Jonah 3:3 Meaning Explained

Jonah 3:3

So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The phrase "exceedingly great city" isn't just hyperbole; it literally means "great to God." This highlights how God saw Nineveh not just as a large city to humans, but as a place of immense significance in His divine plan, even with its wickedness. It underscores that God’s perspective on the "greatness" of anything, including a city and its people, is far grander than our own.

What Jonah 3:3 means

After his dramatic rescue, Jonah is given a second chance by God, who commands him to preach to the great city of Nineveh. This time, Jonah obeys, setting out for the massive Assyrian capital, a city so vast it would take three days to traverse.

From Fleeing to Following

Jonah had once run from God's call. This time, something shifted. What changed?

In Chapter 1, Jonah 'arose and fled' from the Lord's command to go to Nineveh. But here in Chapter 3, he 'arose and went.' This isn't just a minor change; it's a monumental shift.

A Different Energy: Before, Jonah used his energy to escape God. Now, he uses it to obey God. This shows that true repentance isn't just saying sorry; it's acting differently. His previous terrifying experience inside the fish clearly had a profound impact, demonstrating God's power even in the depths of death and making Jonah bold in carrying out God's mission.
God's Purpose: God doesn't give up on us. Even after Jonah's rebellion, God calls him again, offering a chance for both Jonah and Nineveh to experience His mercy. This highlights God's persistent love and His desire for all people to turn to Him.

Nineveh: A City 'Great to God'

The Bible calls Nineveh 'exceedingly great.' But what does that really mean?

The description of Nineveh as "an exceedingly great city" is more than just a geographical note. The Hebrew literally reads 'a city great to God.' This phrase has a couple of layers:

Divine Perspective: It signifies that Nineveh was great not just in human terms, but in God's estimation. It was a city of immense size, population, and influence, recognized by God as significant.
Vast Scale: The phrase "three days' journey in breadth" points to its enormous size. Scholars estimate its circumference to be around 60 miles. This wasn't just a city; it was a sprawling metropolis that likely included not only densely populated areas but also open spaces, fields, and pastures within its walls, supporting a massive population.
God's Concern: This greatness also implies that God had a vested interest in this city. As the text later reveals (Jonah 4:11), God was concerned about its more than 120,000 inhabitants who could not discern right from wrong, showing His heart extends even to a foreign, pagan city.

Historical context

Written: Likely written between the 8th and 5th centuries BC, reflecting events from Jonah's lifetime.
Author: Traditionally believed to be the prophet Jonah himself, though the exact authorship and date are debated by scholars.
Location: Written from the perspective of the Kingdom of Israel, concerning events in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Genre: Narrative prophecy, characterized by its vivid storytelling and direct prophetic message.

Historical background

Jonah's message to Nineveh occurred during a period of immense Assyrian power and imperial ambition, with Sennacherib actively transforming the city into a grand capital, making its 'exceeding greatness' a vivid backdrop to God's message of judgment and potential mercy.

c. 760 BC
Assyrian expansion under Ashur-dan III
Nineveh was a major city in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which was experiencing a period of expansion and power, though also facing internal unrest and plague around this time.
c. 745 BC - 727 BC
Tiglath-Pileser III's reign
This Assyrian king reformed the empire, strengthening its military and administration, and conquering vast territories, further solidifying Nineveh's status as a significant imperial capital.
c. 722 BC - 705 BC
Sargon II's reign
Sargon II ruled during a time of continued Assyrian dominance. While he established a new capital at Dur-Sharrukin, Nineveh remained a prominent and vital city within the empire.
c. 705 BC - 681 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's reign
Sennacherib made Nineveh his capital, significantly expanding and beautifying the city. He built a grand palace and extensive water systems, cementing Nineveh's role as the glorious, 'great city' that Jonah encountered.

Key themes

01Divine authority and obedience
02Repentance after chastisement
03Vastness of human cities
04God's judgment and mercy

Cross-references

Genesis 10:9

This passage also uses the phrase 'great to God' (or 'mighty hunter before the Lord') to describe Nimrod, emphasizing how impressive figures or things were viewed in God's estimation, mirroring Nineveh's 'greatness to God' in Jonah.

Psalm 36:6

The expression 'mountains of God' illustrates a similar Hebrew idiom where natural wonders are described as 'of God' to convey immense size or beauty, aligning with the description of Nineveh as 'great to God'.

Luke 11:31

Jesus refers to the Queen of the South coming from 'the ends of the earth to hear Solomon’s wisdom,' highlighting that significant figures from distant, even great, nations were drawn to divine wisdom, paralleling Nineveh's status as a great city where God's message was delivered.

Acts 7:20

Moses is described as 'beautiful to God,' using a similar Hebrew concept to express exceptional quality recognized by God, which echoes the understanding of Nineveh as 'great to God' in Jonah 3:3.

Ezekiel 27:3

Tyre is called a 'great merchant of the peoples' in this passage, emphasizing its vastness and influence in its time, much like Nineveh is described as an 'exceedingly great city' in Jonah.

Scholarly commentary

Jonah 3:3: "So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey."

3 . arose, and went ] Before, he arose and fled . He is still the same man. There is still the same energy and decision of character. But he is now “as ready to obey as before to disobey.” was ] It has been asserted that the use of the past tense here, “according to all sound rules of interpretation, must be understood to imply that, in the autho…
cambridge

Jonah 3:3: "So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey."

And Jonah arose and went unto Nineveh - , ready to obey, as before to disobey. Before, when God said those same words, "he arose and fled;" now, "he arose and went." True conversion shows the same energy in serving God, as the unconverted had before shown in serving self or error. Saul's spirit of fire, which persecuted Christ, gleamed in Paul li…
barnes

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Historical context

Written: Likely written between the 8th and 5th centuries BC, reflecting events from Jonah's lifetime.
Author: Traditionally believed to be the prophet Jonah himself, though the exact authorship and date are debated by scholars.
Location: Written from the perspective of the Kingdom of Israel, concerning events in Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Genre: Narrative prophecy, characterized by its vivid storytelling and direct prophetic message.

Historical background

c. 760 BC

Assyrian expansion under Ashur-dan III

Nineveh was a major city in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which was experiencing a period of expansion and power, though also facing internal unrest and plague around this time.

c. 745 BC - 727 BC

Tiglath-Pileser III's reign

This Assyrian king reformed the empire, strengthening its military and administration, and conquering vast territories, further solidifying Nineveh's status as a significant imperial capital.

c. 722 BC - 705 BC

Sargon II's reign

Sargon II ruled during a time of continued Assyrian dominance. While he established a new capital at Dur-Sharrukin, Nineveh remained a prominent and vital city within the empire.

c. 705 BC - 681 BC— this verse

Sennacherib's reign

Sennacherib made Nineveh his capital, significantly expanding and beautifying the city. He built a grand palace and extensive water systems, cementing Nineveh's role as the glorious, 'great city' that Jonah encountered.