The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:1-4
1 . Jonah is grieved at the sparing of Nineveh, the expectation of which had led to his former flight, and complains of God's clemency. read more
Jonah 4
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:1-4
A misanthrope's case against Divine benevolence. It takes a good deal to make a man of God perfect. After a whole life's discipline the old man of sin will sometimes show his baleful features at the window of the soul. Jonah has just been figuring to our mind as a changed character, returned to his allegiance, going God's errand promptly, and doing his work with faithful zeal. But here he forfeits our good opinion, almost before it has had time to form. The patient's cure has been only... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:1-5
Jonah's grief. There "sat" Jonah, watching, displeased with the Ninevites' preservation, grieved at the gentle dealings of their Preserver. And God's only rebuke of him was the gentle question, "Doest thou well to be angry?" In his mood and conduct let us read our own. I. OUR DISPLEASURE . Have we never been displeased with God's ways? It may have been as patriots. It is easy to be resigned to judgments that come upon our country's enemies. We must beware—beware lest we encourage... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:1-11
JONAH 'S DISPLEASURE AND ITS CORRECTION . read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:2
He prayed. He carried his complaint to God, and was prepared to submit it to him, even while he questioned the wisdom of his clemency. I pray thee ( anna ); Vulgate, obsecro . A particle of entreaty, "Ah! I pray thee." Was not this my saying? Was not this what I said to myself, viz. that God would spare Nineveh if it showed signs of repentance? My country. Palestine, where the original message reached him. I fled before; literally, I anticipated to fly; Septuagint, ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:2
The long suffering of God. The magnificent description of the Divine character is given in language familiar to the pious Hebrews, as is apparent from its almost exact coincidence with other passages of Old Testament Scripture. Nothing could more conclusively contradict the common impression that the old covenant was one of justice only and not of mercy. The language, occurring as it does in close connection with the repining of the prophet, appears strangely out of place. It is surprising... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:3
Take ... my life from me (comp. Jonah 4:8 ). Jonah throughout represents himself as petty, hasty, and self-willed, prone to exaggerate matters, and easily reduced to despair. Here, because his word is not fulfilled, he wishes to die, though he will not take his own life. In a different spirit Moses ( Exodus 32:32 ) is ready to die for his people's sake, and Elijah asked for death because his zeal for God had apparently wrought no effect ( 1 Kings 19:4 ). read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:4
Doest thou well to be angry? Septuagint, εἰ σφόδρα λελύπησαι σύ ; "Hast thou been greatly grieved?" Vulgate, Putasne bene irasceris tu? The English Version is doubtless correct. God bids him consider with himself whether his anger is reasonable. The version of the LXX ; however grammatically permissible, is somewhat pointless. read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:4
Anger rebuked. The Prophet Jonah was a singularly complex being. On the one hand, he evidently reverenced and trusted she Lord.; yet, on the other hand, he acted disobediently, and he cherished feelings which were in the highest degree discreditable to one who enjoyed his opportunities of knowing the Divine character and purposes. The inquiry, the expostulation, of the text indicates God's displeasure with his servant; yet the form in which it shapes itself shows that God wished rather... read more
Subscribe
Verse of the Day
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Daily Devotional
Subscribe to receive daily devotionals to help you grow in faith and walk closer with God.
Read on Mobile
Most Searched
Group of Brands
© 2026 Bibleportal.com All rights reserved.
The Pulpit Commentary - Jonah 4:1-3
Repining at God's mercy. A more mixed character than Jonah's it would not be easy to imagine. God's treatment of him, God's language to him, prove that he was regarded as a servant, as a prophet, of the Lord. His own prayers and thanksgivings indicated a nature in happy fellowship with the Eternal. Yet how lacking in human charity, in true submissiveness, in unselfishness! True to nature, the portrait is one very suggestive to the thoughtful reader, who is anxious to escape self and to... read more