Jonah 4 · Verse 7

Jonah 4:7

But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
Jonah 4:7, King James Version

Jonah 4:7 in other translations

BSBWhen dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered.
WEBBut God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine so that it withered.
ASVBut God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered.
YLTAnd God appointeth a worm at the going up of the dawn on the morrow, and it smiteth the gourd, and it drieth up.
DARBYBut God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered.
BBEBut early on the morning after, God made ready a worm for the destruction of the vine, and it became dry and dead.
WebsterBut God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

What does Jonah 4:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. a worm--of a particular kind, deadly to the ricinus. A small worm at the root destroys a large gourd. So it takes but little to make our creature comforts wither. It should silence discontent to remember, that when our gourd is gone, our God is not gone. the next day--after Jonah was so "exceeding glad" (compare Psa 80:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 But God prepared a worm - By being eaten through the root, the plant, losing its nourishment, would soon wither; and this was the case in the present instance.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jonah 4:5-11

Jonah went out of the city, yet remained near at hand, as if he expected and desired its overthrow. Those who have fretful, uneasy spirits, often make troubles for themselves, that they may still have something to complain of. See how tender God is of his people in their afflictions, even though they are foolish and froward. A thing small in itself, yet coming seasonably, may be a valuable blessing. A gourd in the…

Read the full comment on Jonah 4:5-11 →

Jonah 4:7 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְמַ֤ןvay.Manand he appointedH4487
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
תּוֹלַ֔עַתto.La.'ata wormH8438
בַּעֲל֥וֹתba.'a.Lotwhen came upH5927
הַשַּׁ֖חַרha.Sha.charthe dawnH7837
לַֽמָּחֳרָ֑תla.mo.cho.Ratto the next dayH4283
וַתַּ֥ךְva.Takhand it attackedH5221
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַקִּֽיקָי֖וֹןha.ki.ka.Yonthe plantH7021
וַיִּיבָֽשׁ\׃vai.yi.Vashand it witheredH3001

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jonah 4:7

  • Joel 1:12

    The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

  • Psalms 90:5-6

    Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

  • Isaiah 40:6-8

    The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

  • Job 1:21

    And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

  • Psalms 102:10

    Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.

  • Psalms 30:6-7

    And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
prepared.
Job 1:21; Ps 30:6,7; 102:10
it withered.
Ps 90:5,6; Isa 40:6-8; Joe 1:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jonah 4:6

    And the Lord God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

  • Jonah 4:7

    But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

  • Jonah 4:8

    And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

Read all of Jonah 4

Jonah 4:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas Dios preparó un gusano al venir la mañana del día siguiente, el cual hirió á la calabacera, y secóse.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Dieu prépara un ver le lendemain, au lever de l’aurore, et il rongea le kikajon, et il sécha.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber Gott bestellte einen Wurm am folgenden Tage, beim Aufgang der Morgenröte; und dieser stach den Wunderbaum, daß er verdorrte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et paravit Deus vermen ascensu diluculi in crastinum: et percussit hederam, et exaruit.