ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Jonah 4

Jonah 4:1–4 Jonah’s Angry Prayer. The sixth episode parallels the third (1:17–2:10) and focuses on Jonah’s self-centeredness and hypocrisy. Both episodes have the same structure: (1) Jonah “prayed to the Lord” (1:17–2:1a and 4:1–2a); (2) Jonah’s prayer (2:1b–9 and 4:2b–3); and (3) “the Lord spoke/said” (2:10 and 4:4).

Jonah 4:1 it displeased Jonah exceedingly. In the previous episode (see 3:10) the pagans got rid of their “evil” and God got rid of the “disaster” he had threatened. The pagans are in harmony with God, but Jonah is not. He is now characterized by “displeasure” (or “evil”).

Jonah 4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer. The repetition of prayed to the Lord (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God . . . relenting from disaster. Ironically, this great confession of God’s compassionate nature (see Ex. 34:6–7; Ps. 145:8) is the cause of Jonah’s anger. When Jonah received steadfast love, it filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8). When God extended the same love to the Ninevites, it filled Jonah with anger.

Jonah 4:3 My life translates the Hebrew for “my soul,” and to live translates the Hebrew for “my life.” These two expressions occur in Jonah’s first prayer, where he is grateful that his “life” was brought up from the pit (2:6) and that his fainting “life/soul” was revived (2:7). When God extends the same mercy to the Ninevites, Jonah wishes his “life” and “soul” to be taken.

Jonah 4:5–11 Jonah’s Lesson about Compassion. The seventh and final episode has no parallel and thus stands out as the climax of the story.

Jonah 4:6 the Lord God appointed. This is the second use of the verb “appoint” (see note on 1:17). Discomfort (or “evil”; see esv footnote and note on 1:2) refers both to Jonah’s outer “discomfort” and to his inner “evil.” Jonah was exceedingly glad. The grammar of this phrase is identical to that at the beginning of 4:1 (“It displeased Jonah exceedingly”). This highlights the contrast between Jonah’s anger at the salvation of the Ninevites and his joy at his own salvation.

Jonah 4:9 angry for the plant. God questions the justice of Jonah’s anger over the destruction of the plant (v. 4).

Jonah 4:10–11 perished. Finally Jonah expresses concern over something perishing. Sadly, it is only the plant, not the 120,000 people who do not know their right hand from their left, which means that they were untaught regarding moral or spiritual issues.