Jonah 4:6 KJV - Bible Verse

Jonah 4:6

"And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

And the Lord God prepared a gourd,.... So the Septuagint render the word; but some say that a worm will not touch that; Jerom renders it an ivy; but neither the gourd nor that rise upwards without some props to support them. The Hebrew word is "kikaion", the same with the "kiki", or "cici", of Herodotus (c), Dioscorides (d), Strabo (e), and Pliny (f); a plant frequent in Egypt, of which the Egyptians made an oil; hence the Talmudists (g) make mention of the oil of "kik", which Reshlakish says is the "kikaion" of Jonah; and which is the same that the Arabians call "alcheroa" or "alcherva", according to Samuel ben Hophni (h), Maimonides (i), Bartenora (k), and Jerom (l); and which is well known to be the "ricinus", or "palma Christi"; and which, by the description of it, according to all the above writers, bids fairest (m) to be here intended; it rising up to the height of a tree, an olive tree, having very large broad leaves, like those of vines, or of plantain; and springing up suddenly, as Pliny says it does in Spain; and Clusius affirms he saw at the straits of Gibraltar a ricinus of the thickness of a man, and of the height of three men; and Bellonius, who travelled through Syria and Palestine, saw one in Crete of the size of a tree; and Dietericus (n), who relates the above, says he saw himself, in

a garden at Leyden, well furnished and enriched with exotic plants, an American ricinus, the stalk of which was hollow, weak, and soft, and the leaves almost a foot and a half; and which Adolphus Vorstius, he adds, took to be the same which Jonah had for a shade; with which agrees what Dioscorides (o) says, that there is a sort of it which grows large like a tree, and as high as a fig tree; the leaves of it are like those of a palm tree, though broader, smoother, and blacker; the branches and trunk of it are hollow like a reed: and what may seem more to confirm this is, that a certain number of grains of the seed of the ricinus very much provoke vomiting; which, if true, as Marinus (p) observes, the word here used may be derived from which signifies to vomit; from whence is the word vomiting; and the first radical being here doubled may increase the signification, and show it to be a great emetic; and the like virtue of the ricinus is observed by others (q). Jerom allegorizes it of the ceremonial law, under the shadow of which Israel dwelt for a while; and then was abrogated by Christ, who says he was a worm, and no man: but it is better to apply it to outward mercies and earthly enjoyments, which like this plant spring out of the earth, and have their root in it, and are of the nature of it, and therefore minded by earthly and carnal men above all others; they are thin, slight, and slender things; there is no solidity and substance in them, like the kiki, whose stalk is hollow as a reed, as Dioscorides says; they are light and empty things, vanity and vexation of spirit; spring up suddenly sometimes, and are gone as soon; some men come to riches and honour at once, and rise up to a very great pitch of both, and quickly fall into poverty and disgrace again; for these are very uncertain perishing things, like this herb or plant, or even as grass, which soon withers away. They are indeed of God, who is the Father of mercies, and are the gifts of his providence, and not the merit of men; they are disposed of according to his will, and "prepared" by him in his purposes, and given forth according to them, and in his covenant to his own special people, and are to them blessings indeed: and made it to come up over Jonah; over his head, as follows; and it may be over the booth he had built, which was become in a manner useless; the leaves of the boughs of which it was made being withered with the heat of the sun; it came over him so as to cover him all over; which may denote both the necessity of outward mercies, as food and raiment, which the Lord knows his people have need of; and the sufficiency of them he grants, with which they should be content: that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief; either from the vexation of mind at the repentance of the Ninevites, and the mercy shown them; this being a refreshment unto him, and which he might take as a new token of the Lord's favourable regard to him, after the offence he had given him, and gentle reproof for it; or from the headache, with which he was thought to have been afflicted, through his vexation; or by the heat of the sun; or rather it was to shelter him from the heat of the sun, and the distress that gave him: so outward mercies, like a reviving and refreshing shadow, exhilarate the spirits, and are a defence against the injuries and insults of men, and a preservative from the grief and distress which poverty brings with it: so Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd; or, "rejoiced with a great joy" (r); he was excessively and above measure glad of it, because of its usefulness to him: outward mercies are what we should be thankful for; and it is good for men to rejoice in their labours, and enjoy the good of them; to eat their bread with a merry heart and cheerfulness; but should not be elevated with them beyond measure, lifted up with pride, and boast and glory of them, and rejoice in such boastings, which is evil; or rejoice in them as their portion, placing their happiness therein, which is to rejoice in a thing of naught; or to overrate mercies, and show more affection for them than for God himself, the giver of them, who only should be our "exceeding joy"; and, when this is the case, it is much if they are not quickly taken away, as Jonah's gourd was, as follows: (c) Euterpe, sive l. 2. c. 94. (d) L. 4. c. 164. (e) Geograph. l. 17. p. 566. (f) Nat. Hist. l. 15. c. 7. (g) Misa. Sabbat, c. 2. sect. 1. T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 21. 2. (h) In Kimchi in loc. (i) In Misna Sabbat, c. 2. sect. 1. (k) In ib. (l) In loc. (m) Vid. Weidlingt. Dissert. de Kikaion, apud Thesaur. Theolog. Phil. Dissert. vol. 1. p. 989. & Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 2. c. 24. p. 293, 294. & l. 4. c. 27. p. 623. & Geograph. par. 1. col. 918, 919. & Liveleum in loc. (n) Antiqu. Bibl. par. 1. p. 82. (o) Apud Calmet's Dictionary, in the word "Kikaion". (p) Arca Noae, tom. 2. fol. 135. (q) Hillerus in Hierophytico, par. 1. p. 453. apud Burkium in loc. (r) "et laetatus est----magna laetitia", Pagninus, Montanus; "et laetabaturque laetitia magna", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "gavisus est gaudio magno", Burkius,

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (19 words)

H4487 מָנָה

Definition:

10;וּמָנִ֫יתִיIsaiah 65:12;Imperfect2masculine singularתִּמְנֶהֿ1 Kings 20:25;וַיִּמְנוּ2 Kings 12:11;Imperativeמְנֵה2 Samuel 24:1;Infinitive constructלִמְנוֺתGenesis 13:164t.;ParticipleמוֺנֶהJeremiah 10;וּמָנִ֫יתִיIsaiah 65:12;Imperfect2masculine singularתִּמְנֶהֿ1 Kings 20:25;וַיִּמְנוּ2 Kings 12:11;Imperativeמְנֵה2 Samuel 24:1;Infinitive constructלִמְנוֺתGenesis 13:164t.;ParticipleמוֺנֶהJeremiah

Possible Meanings:

number (semantic_range)
reckon (semantic_range)
has numbered (semantic_range)
appoint (semantic_range)

H3068 יְהוָֹה

Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:

Yahweh (semantic_range)
the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
life-giver (semantic_range)

H0430 אֱלהִים

Definition:

33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power 33; on number of occurrences ofאֵל,אֱלוֺהַּ,אֱלֹהִיםcompare also Nesl. c,)1pluralin number.a.rulers, judges, either as divine representatives at sacred places or as reflecting divine majesty and power

Possible Meanings:

divine ones (semantic_range)
angels (semantic_range)
gods (semantic_range)

H7021 קִיקָיוֹן

Definition:

6a plant(compare AssyrianKukkânîtum(כ) a garden-plant, DlHWB 327); — usually ricinus (R.communis, Linn. =castor-oil tree; compare Dioscoriv. 164κίκι(Egypt) =κρότων[castor-oil tree]; Talmudשֶׁמֶן קִיקs 6a plant(compare AssyrianKukkânîtum(כ) a garden-plant, DlHWB 327); — usually ricinus (R.communis, Linn. =castor-oil tree; compare Dioscoriv. 164κίκι(Egypt) =κρότων[castor-oil tree]; Talmudשֶׁמֶן קִיקs

Possible Meanings:

bottle-gourd (semantic_range)

H5927 עָלָה

Definition:

15+; 3 feminine singularעָֽלְתָהGenesis 40:10+;עָלָ֑תָהJeremiah 14:2;1 Samuel 1:22; 2masculine singularעָלִיתָGenesis 49:4+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲלֶהGenesis 2:6+,יַ֫עַלGenesis 44:33+,ו 15+; 3 feminine singularעָֽלְתָהGenesis 40:10+;עָלָ֑תָהJeremiah 14:2;1 Samuel 1:22; 2masculine singularעָלִיתָGenesis 49:4+, etc.;Imperfect3masculine singularיַעֲלֶהGenesis 2:6+,יַ֫עַלGenesis 44:33+,ו

Possible Meanings:

matter (semantic_range)
affair (semantic_range)
occasion (semantic_range)

H5921 עַל

Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:

upon (semantic_range)
on account of (semantic_range)
to (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)

H1961 הָיָה

Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:

fall out (semantic_range)
come to pass (semantic_range)
become (semantic_range)
be (semantic_range)
Fall out (semantic_range)

H6738 צֵל

Definition:

4shadow; —׳צabsolute2 Kings 20:9+, constructGenesis 19:8+; suffixצִלְךָPsalm 121:5,צִלּוֺEzekiel 31:6+, alsoצִלְלוֺJob 40:22, etc.; pluralצְלָלִיםSongs 2:17;Songs 4:6; constructצִלְלֵיJeremiah 6:4; —1 4shadow; —׳צabsolute2 Kings 20:9+, constructGenesis 19:8+; suffixצִלְךָPsalm 121:5,צִלּוֺEzekiel 31:6+, alsoצִלְלוֺJob 40:22, etc.; pluralצְלָלִיםSongs 2:17;Songs 4:6; constructצִלְלֵיJeremiah 6:4; —1

H5921 עַל

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

upon (semantic_range)
on account of (semantic_range)
to (semantic_range)

H7218 רֹאשׁ

Definition:

45head(common Semitic word; earliest form *ra°š, Arabic, SabeanראסPräZMG xxix (1875). 425MordtmHim.Inschr. 31; EthiopicAmharichence (aheightened) Assyrianrêšu(rarelyrâšu), Aramaicרֵישָׁא(Egyptian Aram 45head(common Semitic word; earliest form *ra°š, Arabic, SabeanראסPräZMG xxix (1875). 425MordtmHim.Inschr. 31; EthiopicAmharichence (aheightened) Assyrianrêšu(rarelyrâšu), Aramaicרֵישָׁא(Egyptian Aram

Possible Meanings:

chief (semantic_range)
sum (semantic_range)

H5337 נָצַל

Definition:

- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefin - X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).NAS Exhaustive ConcordanceWord Origina prim. rootDefin

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)

H8055 שָׂמַח

Definition:

9;וְשָׂמֵ֑חַconsecutiveProverbs 29:6; 3feminine singularשָׂמֵ֑חָהEsther 8:15; 2masculine singularוְשָׂמַחְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 12:18+; 3 masculine pluralשָׂמֵ֑חוּNehemiah 12:43, etc.;ImperfectיִשְׂמַחIsaia 9;וְשָׂמֵ֑חַconsecutiveProverbs 29:6; 3feminine singularשָׂמֵ֑חָהEsther 8:15; 2masculine singularוְשָׂמַחְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 12:18+; 3 masculine pluralשָׂמֵ֑חוּNehemiah 12:43, etc.;ImperfectיִשְׂמַחIsaia

Possible Meanings:

glad (semantic_range)
joyful (semantic_range)
merry (semantic_range)

H3124 יוֹנָה

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

dove (semantic_range)

H5921 עַל

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

upon (semantic_range)
on account of (semantic_range)
to (semantic_range)

H7021 קִיקָיוֹן

Definition:

Possible Meanings:

bottle-gourd (semantic_range)

H8057 שִׂמְחָה

Definition:

37+, constructשִׂמְחַתIsaiah 9:2+; suffixשִׂמְחָתִיPsalm 137:6, etc.; pluralשְׂמָחוֺתPsalm 16:11,תֹ-Psalm 45:16; —1mirth, gladness, e.g. in festivity,Genesis 31:27(E),Psalm 137:3;Psalm 137:6,1 Kings 1 37+, constructשִׂמְחַתIsaiah 9:2+; suffixשִׂמְחָתִיPsalm 137:6, etc.; pluralשְׂמָחוֺתPsalm 16:11,תֹ-Psalm 45:16; —1mirth, gladness, e.g. in festivity,Genesis 31:27(E),Psalm 137:3;Psalm 137:6,1 Kings 1

Possible Meanings:

joy (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)

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