Jonah 3:9

Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jonah 3:9 records the Ninevite king’s decree following his repentance proclamation in Jonah 3:8, directed at his officials and people during a national crisis. The king voices uncertainty about God’s response to their collective fasting and sackcloth.

The words — The Hebrew phrase מִי־יוֹדֵעַ (mi-yodeaʿ) literally means “who knows?” and frames the statement as an open question rather than a guarantee. The verbs יָשׁוּב (yashuv) and נִחַם (nicham) describe God turning and relenting from His fierce anger (חֲרוֹן אַף).

The thread — This pattern of divine turning from judgment appears in 2 Samuel 12:22, Joel 2:13, and Psalms 106:45, where God’s compassion and covenant faithfulness prompt Him to withhold disaster. The passages collectively show that human repentance intersects with God’s sovereign mercy.

Why it lands — The text states that the king orders sackcloth, fasting, and turning from violence, then explicitly leaves the outcome to God’s will. It asks the reader to obey the call to repent without presuming control over the result.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

מִֽי־mi-who?יוֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'[is] knowing יָשׁ֔וּבya.Shuvhe will turn וְנִחַ֖םve./ni.Chamand/ he will relent הָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha./'E.lo.Him<the>/ God וְשָׁ֛בve./Shavand/ he will turn back מֵחֲר֥וֹןme./cha.Ronfrom/ [the] burning of אַפּ֖וֹ'a.P/oanger/ his וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not נֹאבֵֽד׃no.Vedwe will perish

King James Version

Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

Cross-references

2 Samuel 12:22 David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
Joel 2:13 So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
Psalms 106:45 And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
Jonah 1:6 The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
Luke 15:18 I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Amos 5:15 Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”