Jonah 4 · Verse 9

Jonah 4:9

And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
Jonah 4:9, King James Version

Jonah 4:9 in other translations

BSBThen God asked Jonah, “Have you any right to be angry about the plant?” “I do,” he replied. “I am angry enough to die!”
WEBGod said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?” He said, “I am right to be angry, even to death.”
ASVAnd God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
YLTAnd God saith unto Jonah: ‘Is doing good displeasing to thee, because of the gourd?' and he saith, ‘To do good is displeasing to me--unto death.'
DARBYAnd God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, unto death.
BBEAnd the Lord said to Jonah, Have you any right to be angry about the vine? And he said, I have a right to be truly angry.
WebsterAnd God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even to death.

What does Jonah 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. (See on Jon 4:4). I do well to be angry, even unto death--"I am very much grieved, even to death" [Fairbairn]. So the Antitype (Mt 26:38).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 I do well to be angry, even unto death - Many persons suppose that the gifts of prophecy and working miracles are the highest that can be conferred on man; but they are widely mistaken, for the gifts change not the heart. Jonah had the gift of prophecy, but had not received that grace which destroys the old man and creates the soul anew in Christ Jesus. This is the love of which St. Paul speaks, which if a man have not, though he had the gift of prophecy, and could miraculously remove mountains, yet in the sight of God, and for any good himself might reap from it, it would be as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. Jonah was a prophet, and yet had all his old bad tempers about him, in a shameful predominancy. Balaam was of the same kind. So we find that God gave the gift of prophecy even to graceless men. But many of the prophets were sanctified in their nature before their call to the prophetic office, and were the most excellent of men.

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 4:9 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.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimGodH430
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יוֹנָ֔הyo.NahJonahH3124
הַהֵיטֵ֥בha.hei.Tev¿ rightly <do well>H3190
חָרָֽה\־cha.rah-does it burnH2734
לְךָ֖le.Khato <the> you
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הַקִּֽיקָי֑וֹןha.ki.ka.Yonthe plantH7021
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הֵיטֵ֥בhei.Tevrightly <do well>H3190
חָֽרָה\־cha.rah-it burnsH2734
לִ֖יlito <the> me
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
מָֽוֶת\׃Ma.vetdeathH4194

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

Cross references for Jonah 4:9

  • Judges 16:16

    And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

  • Job 5:2

    For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

  • Genesis 4:5-14

    But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. …

  • Job 40:4-5

    Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

  • Job 18:4

    He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

  • Revelation 9:6

    And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

  • Matthew 26:38

    Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:10

    For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Doest thou well to be angry? or, Art thou greatly angry?
4
I do well to be angry. or, I am greatly angry.
Ge 4:5-14; Job 18:4; 40:4,5
even.
Jud 16:16; Job 5:2; Mt 26:38; 2Co 7:10; Re 9:6

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Jonah 4:9

    And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

  • Jonah 4:10

    Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

Read all of Jonah 4

Jonah 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces dijo Dios á Jonás: ¿Tanto te enojas por la calabacera? Y él respondió: Mucho me enojo, hasta la muerte.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Dieu dit à Jonas: Fais-tu bien de t’irriter à cause du kikajon? Et il dit: Je fais bien de m’irriter jusqu’à la mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Gott sprach zu Jona: Ist es recht, daß du wegen des Wunderbaumes zürnest? Und er sprach: Mit Recht zürne ich bis zum Tode!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixit Dominus ad Jonam: Putasne bene irasceris tu super hedera? Et dixit: Bene irascor ego usque ad mortem.