveh are not only privately repenting but are also publicly acknowledging their need for divine mercy. This act of calling out to God is a central theme in the Hebrew Scriptures, where genuine repentance is always accompanied by a heartfelt appeal to the Lord.

Let each one turn from his evil ways
The word "turn" (שׁוּב, shuv) is a key term in the Hebrew Bible, often translated as "repent." It signifies a complete change of direction, a turning away from sin and a return to God. The phrase "evil ways" underscores the moral and ethical dimensions of their repentance. The Ninevites are called to abandon their sinful behaviors, which is a fundamental aspect of true repentance. This turning away from evil is not merely an external change but a transformation of the heart and mind, aligning with the biblical call to holiness.

and from the violence in his hands
The mention of "violence" (חָמָס, chamas) specifically addresses the social injustices and brutality that characterized Nineveh. In the ancient world, Nineveh was known for its military might and often ruthless conquests. The phrase "in his hands" suggests personal responsibility and accountability for one's actions. This call to renounce violence is a powerful reminder of God's desire for justice and peace, and it reflects the prophetic tradition's emphasis on social righteousness. The transformation of Nineveh serves as a testament to the power of repentance and God's willingness to forgive even the most grievous sins when there is genuine contrition.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jonah
A prophet of God who initially fled from God's command to go to Nineveh but later obeyed after being swallowed by a great fish.

2. Nineveh
A significant city in the Assyrian Empire, known for its wickedness, which God commanded Jonah to warn of impending judgment.

3. The King of Nineveh
The ruler who, upon hearing Jonah's message, led the city in repentance by decreeing a fast and calling for everyone to turn from their evil ways.
Teaching Points
The Power of Repentance
True repentance involves a change of heart and action. The king of Nineveh's decree for everyone to turn from their evil ways demonstrates the depth of their repentance.

Leadership in Repentance
The king's leadership in calling for repentance shows the importance of leaders setting an example in seeking God's mercy.

God's Mercy and Compassion
God's willingness to relent from disaster upon seeing Nineveh's repentance highlights His compassionate nature.

Corporate Responsibility
The collective response of Nineveh to Jonah's message illustrates the impact of communal repentance and accountability.

Urgency of Obedience
Jonah's eventual obedience to God's command and Nineveh's immediate response to his message remind us of the urgency in responding to God's call.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the response of the Ninevites to Jonah's message challenge our understanding of repentance today?

2. In what ways can we, like the king of Nineveh, lead others in repentance and seeking God's mercy?

3. How does the account of Nineveh's repentance encourage us to pray for our own communities and nations?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to demonstrate genuine repentance in our lives?

5. How can we apply the lessons from Nineveh's repentance to situations where we see corporate or communal sin today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joel 2:12-14
This passage also calls for repentance with fasting, weeping, and mourning, emphasizing God's mercy and willingness to relent from sending calamity.

Matthew 12:41
Jesus refers to the repentance of Nineveh as a rebuke to the unrepentant generation of His time, highlighting the power of genuine repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse underscores the principle that if God's people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, He will hear from heaven and heal their land.
Sermons
The Sin and Repentance of NinevehRobert Brodie.Jonah 3:8
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
Acts, Animal, Beast, Cover, Covered, Cry, Earnestly, Evil, Haircloth, Hands, Mightily, Prayers, Sackcloth, Strong, Themselves, Turn, Urgently, Violence, Violent, Wicked, Yea, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jonah 3:8

     8640   calling upon God
     8653   importunity, to God

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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