Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
- KJV Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
- NKJV Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
- NASB Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”
- NLT Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The king hopes that God may relent and spare the city from destruction. It matters because it expresses humble, hopeful faith in God's possible mercy.
Overview
The king's 'Who knows?' reflects not doubt of God's power but reverent humility, casting Nineveh on God's freedom to show grace. He rightly understands that judgment may yet be averted if God chooses to relent. This hopeful appeal to divine mercy is the very disposition through which sinners find pardon, supremely in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Sam 12:22David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
- Joel 2:13–14So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
- Ps 106:45And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
- Luke 15:18–20I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
- Jonah 1:6The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
- Amos 5:15Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Three days in the belly of the fish is the sign Jesus gave of his own death and resurrection (Matt 12:40); and God's mercy on pagan Nineveh foreshadows the gospel going to the nations.
How Jonah 3:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.