Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
- BSB Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
- 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 12:22He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
- Joel 2:13–14Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.
- Ps 106:45He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
- Luke 15:18–20I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.
- Jonah 1:6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
- Amos 5:15Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, 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.