And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The proclamation explicitly includes not just humans but also "beast, herd, and flock," extending the fast to animals. This wasn't just symbolic; it was a profound acknowledgment that the well-being and suffering of creation are intertwined with humanity's, and that all are subject to God's judgment and mercy.
And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Word has reached the king of Nineveh that the prophet Jonah has declared impending doom for the city. In response, the king strips off his royal robes, covers himself in sackcloth, and sits in ashes, setting an example for his entire kingdom. He then issues an urgent decree for all the people, and even the animals, to fast and cry out to God.
Imagine a city-wide decree that stops everything – no food, no water, not just for people, but for every animal too. What does this tell us about the depth of their crisis?
When Jonah's message of doom hit Nineveh, the king didn't just issue a simple call to prayer. He commanded an absolute, city-wide fast, affecting every living creature: "Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water." This wasn't just a symbolic gesture; it was an all-encompassing response to a dire threat.
A Universal Cry
The inclusion of animals in the fast highlights the severity of the situation. It reflects a deep, albeit perhaps unarticulated, understanding that all of creation is interconnected and affected by humanity's sin and God's judgment. The laments of the animals, their hunger and thirst, would have amplified the sense of widespread calamity and sorrow among the people. It’s as if all of Nineveh, human and animal alike, was meant to cry out in their suffering.
Beyond Mere Ritual
This extreme measure served as a stark visual representation of their guilt and the impending judgment. By involving every creature, the king aimed to impress upon his people the gravity of their sin and the comprehensive nature of the destruction they faced. It was a way to say, 'Everything we hold dear, everything that sustains us, is at risk because of our actions.'
An absolute monarch, accustomed to unquestioned authority, receives a terrifying prophecy from a foreign prophet. What happens next reveals a profound shift in his heart.
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The king of Nineveh's response is remarkable. Though an absolute ruler of a great empire, he doesn't dismiss Jonah's message. Instead, he immediately takes off his royal robe, covers himself in sackcloth, and sits in ashes – classic signs of deep mourning and repentance. This isn't just a political maneuver; it's a personal surrender.
Authority Submitting to Truth
According to the text, the king issued the proclamation 'by the decree of the king and his nobles.' While this might suggest a shared decision, commentators note that in an absolute monarchy like Assyria, associating the nobles was likely an act of humility and a desire for unity in the face of disaster. The king, rather than asserting his own power, chose to align himself with the prophetic word and his people in seeking God's mercy.
A Divine Encounter
This submission highlights the power of God's Word, even when delivered through an unlikely messenger. The king's willingness to humble himself and his kingdom before a foreign prophet, and ultimately before God, demonstrates that true authority recognizes a higher power. It’s a powerful testament to how God can work through His word to pierce the hearts of even the most powerful rulers.
Understand the original words
keroz · Hebrew Noun
An authoritative command or public announcement, often carrying the weight of law or official mandate.
ta'am · Hebrew Noun
A formal order or authoritative ruling issued by a person in power; in a theological context, it often refers to God's sovereign command.
The inclusion of a specific Assyrian/Chaldean term for 'decree' and the association of the king with his 'nobles' (grandees) suggests Jonah's accurate knowledge of Assyrian court customs, lending historical weight to the narrative of the Ninevites' radical response.
c. 780s-760s BC
Jonah's Prophetic Ministry
Jonah ministers as a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a period of relative peace and prosperity under King Jeroboam II.
c. 760s BC
Jonah's Call to Nineveh
God calls Jonah to prophesy against Nineveh, the capital of the powerful Assyrian Empire, a significant and feared enemy of Israel.
c. 760s BC
Jonah's Flight and Divine Intervention
Jonah flees in the opposite direction, is swallowed by a great fish, and after repentance, is released to fulfill his mission.
c. 760s BC
Jonah Preaches in Nineveh
Jonah enters Nineveh and proclaims God's judgment: 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!'
c. 760s BC— this verse
Nineveh's Royal Edict for Fasting
Upon hearing Jonah's message, the King of Nineveh and his nobles issue a decree for a universal fast, enjoining abstinence from all food and water for both people and animals.
c. 760s BC
Nineveh's Collective Repentance
The people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, repent by wearing sackcloth, fasting, and turning from their wicked ways.
c. 760s BC
God Relents from Judgment
Seeing their repentance, God shows compassion and withholds the threatened destruction of Nineveh.
This passage describes a similar scene of devastation and communal fasting in response to God's judgment, emphasizing the sorrow of both humans and animals. It highlights the deep impact of sin and divine displeasure on all creation.
Matthew 12:41Jesus Himself points to the Ninevites' repentance as a standard against which His own generation would be judged, underscoring the genuine nature and effectiveness of their communal fast and turning from sin.
Daniel 6:17This verse describes a decree sealed not only by a king but also by his nobles, similar to the decree in Jonah, showing that such collective royal authority was a recognized practice in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms.
1 Kings 20:31When facing judgment, King Ben-Hadad's servants suggest he should appeal to the king of Israel by claiming they heard he was a merciful God, indicating a recognition, even by non-Israelites, of God's capacity for mercy upon repentance.
Jonah 4:11This verse directly relates to the inclusion of animals in the Ninevites' fast, as God Himself highlights His concern for the vast numbers of animals in Nineveh as a factor in His compassion, showing that God's care extends beyond humanity.
barnesJonah 3:7: "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:"
And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh; - literally, "And he cried and said, etc." The cry or proclamation of the king corresponded with the cry of Jonah. Where the prophet's cry, calling to repentance, had reached, the proclamation of the king follow…
calvinJonah 3:6-8: "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."
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:
Et promulgavit ac dixit per Nineveh ex consilio regis et magnatum ejus, dicendo, Homo et jumentum (vel, bestia,) bos…
The proclamation explicitly includes not just humans but also "beast, herd, and flock," extending the fast to animals. This wasn't just symbolic; it was a profound acknowledgment that the well-being and suffering of creation are intertwined with humanity's, and that all are subject to God's judgment and mercy.
Word has reached the king of Nineveh that the prophet Jonah has declared impending doom for the city. In response, the king strips off his royal robes, covers himself in sackcloth, and sits in ashes, setting an example for his entire kingdom. He then issues an urgent decree for all the people, and even the animals, to fast and cry out to God.
Word has reached the king of Nineveh that the prophet Jonah has declared impending doom for the city. In response, the king strips off his royal robes, covers himself in sackcloth, and sits in ashes, setting an example for his entire kingdom. He then issues an urgent decree for all the people, and even the animals, to fast and cry out to God.
"And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water," — The proclamation explicitly includes not just humans but also "beast, herd, and flock," extending the fast to animals. This wasn't just symbolic; it was a profound acknowledgment that the well-being…
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Last reviewed October 2026