Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. New Living Translation The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. English Standard Version And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Berean Standard Bible And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. Berean Literal Bible And the people of Nineveh trusted in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. King James Bible So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. New King James Version So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. New American Standard Bible Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. NASB 1995 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. NASB 1977 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. Legacy Standard Bible And the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Amplified Bible The people of Nineveh believed and trusted in God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth [in penitent mourning], from the greatest even to the least of them. Berean Annotated Bible And the Ninevites (abode of Ninus) believed God {Elohim}. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. Christian Standard Bible Then the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth—from the greatest of them to the least. Holman Christian Standard Bible The men of Nineveh believed in God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth—from the greatest of them to the least. American Standard Version And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Contemporary English Version They believed God's message and set a time when they would go without eating to show their sorrow. Then everyone in the city, no matter who they were, dressed in sackcloth. English Revised Version And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. GOD'S WORD® Translation The people of Nineveh believed God. They decided to fast, and everyone, from the most important to the least important, dressed in sackcloth. Good News Translation The people of Nineveh believed God's message. So they decided that everyone should fast, and all the people, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth to show that they had repented. International Standard Version The people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least important. NET Bible The people of Nineveh believed in God, and they declared a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. New Heart English Bible The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Webster's Bible Translation So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. World English Bible The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the men of Nineveh believe in God, and proclaim a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least, Berean Literal Bible And the people of Nineveh trusted in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Young's Literal Translation And the men of Nineveh believe in God, and proclaim a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even unto their least, Smith's Literal Translation And the men of Nineveh will believe in God, and they will call a fast, and put on sackcloth, from great and even to small. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. Catholic Public Domain Version And the men of Nineveh believed in God. And they proclaimed a fast, and they put on sackcloth, from the greatest all the way to the least. New American Bible the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. New Revised Standard Version And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo the people of Nineveh believed in God and decreed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the people of Nineva believed in God and they cut a fast and they put on sackcloth, from their Princes and unto their little ones OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the men of Nineve believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloths, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Nineveh Repents5 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. 6When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.… Cross References And the Ninevites believed God. Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Galatians 3:6 So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Exodus 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses. They proclaimed a fast 2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. Ezra 8:21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. and dressed in sackcloth, Esther 4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 Kings 19:1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. Daniel 9:3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. from the greatest of them to the least. Jeremiah 31:34 No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 6:13 “For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. 2 Chronicles 34:30 And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. Treasury of Scripture So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. believed. Exodus 9:18-21 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now… Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Luke 11:32 The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. and proclaimed. 2 Chronicles 20:3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. Jeremiah 36:9 And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. from. Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. Jeremiah 42:1,8 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, … Acts 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. Jump to Previous Belief Believe Believed Declared Fast Fixed Food Greatest Haircloth Least Nineveh Nin'eveh Ninevites Proclaim Proclaimed Sackcloth TimeJump to Next Belief Believe Believed Declared Fast Fixed Food Greatest Haircloth Least Nineveh Nin'eveh Ninevites Proclaim Proclaimed Sackcloth TimeJonah 3 1. Jonah, sent again, preaches to the Ninevites.5. Upon their repentance, 10. God relents. And the Ninevites believed God. The response of the Ninevites to Jonah's message is immediate and profound. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its wickedness and brutality. The belief in God here signifies a recognition of His authority and power, a remarkable shift for a pagan city. This belief is not just intellectual assent but involves a deep conviction leading to action. The Ninevites' response can be seen as a fulfillment of God's desire for repentance, as seen in Ezekiel 18:23, where God expresses no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live. This moment also prefigures the universal call to repentance found in the New Testament, where salvation is extended beyond Israel to all nations. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. Persons / Places / Events 1. JonahA prophet of God who was initially reluctant to deliver God's message to Nineveh but eventually obeyed after being swallowed by a great fish. 2. Nineveh The capital city of Assyria, known for its wickedness and idolatry. It was a significant city in the ancient world, both in size and influence. 3. The People of Nineveh The inhabitants of Nineveh who responded to Jonah's message with belief and repentance, demonstrating a collective turning to God. 4. God The sovereign deity who sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of impending judgment, offering the opportunity for repentance. 5. Fasting and Sackcloth Traditional expressions of mourning and repentance in the ancient Near East, symbolizing humility and contrition before God. Teaching Points The Power of God's WordDespite Jonah's initial reluctance, the message he delivered was powerful enough to bring an entire city to repentance. This underscores the transformative power of God's Word when faithfully proclaimed. Repentance as a Community Act The collective response of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, illustrates the importance of communal repentance and the impact it can have on society. Humility Before God The Ninevites' use of sackcloth and fasting demonstrates a posture of humility and submission, essential attitudes for genuine repentance. God's Mercy and Compassion The willingness of God to relent from disaster upon seeing Nineveh's repentance highlights His merciful nature and desire for all to turn from their wicked ways. Urgency of Repentance The immediate response of the Ninevites serves as a reminder of the urgency with which we should respond to God's call to repentance in our own lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jonah 3:5?2. How does Jonah 3:5 demonstrate the power of God's message through Jonah? 3. What role does fasting play in the Ninevites' repentance in Jonah 3:5? 4. How can we apply the Ninevites' response to our own repentance today? 5. What other biblical examples show collective repentance similar to Jonah 3:5? 6. How can we encourage our community to believe and repent like Nineveh did? 7. How did the Ninevites' belief in God lead to their repentance in Jonah 3:5? 8. What historical evidence supports the mass repentance of Nineveh as described in Jonah 3:5? 9. Why did the Ninevites believe Jonah's message so quickly according to Jonah 3:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jonah 3? 11. Jonah 3:5 – What evidence exists that an entire city as vast as Nineveh would respond so quickly and fully to a single prophet's warning? 12. What does the Bible say about fasting? 13. Jonah 4:11 – Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that Nineveh underwent such widespread repentance to justify Jonah’s reaction in this chapter? 14. Isaiah 58:8 – Does the promise of healing for proper fasting have any scientific or historical evidence, or is it purely religious symbolism? What Does Jonah 3:5 Mean And the Ninevites believed GodThe very first response in Nineveh is faith. Jonah’s eight–word sermon (Jonah 3:4) meets hearts ready to take God at His word. • This belief is more than mental agreement; it is trust that God’s warning is true and that His mercy is possible (see Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:6). • Jesus later confirms their faith was genuine: “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah” (Luke 11:32). • Notice the contrast with Israel, who often heard prophets yet remained unmoved (Jeremiah 7:25–26). Nineveh’s immediate belief highlights how God can pierce even the hardest culture when His word is received literally and obediently. They proclaimed a fast Belief quickly turns into action. Fasting signals earnest repentance and dependence on God. • In Scripture, fasting underscores humility and urgency (Joel 2:12–13; Ezra 8:21). • By making the fast public, the city leaders align civic life with spiritual need, much like Jehoshaphat who “proclaimed a fast for all Judah” when danger loomed (2 Chronicles 20:3). • Their decree recognizes that human strength cannot avert divine judgment; only God’s mercy can. And dressed in sackcloth Sackcloth—coarse, uncomfortable fabric—visibly demonstrates inward sorrow. • Wearing it shows grief over sin, not just grief over consequences (1 Kings 21:27; Daniel 9:3). • Outward symbols matter when they match inward reality; God had rejected empty displays in Israel (Isaiah 58:5). Nineveh’s sackcloth is paired with true contrition. • The change of clothes underlines a change of heart—shedding status, comfort, and pride. From the greatest of them to the least Repentance sweeps through every social layer. • Leaders do not hide behind position; commoners are not excluded. This mirrors later revivals where “both men and women” respond together (Acts 8:12). • Scripture often notes whole–community movements—Josiah gathered “great and small” to hear the Law (2 Chronicles 34:30). • God’s call is universal; everyone must respond personally. Nineveh’s unity amplifies the sincerity of their plea. summary Jonah 3:5 records a chain reaction: faith, fasting, sackcloth, and citywide participation. The verse shows that when God speaks, genuine belief produces visible repentance, crossing every social boundary. Nineveh’s wholehearted response reminds us that God honors humble faith, and He still turns threatened judgment into mercy when people take Him at His word. (5) Believed God.--Or, believed in God. Notice again an implied contrast to the dulness of the Jews, who were "slow to believe" the prophetic warnings addressed to themselves.Proclaimed a fast.--Apparently on a spontaneous resolution of the people themselves. (See Note to Jonah 3:6.) The fast would no doubt be for one day, according to the Jewish and the general Oriental custom. Verses 5-9. § 3. The Ninevites hearken to the cry of Jonah, believe in God, and repent. Verse 5. - Believed God; believed in God, which implies trust and hope; Vulgate, crediderunt in Deum. They recognized Jonah as God's messenger; they recognized God's power as able to execute the threat, and they had confidence in his mercy if they repented. This great result has seemed to some incredible, and has occasioned doubts to be east upon the history. But, as we have seen in the Introduction, Jonah's mission occurred probably at a time of national depression, when men's minds were disposed to expect calamity, and anxious to avert it by any means. Other considerations led to the same result. They had heard much of the God of the Hebrews, much of the doings of his great prophets Elijah and Elisha; and now they had in their midst one of these holy men, who, as they were informed, had been miraculously preserved from death in order to carry his message to them; for that it was thus that Jonah was "a sign unto the Ninevites" (Luke 11:30) seems most certain. They saw the Divine inspiration beaming in his look, dictating his utterance, animating his bearing, filling him with courage, confidence, and faith. The credulity with which they received the announcements of their own seers, their national predilection for presages and omens, encouraged them to open their ears to this stranger, and to regard his mission with grave attention. Their own conscience, too, was on the prophet's side, and assisted his words with its powerful pleading. So they believed in God, and proclaimed a fast. Spontaneously, without any special order from the authorities. Before the final fall of Nineveh, the inscriptions mention, the then king ordered a fast of one hundred days and nights to the gods in order to avert the threatened danger (see a note by Professor Sayce, in G. Smith's 'History of Babylon,' p. 156). Put on sackcloth (comp. Genesis 37:34; 1 Kings 21:27; Joel 1:13). The custom of changing the dress in token of mourning was not confined to the Hebrews (comp. Ezekiel 26:16).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And the Ninevitesנִֽינְוֵ֖ה (nî·nə·wêh) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5210: Nineveh -- capital of Assyr believed וַֽיַּאֲמִ֛ינוּ (way·ya·’ă·mî·nū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 539: To confirm, support God. בֵּֽאלֹהִ֑ים (bê·lō·hîm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative They proclaimed וַיִּקְרְאוּ־ (way·yiq·rə·’ū-) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read a fast צוֹם֙ (ṣō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast and dressed וַיִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ (way·yil·bə·šū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3847: Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothe in sackcloth, שַׂקִּ֔ים (śaq·qîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8242: A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag from the greatest מִגְּדוֹלָ֖ם (mig·gə·ḏō·w·lām) Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent of them to וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while the least. קְטַנָּֽם׃ (qə·ṭan·nām) Adjective - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant Links Jonah 3:5 NIVJonah 3:5 NLT Jonah 3:5 ESV Jonah 3:5 NASB Jonah 3:5 KJV Jonah 3:5 BibleApps.com Jonah 3:5 Biblia Paralela Jonah 3:5 Chinese Bible Jonah 3:5 French Bible Jonah 3:5 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jonah 3:5 The people of Nineveh believed God (Jon. Jh) |
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