King James Version

What Does Jonah 4:10 Mean?

Jonah 4:10 in the King James Version says “Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which...” — study this verse from Jonah chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night , and perished in a night : had pity: or, spared came: Heb. was the son of the night”

Jonah 4:10 · KJV

Context

8

And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. vehement: or, silent

9

And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Doest: or, Art thou greatly angry? I do well: or, I am greatly angry

10

Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night , and perished in a night : had pity: or, spared came: Heb. was the son of the night

11

And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night—God's climactic argument. The Hebrew attah chasta al-haqiqayon asher lo-amalta bo velo giddaltho shebin-lailah hayah ubin-lailah abad (אַתָּה חַסְתָּ עַל־הַקִּיקָיוֹן אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָמַלְתָּ בּוֹ וְלֹא גִדַּלְתּוֹ שֶׁבִּן־לַיְלָה הָיָה וּבִן־לַיְלָה אָבָד) contrasts Jonah's concern for plant versus God's concern for people. The verb "had pity" (chasah, חָסָה) means to spare, have compassion—Jonah felt something for the plant, if only self-interested grief over lost comfort.

God's logic is devastating: "You had compassion on something you didn't make, didn't tend, that lasted one day. Should I not have compassion on 120,000 people I created and sustain?" The phrase "came up in a night, and perished in a night" (bin-lailah hayah ubin-lailah abad) emphasizes the plant's transience—literally "son of a night...son of a night," Hebrew idiom for ephemeral existence. This follows Job 8:9: "We are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow."

The parallel is unmistakable: If Jonah grieves over insignificant vegetation lasting hours, how much more should God grieve over eternal souls? Jesus teaches this principle: "Ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:31). God cares for sparrows (Matthew 10:29) and clothes grass (Matthew 6:30), yet infinitely more for image-bearers. The logic moves from lesser to greater—if God provides for plants, will He not care for people? Romans 11:33-36 concludes: "of him, and through him, and to him, are all things."

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Historical & Cultural Context

This verse sets up the book's devastating finale (4:11). God's argument reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature's use of qal va-chomer (light and heavy) reasoning—arguing from lesser to greater. If X is true in smaller case, how much more in greater case? Rabbi Hillel later systematized this as first hermeneutical rule. Jesus used it constantly (Matthew 6:30, 7:11, 10:31). The plant's overnight growth and death weren't unique—many Middle Eastern plants grow rapidly in favorable conditions. God uses natural example to teach supernatural truth about His values.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's comparison between Jonah's concern for the plant and His concern for Nineveh expose our disordered loves and priorities?
  2. What does this verse teach about the infinite value God places on human souls made in His image?
  3. How should God's patient reasoning with stubborn Jonah shape how we engage with those who oppose His purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 18

“Then said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֔ה2 of 18

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אַתָּ֥ה3 of 18
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

חַ֙סְתָּ֙4 of 18

“Thou hast had pity”

H2347

properly, to cover, i.e., (figuratively) to compassionate

עַל5 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַקִּ֣יקָי֔וֹן6 of 18

“on the gourd”

H7021

the gourd (as nauseous)

אֲשֶׁ֛ר7 of 18
H834

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

לֹא8 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

עָמַ֥לְתָּ9 of 18

“for the which thou hast not laboured”

H5998

to toil, i.e., work severely and with irksomeness

בּ֖וֹ10 of 18
H0
וְלֹ֣א11 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

גִדַּלְתּ֑וֹ12 of 18

“neither madest it grow”

H1431

to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)

וּבִן13 of 18

“in a night”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לַ֥יְלָה14 of 18
H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

הָיָ֖ה15 of 18
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

וּבִן16 of 18

“in a night”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לַ֥יְלָה17 of 18
H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

אָבָֽד׃18 of 18

“and perished”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

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 4:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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