Jonah Chapter 4 verse 1 Holy Bible
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
read chapter 4 in ASV
But this seemed very wrong to Jonah, and he was angry.
read chapter 4 in BBE
And it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
read chapter 4 in DARBY
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
read chapter 4 in KJV
read chapter 4 in WBT
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
read chapter 4 in WEB
And it is grievous unto Jonah -- a great evil -- and he is displeased at it;
read chapter 4 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 1-11. - JONAH'S DISPLEASURE AND ITS CORRECTION. Verses 1-4. - 1. Jonah is grieved at the sparing of Nineveh, the expectation of which had led to his former flight, and complains of God's clemency. Verse 1. - It displeased Jonah exceedingly; literally, it was evil to Jonah, a great evil. It was more than mere displeasure which he felt; he was vexed and irritated. The reference is to what is said in the last verse of the preceding chapter, viz. that the predicted destruction was not inflicted. How the knowledge of this reprieve was conveyed to the prophet we am not informed. It probably was made known to him before the expiration of the forty days by Divine communication, in accordance with the saying in Amos 3:7, "Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (see ver. 5). Various reasons have been assigned for this displeasure. (1) Personal pique, lest, his prediction having failed, he should be liable to the charge of being a false prophet. (2) Zeal for the honour of God, whose knowledge of the future might be discredited among the heathen, when they saw his own servant's words unfulfilled. (3) Because he saw in this conversion of Gentiles a token of the ruin of his own people, who remained always hardened and impenitent. . . .
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersIV.JONAH'S DISCONTENT AND CORRECTION.(1) But it displeased Jonah.--The Hebrew (it was evil to) is stronger. The prophet was vexed and irritated.He was very angry.--Literally, it (anger) burnt to him. David's feeling at the death of Uzziah (2Samuel 6:8; 1Chronicles 13:11) is described in the same terms. Selfish jealousy for his own reputation, jealousy for the honour of the prophetic office, a mistaken patriotism disappointed that the great enemy of his country should go unpunished, Jewish exclusiveness which could not endure to see the Divine clemency extended to the heathen, have each been adduced as the motive of Jonah's anger. Possibly something of all these blended in his mind.
