King James Version

What Does Jonah 4:6 Mean?

“And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. gourd: or, palmcrist: Heb. Kikajon was: Heb. rejoiced with great joy”

Context

Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? Doest: or, Art thou greatly angry?

So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.

And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. gourd: or, palmcrist: Heb. Kikajon was: Heb. rejoiced with great joy

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

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

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Topics in This Verse

Joy

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(6) **Prepared.**—See Note, Jonah 1:17. **A gourd.**—So the LXX. render the Hebrew *qiqaion,* which, since the time of Jerome, has been usually identified with the Arabic *el keroa,* the castor-oil tree (*Ricinus communis,* or *Palma Christi*; see margin). It is a large shrub, having large palmate leaves, with serrated lobes, and spikes of blossoms which produce the seed, whence the well-known medicinal oil is extracted, in small rough husks. The strongest argument in favour of this view is the proposed derivation of the Hebrew name from the Egyptian *kiki,* and the rabbinical name for castor-oil, *kiki-oil.*[22] In spite of this etymological argument, Dr. Tristram says: “Practical reasons cause me to lean strongly to the rendering of our English version, gourd, *i.e.,* the bottle gourd (*Cucurbita pepo*)*.* In Palestine the vernacularnames are almost identical in sound, “kurah” being the gourd, “khurwah” the castor-oil tree. But the gourd is very commonly employed in Palestine for the purpose of shading arbours. Its rapid growth and large leaves render it admirably adapted for training on trellis-work . . . But the plant withers as rapidly as it shoots, and after a storm or any injury to its stem, its fruit may be seen hanging from the leafless tendrils, which so lately concealed it, a type of melancholy desolation” (*Nat Hist. of the Bible,* p. 449). [22] A Semitic origin for the word is rendered probable by its discovery under the form, *quqanitu,* on a small tablet which the Babylonian king *Marduk-bal-iddin* (Merodach-baladan) ordered to be set in a garden. (See letters of Dr. F. Delitzsch, to the *Athenœum *of May 26th and June 9th, 1883.) **Made it to come up.**—Rather, *it came up.* **Deliver.**—In the original there is a play of words on this word and *shadow.*

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

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 4:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.