1
Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρὸς Ιωναν ἐκ δευτέρου λέγων
And the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying,
The standard prophetic messenger-formula (ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός) resumes the narrative after the psalm of ch. 2; ἐκ δευτέρου ('a second time') signals divine persistence and Jonah's new chance — a pivotal marker for the whole chapter's movement.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative continuative)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐγένετοcame / happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (prophetic formula)→ constative aorist (single event)γίνομαι: 'become, happen, come to be'; in the prophetic formula ἐγένετο λόγος it renders the Hebrew וַיְהִי דְבַר (Hebraism) — a calque of the standard OT messenger introduction.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyλόγος: 'word, utterance'; here the prophetic revelatory word of God, rendering דָּבָר.
κυρίουof the LordGenitivegenitive of source / origin→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκύριος: LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton (יהוה); anarthrous here as is standard in the formula.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction, recipient)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks the addressee of the prayer.
ΙωνανJonahAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of word)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΙωνας: Jonah, son of Amittai; a Greek rendering of יוֹנָה ('dove'); declinable proper name.
ἐκfrom / for thepreposition + genitive (ordinal expression)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐκ: from / out of; here introduces the city or land from which a ruler comes.
δευτέρουsecond (time)Genitivegenitive in idiom ἐκ δευτέρου ('a second time')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyδεύτερος: 'second'; the idiom ἐκ δευτέρου = 'again, a second time,' underlining divine persistence after Jonah's flight and the fish episode.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωattendant circumstance participle (introduces direct speech)→ present participle (contemporaneous action)λέγω: 'say'; the participle λέγων after ἐγένετο λόγος is a Hebraism (לֵאמֹר), a standard OT speech-introduction particle rendered mechanically in the LXX.
2
Ἀνάστηθι καὶ πορεύθητι εἰς Νινευη τὴν πόλιν τὴν μεγάλην καὶ κήρυξον ἐν αὐτῇ κατὰ τὸ κήρυγμα τὸ ἔμπροσθεν ὃ ἐγὼ ἐλάλησα πρὸς σέ.
Arise and go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim in it according to the proclamation that I formerly spoke to you.
Asyndeton opens the divine speech as three stacked imperatives (ἀνάστηθι, πορεύθητι, κήρυξον) driving rapid command. The phrase κατὰ τὸ κήρυγμα τὸ ἔμπροσθεν ('according to the proclamation formerly [spoken]') is distinctive to the LXX; it implies continuity with the original commission of 1:2 and emphasizes that what Jonah must say is already determined.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἈνάστηθιariseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative, first of three stacked commands)→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin the action)ἀνίστημι: 'rise, get up'; the commission-opener echoes 1:2 exactly; the verb renders קוּם and is a standard biblical Hebraism for beginning purposeful action.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (chains imperatives)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
πορεύθητιgoAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative, second command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπορεύομαι: 'go, travel, proceed'; renders הָלַךְ in LXX commissions.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal/direction)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyεἰς: 'to / into / at'; with the goal of the pilgrimage, the sanctuary location.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable proper name, object of εἰς→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: Nineveh, the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable transliteration of נִינְוֵה.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle with following noun→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (τήν): the feminine article picks up the garrison (construed as fem.) and governs the locative phrase 'the one on the far side yonder', specifying which outpost.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Νινευη→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπόλις: 'city'; the apposition 'the great city' (ἡ πόλις ἡ μεγάλη) is the formulaic epithet for Nineveh in Jonah (1:2; 3:2, 3; 4:11).
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive position)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (τήν): the feminine article picks up the garrison (construed as fem.) and governs the locative phrase 'the one on the far side yonder', specifying which outpost.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμέγας: 'great, large'; the epithet recurs at 3:3; 4:11, always emphasizing the scale of the challenge and of God's mercy.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
κήρυξονproclaimAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κηρύσσωmain verb (imperative, third command)→ constative aorist imperative (the whole act of proclamation)κηρύσσω: 'herald, proclaim'; the herald's public announcement; the noun κήρυγμα in the same verse creates a figura etymologica (κήρυξον … κήρυγμα).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/location of proclamation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐν + dative: in; locates Adad's victory in the plain of Moab.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referent: Nineveh)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (dat. f. αὐτῇ): 'to her'; the dative of possession with ἦν.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard / norm)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκατά + acc.: 'according to / in proportion to'; here introduces the measure of her affliction.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyThe neuter article τό supplies case (accusative) to the indeclinable εφουδ.
κήρυγμαproclamationAccusativeaccusative object of κατά (norm of proclamation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκήρυγμα: 'proclamation, message'; cognate with κηρύσσω — a figura etymologica; in the NT κήρυγμα becomes the standard term for the apostolic preaching (1 Cor 1:21; 2:4).
τὸtheAccusativearticle (attributive)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyThe neuter article τό supplies case (accusative) to the indeclinable εφουδ.
ἔμπροσθενformer / beforeadverb used attributively (the previous proclamation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἔμπροσθεν: 'before, in front of, formerly'; used here adverbially with the article to specify the prior commission of 1:2; the LXX idiom differs from MT.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun, accusative (object of ἐλάλησα)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς, ἥ, ὅ (acc. n. ὅ): relative pronoun; introduces the clause specifying the petition Hannah has asked.
ἐγὼINominativesubject pronoun (emphatic)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐγώ: the personal pronoun; ἰδοὺ ἐγώ = 'here I am', a verbless presentative reply rendering הִנֵּנִי.
ἐλάλησαspokeAor Act Indic 1 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the original commissioning act)λαλέω: 'speak'; often used in LXX for divine utterance.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks the addressee of the prayer.
σέyouAccusativeaccusative, object of πρός→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyσύ (acc. σε): 'you'; the object struck by her own heart.
3
Καὶ ἀνέστη Ιωνας καὶ ἐπορεύθη εἰς Νινευη καθὼς ἐλάλησεν κύριος. καὶ Νινευη ἦν πόλις μεγάλη τῷ θεῷ ὡσεὶ πορεία ἡμερῶν τριῶν.
And Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, just as the Lord had spoken. Now Nineveh was a great city before God, a journey of three days.
The verse divides neatly: the first clause reports Jonah's instant compliance, mirroring the imperatives of v.2 with their corresponding indicatives (ἀνέστη / ἐπορεύθη); the second is a descriptive parenthesis on Nineveh's scale. The phrase τῷ θεῷ ('before God,' 'to God') is a Hebraism — לֵאלֹהִים — used to intensify a superlative, meaning 'immensely great'; cf. 'garden of God' (Gen 13:10).
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
Καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative continuative)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἀνέστηaroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (obedience action 1)→ ingressive aorist (began to rise and act)ἀνίστημι: mirrors the imperative ἀνάστηθι of v.2 — the narrative enacts the command word for word, underscoring Jonah's this-time compliance.
ΙωναςJonahNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἸωνᾶς: transliteration of יוֹנָה (yonah, 'dove'); declinable Greek form.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐπορεύθηwentAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (obedience action 2)→ constative aorist (completed journey)πορεύομαι: mirrors πορεύθητι of v.2; the passive form is deponent.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyεἰς: 'to / into / at'; with the goal of the pilgrimage, the sanctuary location.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable proper noun, object of εἰς→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction (conformity to divine word)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαθώς: 'just as / according as'; renders כַּאֲשֶׁר.
ἐλάλησενhad spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of comparative clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; the aorist here recalls the divine speech of vv.1–2.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκύριος: Tetragrammaton; the subject confirming divine authority behind the command.
καὶnowcoordinating conjunction (scene-setting parenthesis)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable proper noun, subject of ἦν→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (descriptive parenthesis)→ descriptive imperfect (ongoing state)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect signals a narrative aside describing the city's character.
πόλιςcityNominativepredicate nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπόλις: 'city'; reuses the formula of v.2.
μεγάληgreatNominativepredicate adjective→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμέγας: 'great'; the scale prepares for the remarkable scope of the repentance.
τῷto / beforeDativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercythe article τῷ marks the case of the otherwise indeclinable Ιωναθαν as dative ('to Jonathan').
θεῷGodDativedative of reference (superlative Hebraism: 'great before God' = divinely/immensely great)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: 'God'; the dative τῷ θεῷ here is a Hebraism (לֵאלֹהִים) used to form a superlative — 'exceedingly great city'; cf. Gen 13:10; Acts 7:20 ('beautiful to God').
ὡσεὶabout / as it werecomparative particle (approximation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὡσεί: 'as if, approximately'; softens the numerical estimate.
πορείαjourneyNominativepredicate nominative (appositive measure)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπορεία: 'journey, march'; the city's diameter estimated in days of travel — a common ancient measure of city-size.
ἡμερῶνof daysGenitivegenitive of measure→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡμέρα: 'day'; the genitive quantifies the journey.
τριῶνthreeGenitivenumeral in genitive of measure→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτρεῖς: 'three'; the same number as the oracle's deadline in v.4 (LXX), creating an ironic numeric echo — the city that takes three days to cross has three days to repent.
4
καὶ ἤρξατο Ιωνας τοῦ εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν πόλιν ὡσεὶ πορείαν ἡμέρας μιᾶς καὶ ἐκήρυξεν καὶ εἶπεν Ἔτι τρεῖς ἡμέραι καὶ Νινευη καταστραφήσεται.
And Jonah began to enter the city, about a day's journey, and he proclaimed and said, 'Yet three days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!'
The textual-theological crux of the chapter: the LXX reads ἔτι τρεῖς ἡμέραι ('yet three days') against the MT's forty. The quoted oracle is a mere clause — no explanation, no escape clause — and the verb καταστραφήσεται echoes Sodom's overthrow (Gen 19 LXX). Jonah's entry 'a day's journey' into the three-day city implies he is still near the edge when he speaks.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἤρξατοbeganAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἄρχωmain verb (inceptive — governs infinitive)→ ingressive aorist (commencement of entry)ἄρχω (mid.): 'begin'; introduces the infinitive of εἰσέρχομαι; the inceptive aspect highlights that Jonah has only started his traversal.
ΙωναςJonahNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἸωνᾶς: transliteration of יוֹנָה (yonah, 'dove'); declinable Greek form.
τοῦtoGenitivegenitive article (introduces articular infinitive after ἄρχομαι)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτοῦ + infinitive: the articular genitive infinitive construction τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι expresses purpose or result ('so as not to give'); a frequent LXX rendering of Hebrew לְבִלְתִּי + infinitive.
εἰσελθεῖνenterAor Act Inf · εἰσέρχομαιcomplementary infinitive (object of ἤρξατο)→ ingressive aorist infinitiveεἰσέρχομαι: 'go in, enter'; the compound signals directional entry into the city.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (goal of entry)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyεἰς: 'to / into / at'; with the goal of the pilgrimage, the sanctuary location.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (τήν): the feminine article picks up the garrison (construed as fem.) and governs the locative phrase 'the one on the far side yonder', specifying which outpost.
πόλινcityAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπόλις: 'city'; the definite article anaforically refers to Nineveh.
ὡσεὶaboutapproximative particle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὡσεί: 'like / as / about'; renders כְּ; introduces the proverbial simile comparing the spear-shaft to a weavers' beam.
πορείανjourneyAccusativeaccusative of extent (measure of distance traveled)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπορεία: 'journey'; accusative of extent of space; one day into a three-day city.
ἡμέραςof a dayGenitivegenitive of measure→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡμέρα: 'day'.
μιᾶςoneGenitivenumeral genitive (one day's journey)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyεἷς: 'one'; μιᾶς is the genitive feminine form.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐκήρυξενproclaimedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κηρύσσωmain verb (proclamation action)→ constative aorist (the whole act of heralding)κηρύσσω: 'herald, proclaim publicly'; echoes κήρυξον and κήρυγμα of v.2 — the narrative fulfills the commission.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (epexegetic — introduces content)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (introduces direct speech)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; the pair ἐκήρυξεν καὶ εἶπεν is a Semitic pleonasm — to herald and say.
Ἔτιyet / stilltemporal adverb (residual time before judgment)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἔτι: 'still, yet, moreover'; marks remaining duration — the countdown is already running.
τρεῖςthreeNominativesubject numeral (predicate of verbless clause)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτρεῖς: 'three' — the LXX's distinctive reading against MT's forty (אַרְבָּעִים); the number three may activate the biblical death-and-restoration motif (Hos 6:2; Jon 2:1; cf. Matt 12:40) and heightens urgency; the deviation from MT is ancient and consistent in the LXX tradition.
ἡμέραιdaysNominativesubject nominative (verbless clause: 'three days [remain]')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡμέρα: 'day'; the verbless clause is a dramatic oracle-form — no verb, just the countdown and the verdict.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (apodosis marker: 'and then')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable proper noun, subject of καταστραφήσεται→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
καταστραφήσεταιshall be overthrownFut Pass Indic 3 Sg · καταστρέφωmain verb (oracle of judgment)→ predictive future (divine decree)καταστρέφω: 'overturn, overthrow, destroy'; the passive voice makes God the implied agent; the same verb is used in the LXX of the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:21, 25, 29 — καταστροφή/καταστρέψω), making Nineveh's threatened fate an explicit Sodom-echo.
5
καὶ ἐνεπίστευσαν οἱ ἄνδρες Νινευη τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐκήρυξαν νηστείαν καὶ ἐνεδύσαντο σάκκους ἀπὸ μεγάλου αὐτῶν ἕως μικροῦ αὐτῶν.
And the men of Nineveh believed God, and they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.
The pivot of the whole book: the pagan city's instant, total belief. The verb ἐνεπίστευσαν + dative (τῷ θεῷ) matches the formula of Gen 15:6 LXX (ἐπίστευσεν Αβραμ τῷ θεῷ) — Nineveh's faith is cast in Abrahamic terms. Matthew 12:41 and Luke 11:32 cite the Ninevites' repentance as a rebuke to Jesus' generation.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (result)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐνεπίστευσανbelievedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐμπιστεύω / πιστεύωmain verb→ constative aorist (the whole act of believing)ἐμπιστεύω (or πιστεύω ἐν): 'believe, trust in'; the construction πιστεύω + dative is the LXX idiom for saving faith — matching Gen 15:6 LXX (Abram believed God); the NT resonance via Matt 12:41 is direct. The compound form with ἐν- may strengthen the sense ('put faith in').
οἱtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς (nom. pl. οἳ): the relative introduces the first ground of the idols' futility — they accomplish nothing.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀνήρ: 'man, male, person'; the term here likely means 'the people (men)' of Nineveh generically; Matt 12:41 uses the same word (ἄνδρες Νινευῖται).
Νινευηof Ninevehindeclinable genitive-like proper noun (possessive/source: 'Ninevites')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
τῷin / toDativearticle (dative with θεῷ, object of belief)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercythe article τῷ marks the case of the otherwise indeclinable Ιωναθαν as dative ('to Jonathan').
θεῷGodDativedative object of ἐνεπίστευσαν (object of faith)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: 'God'; anarthrous; the dative construction mirrors Gen 15:6 LXX exactly — the Ninevites' faith is framed in the same terms as Abraham's saving trust.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐκήρυξανproclaimedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κηρύσσωmain verb (public act of fasting announcement)→ constative aoristκηρύσσω: 'proclaim, herald'; the Ninevites now themselves κηρύσσω — using the same verb as Jonah's commission (vv.2, 4); a neat irony: the reluctant prophet's single proclamation triggers the city's own proclamation.
νηστείανa fastAccusativeaccusative direct object (content of proclamation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyνηστεία: 'fasting, abstention from food'; a standard penitential practice; the Hebrew צוֹם rendered faithfully.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐνεδύσαντοput onAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἐνδύωmain verb (penitential gesture)→ constative aoristἐνδύω (mid.): 'put on, clothe oneself'; the middle voice emphasizes self-clothing as a deliberate act of mourning.
σάκκουςsackcloth(s)Accusativeaccusative direct object (garment of mourning)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyσάκκος: 'sack, sackcloth'; the coarse fabric worn as a sign of grief and penitence throughout the OT (Gen 37:34; Isa 58:5; Joel 1:8); borrowed from Hebrew שַׂק.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (starting point of merism)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
μεγάλουthe greatestGenitivegenitive (first pole of merism)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμέγας: 'great'; used substantively — 'from their great one to their small one' is a merism for 'everyone without exception.'
αὐτῶνof themGenitivegenitive of possession (first pole)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the child accompanies his parents to the sanctuary for the dedication.
ἕωςto / untilpreposition + genitive (endpoint of merism)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἕως: 'until, as far as, up to'; in ἀπό … ἕως merisms it means 'to' (endpoint).
μικροῦthe leastGenitivegenitive (second pole of merism)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμικρός: 'small, little'; used substantively as second pole of the all-inclusive merism; cf. Rev 11:18; 19:5, 18 for the same merism.
αὐτῶνof themGenitivegenitive of possession (second pole)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the child accompanies his parents to the sanctuary for the dedication.
6
καὶ ἤγγισεν ὁ λόγος πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα τῆς Νινευη καὶ ἐξανέστη ἀπὸ τοῦ θρόνου αὐτοῦ καὶ περιείλατο τὴν στολὴν αὐτοῦ ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ καὶ περιεβάλετο σάκκον καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐπὶ σποδοῦ.
And the word reached the king of Nineveh, and he rose from his throne and removed his robe from himself and put on sackcloth and sat in ashes.
Four staccato aorist verbs trace the king's demotion from pomp to ash: he rises, strips his robe, puts on sackcloth, and sits in ashes. Each action reverses a marker of royal dignity — an artful inversion. The report reaches the king (ἤγγισεν ὁ λόγος) via the people's response, not via direct divine address; the king acts on the people's lead.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἤγγισενreached / came nearAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγγίζωmain verb (report arrives at the king)→ constative aoristἐγγίζω: 'draw near, approach, reach'; used here of a report reaching a person — an idiom for news arriving.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + participle: the articular participle functions as a relative clause ('the one who made'), a standard Greek and LXX construction for divine epithets.
λόγοςword / reportNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyλόγος: 'word, report'; here the news of Jonah's oracle and the people's response; contrasts with ὁ λόγος κυρίου at vv.1–2.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (recipient)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks the addressee of the prayer.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ: the article τόν before the indeclinable Δαυιδ marks the name as accusative object ('David'), a common LXX device for case-marking indeclinable names.
βασιλέαkingAccusativeaccusative object of πρός→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyβασιλεύς: 'king'; the king of Nineveh is unnamed — the LXX (like MT) never identifies him; historically Nineveh was not the Assyrian capital in Jonah's era, but the book does not intend a precise historical chronicle.
τῆςofGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable genitive-function proper noun (possessive: 'king of Nineveh')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐξανέστηrose upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξανίστημιmain verb (first royal gesture)→ ingressive aoristἐξανίστημι: 'rise up, stand up from'; the ἐξ- prefix adds force ('stood right up'); a gesture of urgency or submission.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation from throne)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτοῦ + infinitive: the articular genitive infinitive construction τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι expresses purpose or result ('so as not to give'); a frequent LXX rendering of Hebrew לְבִלְתִּי + infinitive.
θρόνουthroneGenitivegenitive of separation→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθρόνος: 'throne'; symbol of royal authority; he leaves it — an act of voluntary humiliation before God.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός: possessive genitive 'his city'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
περιείλατοremoved / took offAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιαιρέωmain verb (second royal gesture — stripping robe)→ constative aoristπεριαιρέω (mid.): 'take off from around oneself, strip off'; the middle voice emphasizes the reflexive act of self-divestiture.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (τήν): the feminine article picks up the garrison (construed as fem.) and governs the locative phrase 'the one on the far side yonder', specifying which outpost.
στολὴνrobeAccusativeaccusative direct object→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyστολή: 'robe, garment, stole'; the royal robe, a mark of rank; its removal signals self-abasement.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός: possessive genitive 'his city'.
ἀφ᾽frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided ἀπό)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀφ᾽: 'from'; connective or indeclinable element shaping the local clause or discourse flow.
ἑαυτοῦhimselfGenitivereflexive genitive (from his own person)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἑαυτοῦ: reflexive pronoun, genitive; 'from himself' — the reflexive underscores the personal, volitional nature of the act.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
περιεβάλετοput onAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · περιβάλλωmain verb (third royal gesture — clothing in sackcloth)→ constative aoristπεριβάλλω (mid.): 'throw around oneself, clothe oneself'; the middle voice is reflexive — he dresses himself in mourning garb.
σάκκονsackclothAccusativeaccusative direct object (garment put on)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyσάκκος: 'sackcloth'; mirrors the people's σάκκους at v.5 — the king joins the universal penitence.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐκάθισενsatAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καθίζωmain verb (fourth royal gesture — sitting in ashes)→ constative aoristκαθίζω: 'sit, seat oneself'; sitting in ashes (ἐπὶ σποδοῦ) is the deepest gesture of mourning and self-abasement in the OT — cf. Job 2:8; Esth 4:3 LXX.
ἐπὶon / inpreposition + genitive (surface upon which sitting occurs)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐπί + genitive: on / upon; here locative, situating Nimrod's activity on the earth.
σποδοῦashesGenitivegenitive after ἐπί (ashes as surface of sitting)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyσποδός: 'ash, cinders'; sitting in ashes (cf. Matt 11:21 // Luke 10:13: 'they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes') is the intensest expression of penitential humility.
7
καὶ ἐκηρύχθη καὶ ἐρρέθη ἐν τῇ Νινευη παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ παρὰ τῶν μεγιστάνων αὐτοῦ λέγων Οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ τὰ κτήνη καὶ οἱ βόες καὶ τὰ πρόβατα μὴ γευσάσθωσαν μηδέν μὴ νεμέσθωσαν μηδὲ ὕδωρ πιέτωσαν.
And it was proclaimed and said in Nineveh by the king and by his nobles, saying: 'Let neither the people nor the cattle nor the oxen nor the sheep taste anything; let them not graze, nor let them drink water.'
The double passive (ἐκηρύχθη καὶ ἐρρέθη) with the participial λέγων is a Semitic pleonasm introducing the edict's content. The decree extends the fast to animals — cattle, oxen, and sheep — an extraordinary expansion of the penitential act beyond human participants. The animal inclusion has parallels in Judith 4:10 and in later Jewish sources; it intensifies the corporate, cosmic scope of the city's repentance.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐκηρύχθηit was proclaimedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · κηρύσσωmain verb (official proclamation, passive — divine/royal authority implied)→ constative aoristκηρύσσω: 'proclaim'; now the third use in the chapter (vv.2, 4, 7) — commission, oracle, and royal edict all share the same verb.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (pleonastic pair)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἐρρέθηit was saidAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · ῥέω / λέγωmain verb (second of Semitic double verb introducing decree)→ constative aoristῥέω / λέγω (irregular suppletive aorist passive εἰρέθη / ἐρρέθη): 'was said'; the pair ἐκηρύχθη καὶ ἐρρέθη is a Hebraism (וַיִּזָּעֵק וַיֹּאמֶר) — a double verb of announcement before direct speech.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location of proclamation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐν + dative: in; locates Adad's victory in the plain of Moab.
τῇtheDativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (fem. dat. τῇ): the article governs the following prepositional phrase ἐν Ιεζραελ attributively ('the [spring] which is in Jezreel'), a common Greek substantivizing construction.
ΝινευηNinevehindeclinable proper noun, object of ἐν→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyΝινευη: transliteration of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nineveh), the Assyrian capital on the Tigris; indeclinable in the LXX; the king's home, where his story will end with his murder (v. 37).
παρὰby / frompreposition + genitive (agent of passive verb)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπαρά + accusative: by / along; locates Rooboth with reference to the river.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτοῦ + infinitive: the articular genitive infinitive construction τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι expresses purpose or result ('so as not to give'); a frequent LXX rendering of Hebrew לְבִלְתִּי + infinitive.
βασιλέωςkingGenitivegenitive of agent (first authority behind the decree)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyβασιλεύς: 'king'; the agent of the edict — his personal example (v.6) precedes his public decree.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
παρὰby / frompreposition + genitive (second agent)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπαρά + accusative: by / along; locates Rooboth with reference to the river.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + κυκλόθεν: the article substantivises the adverb as an attributive modifier of ἐχθρῶν ('the enemies round about').
μεγιστάνωνnobles / great onesGenitivegenitive of agent (co-issuers of the decree)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμεγιστάν: 'noble, magnate, great one' (pl. μεγιστᾶνες); a loan from Persian/Aramaic via Hebrew; the same word appears in LXX Esth, 1 Macc, and Dan for court officials.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the king's nobles)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός: possessive genitive 'his city'.
λέγωνsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Sg Masc · λέγωattendant circumstance participle (Hebraism introducing direct speech)→ present participle (contemporaneous with proclamation)λέγω: see note at v.1; the λέγων before a royal decree is a calque of לֵאמֹר.
ΟἱtheNominativearticle (subject of decree)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς (nom. pl. οἳ): the relative introduces the first ground of the idols' futility — they accomplish nothing.
ἄνθρωποιpeople / menNominativesubject nominative (first category under prohibition)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἄνθρωπος: 'human being, person'; here generic for the human population.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (extends subjects)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ/τό (nom. pl. neut. τά): the neuter article substantivizes τὰ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ('the things that were at his head') — the spear and jar together.
κτήνηcattle / livestockNominativesubject nominative (second category)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκτῆνος: 'beast, cattle, livestock'; general term for domestic animals; the inclusion of animals in the fast is remarkable — a feature that reads almost satirically (Jon 4:11 similarly mentions the cattle).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς (nom. pl. οἳ): the relative introduces the first ground of the idols' futility — they accomplish nothing.
βόεςoxenNominativesubject nominative (third category)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyβοῦς: 'ox, bull, cattle'; the LXX lists cattle (κτήνη), oxen (βόες), and sheep (πρόβατα) separately — a more detailed enumeration than some readings of the MT.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ/τό (nom. pl. neut. τά): the neuter article substantivizes τὰ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ('the things that were at his head') — the spear and jar together.
πρόβαταsheep / flocksNominativesubject nominative (fourth category)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπρόβατον: 'sheep'; the most common domestic animal in the ancient Near East; its inclusion extends the solidarity of penitence to the whole created order under human stewardship.
μὴnotnegative particle (with imperative of prohibition)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμή: the negative used with infinitives and non-indicative moods; here negates δοῦναι.
γευσάσθωσανlet them tasteAor Mid Impv 3 Pl · γεύομαιmain verb (third-person prohibition)→ aorist imperative of prohibitionγεύομαι: 'taste, eat, partake of'; with μή, a prohibition against eating anything — absolute food abstention.
μηδένanything / nothingAccusativeaccusative direct object (of γευσάσθωσαν — total prohibition)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμηδείς: 'no one, nothing'; accusative neuter here as object of the prohibition.
μὴnotnegative particle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμή: the negative used with infinitives and non-indicative moods; here negates δοῦναι.
νεμέσθωσανlet them grazePres Mid Impv 3 Pl · νέμωmain verb (third-person prohibition — animal-specific)→ present imperative of prohibition (cease ongoing grazing)νέμω (mid.): 'pasture, graze'; used specifically of livestock grazing; the prohibition of grazing alongside drinking water intensifies the animals' participation in the fast.
μηδὲnornegative coordinating conjunction (continuing prohibition)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyμηδέ: 'and not, nor'; continues the negative chain.
ὕδωρwaterAccusativeaccusative direct object (of πιέτωσαν)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὕδωρ: 'water'; the prohibition of water distinguishes this from a food-only fast — it is a total abstention.
πιέτωσανlet them drinkAor Act Impv 3 Pl · πίνωmain verb (third prohibition)→ aorist imperative of prohibitionπίνω: 'drink'; the aorist imperative with μηδέ prohibits any act of drinking.
8
καὶ περιεβάλοντο σάκκους οἱ ἄνθρωποι καὶ τὰ κτήνη καὶ ἀνεβόησαν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐκτενῶς καὶ ἀπέστρεψαν ἕκαστος ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ τῆς πονηρᾶς καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδικίας τῆς ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν λέγοντες
And both the people and the cattle put on sackcloth, and they cried out to God urgently, and each one turned from his evil way and from the violence that was in their hands, saying,
Verse 8 enacts the decree of v.7 with a string of aorists: people and cattle in sackcloth, urgent cry to God, and the moral turning (ἀπέστρεψαν) from evil ways and violence. The phrase 'violence in their hands' (ἀδικία ἐν χερσίν) is a Hebraism for the concrete wrong done by one's acts. The moral dimension of the repentance — not just ritual — is crucial: the city must change its behavior, not merely its wardrobe.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
περιεβάλοντοput onAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · περιβάλλωmain verb (enactment of sackcloth decree)→ constative aoristπεριβάλλω (mid.): 'clothe oneself, wrap around'; mirrors the king's action in v.6 — the population follows the royal example.
σάκκουςsackcloth(s)Accusativeaccusative direct object (garments of mourning)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyσάκκος: 'sackcloth'; used for the third time in the chapter (vv.5, 6, 8), creating a verbal refrain of penitential clothing.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς (nom. pl. οἳ): the relative introduces the first ground of the idols' futility — they accomplish nothing.
ἄνθρωποιpeopleNominativesubject nominative (first group)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἄνθρωπος: 'human being'; the people carry out what the decree commanded.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (extends subject)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
τὰtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ/τό (nom. pl. neut. τά): the neuter article substantivizes τὰ πρὸς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ ('the things that were at his head') — the spear and jar together.
κτήνηcattleNominativesubject nominative (second group — animals also clothed)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκτῆνος: 'beast, livestock'; the animals also put on sackcloth — a literalistic detail that has been read both as earnest piety and as gentle irony.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἀνεβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb (penitential prayer)→ constative aoristἀναβοάω: 'cry out, shout aloud'; the ἀνά- prefix adds intensity ('cry up toward'); the corporate outcry to God is the auditory counterpart of the visual sackcloth.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marks the addressee of the prayer.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ: the article τόν before the indeclinable Δαυιδ marks the name as accusative object ('David'), a common LXX device for case-marking indeclinable names.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative object of πρός (recipient of prayer)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: 'God'; the Ninevites cry to Israel's God — whether they understand him as their own god or the god of the prophet is left open.
ἐκτενῶςurgently / ferventlyadverb (manner of prayer — intensity)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐκτενῶς: 'earnestly, fervently, urgently'; from ἐκτείνω ('stretch out') — prayer stretched to its full extent; the adverb appears in Acts 12:5 of the church's urgent prayer for Peter.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἀπέστρεψανturned away / repentedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (moral turning — the key act of repentance)→ constative aorist (completed act of turning)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn away from, return from'; the moral sense — 'turn from sin' — is the central word of biblical repentance (שׁוּב in Hebrew); this is the heart of what God sees in v.10.
ἕκαστοςeach oneNominativedistributive subject nominative (individualizes the collective act)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἕκαστος: 'each, every one'; the distributive makes clear that the repentance is not merely a civic performance but an individual moral act.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation — turning from evil)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.
ὁδοῦwayGenitivegenitive of separation (the way turned from)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁδός: 'way, road, manner of life'; 'his evil way' is the standard OT idiom for a sinful pattern of life (cf. Prov 1:15; Jer 18:11 LXX).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (each person's own way)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός: possessive genitive 'his city'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (attributive with πονηρᾶς)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.
πονηρᾶςevilGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὁδοῦ)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπονηρός: 'evil, wicked, bad'; the same root (πονηρία/κακία/κακός) threads through the chapter in a deliberate word-pattern: the evil way (v.8), evil deeds (v.10a), and the evil God planned (v.10b) — repentance interrupts the chain.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adds second object of ἀπό)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (second act of separation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.
ἀδικίαςinjustice / violenceGenitivegenitive of separation (the specific wrong turned from)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀδικία: 'injustice, unrighteousness, wrongdoing'; often rendering חָמָס ('violence') in the LXX, which is precisely the word of Jon 3:8 MT; the Ninevites must cease concrete acts of harm — the repentance is moral, not merely ritual.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle (attributive genitive phrase)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (article governing indeclinable Σαουλ): the feminine genitive article here marks the possessor; LXX often inserts the article to decline an otherwise indeclinable Hebrew name.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location — Hebraism for agency)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐν + dative: in; locates Adad's victory in the plain of Moab.
χερσὶνhandsDativedative of location (Hebraism: 'in their hands' = done by their hands)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyχείρ: 'hand'; the phrase ἀδικία ἐν χερσίν is a Hebraism for violence perpetrated by one's own actions (cf. Ps 7:4 LXX; Mic 7:3 LXX).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the child accompanies his parents to the sanctuary for the dedication.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Ptc Nom Pl Masc · λέγωattendant circumstance participle (introduces direct speech of the decree, continued in v.9)→ present participle (simultaneous with the proclamation)λέγω: the participial introduction to direct speech; the decree's content continues into v.9.
9
Τίς οἶδεν εἰ μετανοήσει ὁ θεὸς καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀπὸ ὀργῆς θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα;
'Who knows whether God will repent and turn from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish?'
The rhetorical question τίς οἶδεν ('who knows?') is a classic formula of penitential openness: hope without presumption (cf. Joel 2:14; 2 Sam 12:22). The king's decree voices a conditional faith — perhaps God will relent. The two questions are actually one: if God turns, will we be saved? The aorist subjunctive ἀπολώμεθα with οὐ μή is a strong negation: 'we shall absolutely not perish.'
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ΤίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun, subject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτίς: interrogative pronoun; 'who knows?' is a rhetorical formula of open-ended hope — not ignorance but humble contingency before God.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg (pres. sense) · οἶδαmain verb (rhetorical question)→ intensive perfect with present forceοἶδα: 'know'; a perfect form with present sense; 'who knows?' (τίς οἶδεν) is a biblical idiom for contingent hope, used in Joel 2:14 in a nearly identical context of divine relenting.
εἰwhether / ifconditional particle (indirect question after 'who knows')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyεἰ: 'if, whether'; introduces indirect question; the conditional structure mirrors Joel 2:14 LXX.
μετανοήσειwill repent / relentFut Act Indic 3 Sg · μετανοέωmain verb of conditional clause (what is hoped for)→ predictive futureμετανοέω: 'repent, change mind, relent'; the same root as μετενόησεν in v.10; the king prays using the very word that describes God's actual response — the prayer anticipates the answer. The theological question of divine μετάνοια ('repentance') arises here: does God literally change his mind? The classical and Reformation answer is that this is an anthropopathism — God responds to changed human conditions in a way that, from the human perspective, looks like a change of plan, while his eternal character (mercy toward the penitent) remains constant.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + participle: the articular participle functions as a relative clause ('the one who made'), a standard Greek and LXX construction for divine epithets.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: 'God'; the subject of the hoped-for relenting.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adds second hoped-for action)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
ἀποστρέψειwill turn awayFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (second hoped-for divine act)→ predictive futureἀποστρέφω: 'turn away from'; the same verb used of the people's turning (v.8) — the wordplay is deliberate: if they turn (ἀπέστρεψαν, v.8), perhaps God will turn (ἀποστρέψει, v.9).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation from anger)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
ὀργῆςangerGenitivegenitive of separation (what God turns from)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὀργή: 'anger, wrath'; the first of a double genitive phrase describing divine displeasure: 'from anger of fury' — a Hebraism (חֲרוֹן אַף) for burning wrath.
θυμοῦof fury / wrathGenitivegenitive of quality (intensifying ὀργῆς — 'fierce anger')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθυμός: 'passion, fury, burning anger'; the pair ὀργή + θυμός renders the Hebrew idiom חֲרוֹן אַף ('burning of anger') — two words for wrath stacked for intensity.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (God's anger)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός: possessive genitive 'his city'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (consequential: 'and [so]')→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή = emphatic double negation)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyοὗ: 'where'; relative adverb introducing the parenthetical locating the Philistine garrison.
μὴnotnegative particle (double negation with οὐ — strong denial of perishing)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyοὐ μή: the double negative with the aorist subjunctive is the strongest form of negation in Greek — 'we shall certainly not perish.'
ἀπολώμεθαwe perishAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιmain verb (hopeful consequence — strong negation with οὐ μή)→ aorist subjunctive with οὐ μή (emphatic future negation)ἀπόλλυμι (mid.): 'perish, be destroyed'; the middle/passive sense: 'be destroyed, die'; the threat of καταστραφήσεται (v.4) is here countered by the hope that it will not happen.
10
καὶ εἶδεν ὁ θεὸς τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ὅτι ἀπέστρεψαν ἀπὸ τῶν ὁδῶν αὐτῶν τῶν πονηρῶν καὶ μετενόησεν ὁ θεὸς ἐπὶ τῇ κακίᾳ ᾗ ἐλάλησεν τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν.
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil ways, and God relented concerning the evil that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
The theological climax: God sees (εἶδεν) — the verb of divine recognition and judgment — and relents (μετενόησεν). The chapter closes with a stark ellipsis: καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησεν ('and he did not do it'). Four words dissolve the oracle of v.4. The double κακία ('evil') — the evil they turned from and the evil God planned — creates a chiasm: human evil abandoned, divine punishment withdrawn. This sets up the irony of ch. 4, where Jonah objects to precisely the divine mercy this verse enacts.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
εἶδενsawAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ὁράωmain verb (divine perception — judicial seeing)→ constative aoristὁράω: 'see, perceive'; divine seeing is a loaded act in the OT — God's look of recognition or examination leads to response; cf. Gen 1:31 (God saw all he had made, very good) and Gen 6:5 (God saw wickedness). Here God sees their works and acts accordingly.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + participle: the articular participle functions as a relative clause ('the one who made'), a standard Greek and LXX construction for divine epithets.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject nominative→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: 'God'; the same θεός of v.9's prayer; the name frames the verse (subject of εἶδεν, then repeated as subject of μετενόησεν).
τὰtheAccusativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ, ἡ, τό: the neuter plural article τά substantized with the following prepositional phrase = 'the things concerning her womb', a circumlocution for her reproductive capacity.
ἔργαworks / deedsAccusativeaccusative direct object (what God sees)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἔργον: 'work, deed, act'; God's judgment is based on what they did — their works of repentance are concrete and visible to him.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the child accompanies his parents to the sanctuary for the dedication.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content/causal — specifying what God saw)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅτι: 'that, because'; here explicative — 'he saw their works, namely that they had turned.'
ἀπέστρεψανthey turned awayAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb of ὅτι clause (content of what God saw)→ constative aoristἀποστρέφω: 'turn away from'; the same verb as v.8 — God's seeing confirms that the people's turning (v.8) was genuine; his response in turn confirms the king's prayer (v.9).
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation from evil ways)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἀπό: 'from'; with ὄπισθεν forms the idiom ἀπὸ ὄπισθεν ('from after / from following'), the Hebraism מֵאַחֲרֵי for turning away from following someone.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + κυκλόθεν: the article substantivises the adverb as an attributive modifier of ἐχθρῶν ('the enemies round about').
ὁδῶνwaysGenitivegenitive of separation (what they turned from)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁδός: 'way, manner of life'; now plural — 'their evil ways' (collective); mirrors the singular of v.8 (ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ) with a collective plural.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (gen. pl. αὐτῶν): 'them'; the child accompanies his parents to the sanctuary for the dedication.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle (attributive with πονηρῶν)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + κυκλόθεν: the article substantivises the adverb as an attributive modifier of ἐχθρῶν ('the enemies round about').
πονηρῶνevilGenitiveattributive adjective (modifying ὁδῶν)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyπονηρός: 'evil'; links back to πονηρᾶς (v.8) — the chapter's evil-word chain: their evil ways (v.8), the evil they turned from (v.10a), the evil God planned (v.10b).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative consequence)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
μετενόησενrelented / repentedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · μετανοέωmain verb (divine relenting — theological climax)→ constative aorist (the decisive act of divine relenting)μετανοέω: 'repent, change mind, relent'; God's μετάνοια is the book's theological centerpiece. The LXX uses this full-strength repentance word rather than a softer idiom; the classic theological interpretation reads it as an anthropopathism — God responds to changed human conditions, and his apparent 'change' is the consistent expression of his character: mercy toward the penitent. The word anticipates the exact language of ch. 4:2, where Jonah laments that he knew God would be gracious and relent.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὁ + participle: the articular participle functions as a relative clause ('the one who made'), a standard Greek and LXX construction for divine epithets.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject nominative (repeated for emphasis — the divine actor named again)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyθεός: repeated subject, giving double weight: 'and God relented' — the name frames the climactic act.
ἐπὶconcerning / overpreposition + dative (reference — concerning the evil planned)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἐπί + dative: 'with regard to, concerning'; idiom for μετανοέω ἐπί = 'relent concerning, repent over.'
τῇtheDativearticle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyἡ (fem. dat. τῇ): the article governs the following prepositional phrase ἐν Ιεζραελ attributively ('the [spring] which is in Jezreel'), a common Greek substantivizing construction.
κακίᾳevil / harmDativedative object of ἐπί (the planned punishment)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκακία: 'evil, harm, malice'; here the planned punishment or calamity — 'the evil he had said he would do'; the deliberate reuse of the κακ- root (cf. v.8 ὁδοῦ πονηρᾶς) creates the semantic chiasm: human evil → divine punishment → human repentance → divine relenting.
ᾗwhichDativerelative pronoun, dative (object of ἐλάλησεν — the evil spoken of)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyὅς, ἥ, ὅ (dat. f. ᾗ): relative pronoun; the dative ᾗ σκληρὰ ἡμέρα ('to whom is a hard day') is a dative of possession — 'a woman whose day/lot is hard'.
ἐλάλησενhe had spokenAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λαλέωmain verb of relative clause→ constative aoristλαλέω: 'speak'; refers back to the oracle of v.4 — the evil God had announced he would do.
τοῦtoGenitivegenitive article (articular infinitive of purpose after ἐλάλησεν)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyτοῦ + infinitive: the articular genitive infinitive construction τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι expresses purpose or result ('so as not to give'); a frequent LXX rendering of Hebrew לְבִלְתִּי + infinitive.
ποιῆσαιdo / inflictAor Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (the evil intended to be done)→ aorist infinitiveποιέω: 'do, make, bring about'; the articular infinitive τοῦ ποιῆσαι expresses purpose — the calamity God had planned and announced.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (recipient of the planned punishment)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyαὐτός (dat. pl. αὐτοῖς): the dispersed survivors, among whom not two remained together.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (final clause — understated conclusion)→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyκαί: simple coordinator; in genealogical registers the repeated καί preserves the additive, ledger-like rhythm of the source.
οὐκnotnegative particle→ renewed commission, repentance, and relenting mercyοὐ / οὐκ: the negative before ἦν negates the possession — 'Hannah had no child'.
ἐποίησενhe did itAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (negative conclusion — the oracle is dissolved)→ constative aorist (the decisive non-act)ποιέω: 'do, make'; with οὐκ — 'and he did not do it.' The same verb (ποιῆσαι / ἐποίησεν) connects the plan with the non-execution in a tight verbal frame: what he had spoken to do (ποιῆσαι), he did not do (ἐποίησεν). The oracle of v.4 is overturned not by a new word but by a silent act of divine mercy.