King James Version

What Does Jonah 3:8 Mean?

Jonah 3:8 in the King James Version says “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil w...” — study this verse from Jonah chapter 3 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.”

Jonah 3:8 · KJV

Context

6

For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

7

And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: published: Heb. said nobles: Heb. great men

8

But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.

9

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

10

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. The decree moves beyond external ritual to internal transformation. The Hebrew veyitkassu saqqim ha'adam vehabehemah veyiqre'u el-'Elohim behazaqah veyashuvu ish middarko hara'ah umin-hechamas asher bekappeihem (וְיִתְכַּסּוּ שַׂקִּים הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל־אֱלֹהִים בְּחָזְקָה וְיָשֻׁבוּ אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה וּמִן־הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם) combines outward symbols with inward change.

"Cry mightily unto God" (veyiqre'u el-'Elohim behazaqah) uses hazaqah (חֲזָקָה), meaning strength, force, or intensity—crying out with all one's might, desperate pleading. This isn't quiet, polite prayer but urgent, passionate intercession acknowledging life-or-death crisis.

"Let them turn every one from his evil way" (veyashuvu ish middarko hara'ah) uses shuv (שׁוּב), the primary Hebrew word for repentance meaning to turn back, return, or change direction. Genuine repentance requires turning from sin, not merely feeling sorry. The phrase "every one" (ish) individualizes responsibility—corporate repentance requires personal transformation.

"From the violence that is in their hands" (umin-hechamas asher bekappeihem) specifically identifies Nineveh's characteristic sin. The word chamas (חָמָס) means violence, cruelty, or injustice—precisely what Assyria was notorious for. Their empire was built on brutal conquest, systematic terror, and calculated cruelty. Archaeological evidence confirms Assyrian boasts of impalement, flaying, mass executions, and deportations. True repentance for Nineveh meant renouncing the violence that defined their national identity. This demonstrates that authentic repentance addresses specific, known sins, not vague generalities.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Assyrian military campaigns were characterized by extreme brutality designed to terrorize enemies into submission. Royal inscriptions proudly detail atrocities: 'I built a pillar over against the city gate and I flayed all the chiefs who had revolted and I covered the pillar with their skins... I cut off the limbs of the officers who had rebelled' (Ashurnasirpal II). Reliefs from Assyrian palaces graphically depict impalement, decapitation, and mass deportations. Jonah 1:2 states Nineveh's 'wickedness is come up before me'—God sees and judges violence. Nineveh's repentance required confronting this core sin. Centuries later, Nahum prophesied Nineveh's destruction (fulfilled 612 BC), indicating this repentance didn't permanently transform Assyrian character. Genuine for that generation, it didn't institutionalize lasting change.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the emphasis on turning 'from the violence that is in their hands' demonstrate that repentance must address specific sins?
  2. What does crying 'mightily unto God' teach about the intensity and urgency appropriate to genuine repentance?
  3. In what ways does God hold nations and cultures accountable for characteristic sins like Assyria's violence?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וְיִתְכַּסּ֣וּ1 of 16

“be covered”

H3680

properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)

שַׂקִּ֗ים2 of 16

“with sackcloth”

H8242

properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e., coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grai

הָֽאָדָם֙3 of 16

“But let man”

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

וְהַבְּהֵמָ֔ה4 of 16

“and beast”

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

וְיִקְרְא֥וּ5 of 16

“and cry”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל6 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֱלֹהִ֖ים7 of 16

“unto God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

בְּחָזְקָ֑ה8 of 16

“mightily”

H2394

vehemence (usually in a bad sense)

וְיָשֻׁ֗בוּ9 of 16

“yea let them turn”

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אִ֚ישׁ10 of 16

“every one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ11 of 16

“way”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

הָֽרָעָ֔ה12 of 16

“from his evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וּמִן13 of 16
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הֶחָמָ֖ס14 of 16

“and from the violence”

H2555

violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain

אֲשֶׁ֥ר15 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּכַפֵּיהֶֽם׃16 of 16

“that is in their hands”

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jonah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jonah 3:8 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jonah 3:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jonah 1:6Isaiah 59:6Isaiah 55:6-7Acts 3:19Ezekiel 18:21-24Isaiah 1:16-19

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