Jonah 4:2 “So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said whi…”

Jonah 4:2

So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

World English Bible

He prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, LORD, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.

American Standard Version

And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Geneva Bible 1599

And he prayed vnto the Lord, and saide, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my countrey? therefore I preuented it to flee vnto Tarshish: for I knewe that thou art a gratious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindnes, and repentest thee of the euill.

Darby Translation

And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, Ah, Jehovah, was not this my saying when I was yet in my country? Therefore I was minded to flee at first unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Young's Literal Translation

and he prayeth unto Jehovah, and he saith, 'I pray Thee, O Jehovah, is not this my word while I was in mine own land — therefore I was beforehand to flee to Tarshish — that I have known that Thou [art] a God, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, and repenting of evil?

Bible in Basic English

And he made prayer to the Lord and said, O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still in my country? This is why I took care to go in flight to Tarshish: for I was certain that you were a loving God, full of pity, slow to be angry and great in mercy, and ready to be turned from your purpose of evil.

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Cross references

“he prayed”

1 Kings 19:4 Jeremiah 20:7

1 Kings 19:4 · BSB

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Jeremiah 20:7 · BSB

You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.

“I fled”

Jonah 1:3 Luke 10:29

Jonah 1:3 · BSB

Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence…

Luke 10:29 · BSB

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

“thou art”

Psalm 86:15 Psalm 145:8 Psalm 86:5 Micah 7:18 Psalm 78:38 Exodus 34:6

Psalm 86:15 · BSB

But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Psalm 145:8 · BSB

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

Psalm 86:5 · BSB

For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.

Micah 7:18 · BSB

Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

Psalm 78:38 · BSB

And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.

Exodus 34:6 · BSB

Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,

“and of”

Exodus 32:14 Jeremiah 18:8 Amos 7:3 Jonah 3:10 Amos 7:6 Psalm 90:13

Exodus 32:14 · BSB

So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people.

Jeremiah 18:8 · BSB

But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.

Amos 7:3 · BSB

So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.

Jonah 3:10 · BSB

When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

Amos 7:6 · BSB

So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.

Psalm 90:13 · BSB

Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

1Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.

3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Read Jonah 4