Bible Strands
Jonah 4:1
Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Following the repentance of Nineveh and God’s mercy, Jonah stands alone in his prophetic role, experiencing a violent emotional reversal after his prayer for disaster is withheld.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיֵּרַע (vayyēra‘) denotes that the outcome was "displeasing" or "evil" to Jonah, while וַיִּחַר (vayyiḥar) literally means "it burned," describing the sudden ignition of his anger.
The thread — This flare of resentment against divine mercy reappears in Jonah 4:9 when God questions his right to be angry over a plant, and parallels the older son’s refusal to celebrate in Luke 15:28.
Why it lands — The text forces a reader to confront whether personal disappointment over God’s grace justifies a heart that "burns" with self-righteous anger.
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
King James Version
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Cross-references
- Jonah 4:9 Then God asked Jonah, “Have you any right to be angry about the plant?” “I do,” he replied. “I am angry enough to die!”
- Luke 15:28 The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.
- Matthew 20:15 Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
- Jonah 4:4 But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”
- Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
- James 4:5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
- Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.