Jonah 3:9 web — Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"

World English Bible

"Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?""

— Jonah 3:9, World English Bible

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Jonah 3:9 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Jonah 3 — Context

6

The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7

He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, "Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;

8

but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.

9

Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"

10

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn't do it.

Jonah 3:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Jonah 3:9 say?
Jonah 3:9 in the World English Bible reads: “Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"”
Where is Jonah 3:9 in the Bible?
Jonah 3:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Jonah, chapter 3, verse 9.
Who wrote Jonah?
Jonah is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Jonah son of Amittai). It was written c. 785–760 BC.
What is the book of Jonah about?
Jonah, sent to preach repentance to Israel's enemies in Nineveh, runs the opposite direction — and ends up in the belly of a great fish. The story confronts every smug heart with the question: do you want God's mercy only for yourself, or for them too?
What are the major themes of Jonah?
Jonah explores themes including Mercy, Repentance, Nations, Reluctant Prophet, Sovereignty. These themes shape the meaning and context of Jonah 3:9.
What translation should I read Jonah 3:9 in?
Jonah 3:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Jonah 3:9?
Jonah 3:9 reads (WEB): “Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?"” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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