Jonah 3:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring upon them the disaster He had threatened.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּ֤רְא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶֽת־מַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כִּי־שָׁ֖בוּ מִדַּרְכָּ֣ם הָרָעָ֑ה וַיִּנָּ֣חֶם הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים עַל־הָרָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר לַעֲשׂוֹת־לָהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א עָשָֽׂה׃

Transliteration

And-wayyarʾ the-ʾĕlōhîm ʾeṯ-maʿăśêhem that-šāḇû from-darkām the-rāʿāh and-wayyinnāḥem the-ʾĕlōhîm on-the-rāʿāh ʾăšer-dibber to-laʿăśôṯ-to-them and-not ʿāśāh.

Grammar Details

• *wayyarʾ*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and he saw
• *ʾĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun with definite article - the God
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *maʿăśêhem*: masculine plural noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their works/deeds
• *šāḇû*: qal perfect 3rd person common plural - they turned/returned
• *darkām*: masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine plural suffix and preposition - from their way
• *rāʿāh*: feminine singular noun with definite article and preposition - concerning the evil/calamity
• *wayyinnāḥem*: waw-consecutive + niphal imperfect 3rd person masculine singular - and he relented/was sorry
• *ʾăšer*: relative pronoun - which
• *dibber*: piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular - he had spoken
• *laʿăśôṯ*: preposition + qal infinitive construct - to do/bring
• *ʿāśāh*: qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular with negative particle - he did not do

Word Meanings

• *wayyarʾ*: and he saw/observed/perceived
• *maʿăśêhem*: their deeds/actions/works
• *šāḇû*: they turned/returned/repented
• *wayyinnāḥem*: and he relented/changed his mind/was sorry
• *rāʿāh*: evil/calamity/disaster/harm

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented of the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And God{H430} saw{H7200} their works,{H4639} that they turned{H7725} from their evil{H7451} way;{H1870} and God{H430} repented{H5162} of the evil{H7451} which he said{H1696} he would do{H6213} unto them; and he did{H6213} it not.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And God{H430} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} their works{H4639}, that they turned{H7725}{(H8804)} from their evil{H7451} way{H1870}; and God{H430} repented{H5162}{(H8735)} of the evil{H7451}, that he had said{H1696}{(H8765)} that he would do{H6213}{(H8800)} unto them; and he did{H6213}{(H8804)} it not.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And when god saw theyr workes how they turned from theyr weked wayes he repented on ye euell which he sayd he wold doo vn to them ad dyd it not.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And when God sawe their workes, how they turned from their wicked wayes: he repented on the euell, which he sayde he wolde do vnto them, and dyd it not.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And God sawe their workes that they turned from their euill wayes: and God repented of the euill that he had said that he woulde doe vnto them, and he did it not.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And God sawe their workes, that they turned from their euil wayes, and he repented of the euill that he saide he woulde do vnto them, and did it not.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

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

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And God seeth their works, that they have turned back from their evil way, and God repenteth of the evil that He spake of doing to them, and he hath not done `it'.

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• American Standard Version (1901)

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

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And God saw what they did, how they were turned from their evil way; and God's purpose was changed as to the evil which he said he would do to them, and he did it not.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When God saw their actions– that they turned from their evil way of living!– God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.

Referenced Verses

• Jer 18:8 : 8 But if that nation I have warned repents of its evil, then I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to bring upon it.
• Amos 7:6 : 6 So the Lord relented concerning this: 'This will not happen either,' said the Lord God.
• Exod 32:14 : 14 So the LORD relented concerning the disaster He had said He would bring on His people.
• 1 Kgs 21:27-29 : 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went about meekly. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 'Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring disaster during his lifetime; but in the days of his son, I will bring disaster on his house.'
• Amos 7:3 : 3 So the Lord relented concerning this: 'It will not happen,' said the Lord.
• Job 33:27-28 : 27 They sing before others and say, 'I have sinned and perverted what was right, but it was not repaid to me.' 28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and my life will see the light.
• Jer 31:18-20 : 18 I have surely heard Ephraim’s lamenting: 'You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf. Restore me, and I will return, for you are the LORD my God.' 19 After I turned away, I repented; after I came to understand, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son, my precious child? For as often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore, my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD.
• Joel 2:13 : 13 Tear open your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from sending calamity.
• Jonah 4:2 : 2 And he prayed to the LORD, saying, 'O LORD, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own land? That is why I tried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from sending calamity.
• Luke 11:32 : 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's preaching—and look, something greater than Jonah is here.
• Luke 15:20 : 20 And he rose up and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran, embraced him, and kissed him.