Jonah 3:7

Authorized King James Version

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:

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיַּזְעֵ֗ק
And he caused it to be proclaimed
to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly
#2
לֵאמֹ֑ר
and published
to say (used with great latitude)
#3
בְּנִֽינְוֵ֔ה
through Nineveh
nineveh, the capital of assyria
#4
מִטַּ֧עַם
by the decree
properly, a taste, i.e., (figuratively) perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate
#5
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ
of the king
a king
#6
וּגְדֹלָ֖יו
and his nobles
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
#7
לֵאמֹ֑ר
and published
to say (used with great latitude)
#8
הָאָדָ֨ם
Let neither man
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
#9
וְהַבְּהֵמָ֜ה
nor beast
properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
#10
הַבָּקָ֣ר
herd
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
#11
וְהַצֹּ֗אן
nor flock
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
#12
אַֽל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#13
יִטְעֲמוּ֙
taste
to taste; figuratively, to perceive
#14
מְא֔וּמָה
any thing
properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing
#15
אַ֨ל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#16
יִרְע֔וּ
let them not feed
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
#17
וּמַ֖יִם
water
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
#18
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#19
יִשְׁתּֽוּ׃
nor drink
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Jonah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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