Jonah 4:1
"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry."

Commentary

Matthew Henry Concise

📖

Summary

What all the saints make matter of joy and praise, Jonah makes the subject of reflection upon God; as if showing mercy were an imperfection of the Divine nature, which

is the greatest glory of it. It is to his sparing, pardoning mercy, we all owe it that we are out of hell.

Reflection

Do we do well to be angry at that which is for the glory of God, and the advancement of his kingdom? Let the conversion of sinners, which is the

joy of heaven, be our joy, and never our grief.

📚Read Complete Commentary

What all the saints make matter of joy and praise, Jonah makes the subject of reflection upon God; as if showing mercy were an imperfection of the Divine nature, which is the greatest glory of it. It is to his sparing, pardoning mercy, we all owe it that

we are out of hell. He wishes for death: this was the language of folly, passion, and strong corruption. There appeared in Jonah remains of a proud, uncharitable spirit; and that he neither expected nor desired the welfare of the Ninevites, but had only come to declare and witness their destruction. He was not duly humbled for his own sins, and was not willing to trust the Lord with his credit and safety. In this frame of mind, he overlooked the good of which he had been an instrument, and the glory of the Divine mercy. We should often ask ourselves, Is it well to say thus, to do thus? Can | justify it? Do | well to be so soon angry, so often angry, so long angry, and to give others ill language in my anger? Do | well to be angry at the mercy of God to repenting sinners? That was Jonah's crime. Do we do well to be angry at that which is for the glory of God, and the advancement of his kingdom? Let the conversion of sinners, which is the joy of heaven, be our joy, and never our grief.

Source: Matthew Henry Concise (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (6 words)

H7489 רָעַע
Definition:

A primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. Bad (physically, socially or morally) -- afflict, associate selves (by mis A primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. Bad (physically, socially or morally) -- afflict, associate selves (by mis

Possible Meanings:
  • crush (semantic_range)
  • shatter (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H3124 יוֹנָה
Definition:

25he wasהַנָּבִיאson ofאֲמִתַּי, fromגַּת הַחֵפֶרand predicted the recovery of Israel's territory which Jeroboam II effected; he is also the principal figure of the Book of Jonah:2 Kings 1:1(בֶּןאֲֿמִ 25he wasהַנָּבִיאson ofאֲמִתַּי, fromגַּת הַחֵפֶרand predicted the recovery of Israel's territory which Jeroboam II effected; he is also the principal figure of the Book of Jonah:2 Kings 1:1(בֶּןאֲֿמִ

Possible Meanings:
  • dove (semantic_range)
H7451 רַע
Definition:

Fromra'a'; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) -- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm Fromra'a'; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) -- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, + displease(-ure), distress, evil((- favouredness), man, thing), + exceedingly, X great, grief(-vous), harm

Possible Meanings:
  • misery (semantic_range)
  • injury (semantic_range)
H1419 גָּדוֹל
Definition:

13 279t.;גָּדֹלDeuteronomy 26:822t.; constructגְּדוֺלEzekiel 17:3,7;Jeremiah 32:19,גְּדָלֿProverbs 19:19,גְּדָו֯לֿPsalm 145:8;Nahum 1:3; suffixגְּדוֺלָםJeremiah 6:132t.; pluralגְּדוֺלִיםExodus 7:411t. 13 279t.;גָּדֹלDeuteronomy 26:822t.; constructגְּדוֺלEzekiel 17:3,7;Jeremiah 32:19,גְּדָלֿProverbs 19:19,גְּדָו֯לֿPsalm 145:8;Nahum 1:3; suffixגְּדוֺלָםJeremiah 6:132t.; pluralגְּדוֺלִיםExodus 7:411t.

Possible Meanings:
  • great (semantic_range)
  • loud (semantic_range)
  • do great things (semantic_range)
  • greatness (semantic_range)
H2734 חָרָה
Definition:

620t.;ImperfectיֶחֱרֶהExodus 32:112t.;יִ֫חַרGenesis 18:307t.;וַיִּ֫חַרGenesis 4:546t.;Infinitive absoluteחָרֹה1 Samuel 20:7; constructחֲרוֺת2 Samuel 24:1;Psalm 124:3; —1of man:a.חרה אף(one's)anger was 620t.;ImperfectיֶחֱרֶהExodus 32:112t.;יִ֫חַרGenesis 18:307t.;וַיִּ֫חַרGenesis 4:546t.;Infinitive absoluteחָרֹה1 Samuel 20:7; constructחֲרוֺת2 Samuel 24:1;Psalm 124:3; —1of man:a.חרה אף(one's)anger was

Possible Meanings:
  • burn (semantic_range)
  • be kindled (semantic_range)
  • be angry (semantic_range)
  • burned with zeal (semantic_range)
  • in repairing (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

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