JON (Jonah)
JON.1 • JON.2 • JON.3 • JON.4
JON.1
[JON.1.1] Now the word of Yahveh came to Jonah son of Amitai, saying. [§]
Vayehi dvar-Yahveh el-Yona ben-Amitai le'emor.
'Vayehi' means 'now it came to pass' or 'and it was'; 'dvar-Yahveh' means 'the word of Yahveh' (YHVH translated as Yahveh); 'el-Yona' means 'to Jonah'; 'ben-Amitai' means 'son of Amitai'; 'le'emor' means 'to say' or 'saying'.
[JON.1.2] Rise, go to Nineveh the great city, and call upon it because their evil has risen before Yahveh. [§]
Qum lekh el-Nineveh ha-ir ha-gedolah u'krea aleha ki alta ra'atam lefanai.
'Qum' means 'rise', 'lekh' means 'go', 'el' means 'to', 'Nineveh' is the name of the city, 'ha-ir' means 'the city', 'ha-gedolah' means 'the great', 'u'krea' means 'and call', 'aleha' means 'upon it', 'ki' means 'because', 'alta' (from 'al'ta') means 'has risen', 'ra'atam' means 'their evil', 'lefanai' means 'before me' which refers to Yahveh.
[JON.1.3] And Jonah arose to flee Tarshish before Yahveh, and he went down to Yapo and found Aniyah; he went to Tarshish and gave her wages, and he went down into her to bring with them Tarshish before Yahveh. [§]
Vayakam Yonah livroch tarshisha milifnei Yahveh vayered yapo vayimtsa Aniyah ba'ah tarshi vayiten sekhara vayered bah lavo imahem tarshitah milifnei Yahveh.
'Vayakam' means 'and he arose', 'Yonah' is the proper name Jonah, 'livroch' means 'to flee', 'tarshisha' (and later 'tarshi' and 'tarshitah') refer to the place Tarshish, 'milifnei' means 'before' or 'in the presence of', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH, 'vayered' means 'and he went down', 'yapo' is a proper name (rendered as Yapo), 'vayimtsa' means 'and he found', 'Aniyah' is a proper name, 'ba'ah' means 'came', 'vayiten' means 'and he gave', 'sekhara' means 'her wages' or 'payment', 'bah' means 'in her', 'lavo' means 'to come', 'imahem' means 'with them', and the final 'milifnei Yahveh' repeats 'before Yahveh'.
[JON.1.4] and Yahveh sent a great wind to the sea and there was a great storm in the sea and the ship thought to break. [§]
vaYahveh hetzil ruach-gdolah el-hayam vayehi sa'ar-gadol bayam veha'oniyah chishvah lehashber.
'vaYahveh' means 'and Yahveh', 'hetzil' means 'caused to blow' or 'sent', 'ruach-gdolah' means 'great wind', 'el-hayam' means 'to the sea', 'vayehi' means 'and it was', 'sa'ar-gadol' means 'great storm', 'bayam' means 'in the sea', 'veha'oniyah' means 'and the ship', 'chishvah' means 'thought' or 'reckoned', 'lehashber' means 'to break'. The divine name Yahveh is translated literally as 'Yahveh' per the given rule.
[JON.1.5] And the sailors were afraid, and each man cried out to his God; and they cast the vessels that were in the ship into the sea to lighten them, and Jonah went down to the lower deck of the ship, lay down and slept. [§]
Vayiru ha-mallachim vayizaku ish el-elohav vayitlu et-hakelim asher ba'oniya el-hayam le-hakel me'aleyhem ve-Yona yarad el-yarktei ha-sfinah vayishkav vayeredam.
'Vayiru' means 'and they were afraid', 'ha-mallachim' means 'the sailors', 'vayizaku' means 'and they cried out', 'ish' means 'a man' or 'each man', 'el-elohav' means 'to his God' (Elohim in singular, translated as God), 'vayitlu' means 'and they cast', 'et-hakelim' means 'the vessels', 'asher' means 'that', 'ba'oniya' means 'in the ship', 'el-hayam' means 'into the sea', 'le-hakel' means 'to lighten', 'me'aleyhem' means 'from them', 've-Yona' means 'and Jonah', 'yarad' means 'went down', 'el-yarktei' means 'to the lower decks', 'ha-sfinah' means 'the ship', 'vayishkav' means 'and he lay down', 'vayeredam' means 'and he slept'.
[JON.1.6] And the chief of the Gileadites drew near to him and said to him, Why are you sleeping? Rise, call to your God; perhaps the Gods will act for us and we will not be lost. [§]
Vayikrav elav rav hachovel vayomer lo mah lecha nirdam kum kera el-elahyecha ulay yit'aset haelohim lanu velo noaved.
'Vayikrav' means 'and he drew near', 'elav' means 'to him', 'rav' means 'chief', 'hachovel' means 'of the Gileadites', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'lo' means 'to him', 'mah' means 'what' or 'why', 'lecha' means 'to you (masc.)', 'nirdam' means 'asleep', 'kum' means 'rise', 'kera' means 'call', 'el-elahyecha' means 'to your God', 'ulay' means 'perhaps', 'yit'aset' means 'will be made/act', 'haelohim' means 'the Gods', 'lanu' means 'for us', 'velo' means 'and not', 'noaved' means 'we shall be lost'.
[JON.1.7] And they said, a man to his companion, 'Let us go and cast lots, and we will know by the cause of this evil for us.' They cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. [§]
Vayomeru ish el-re'ehu lechu venapilah gortalot vene'de'a be-shelemi ha-ra'ah ha-zot lanu vayapilu gortalot vayipol ha-goral al-Yona.
'Vayomeru' means 'and they said', 'ish' means 'a man', 'el-re'ehu' means 'to his companion', 'lechu' means 'let us go', 'venapilah' means 'and we will cast', 'gortalot' means 'lots', 'vene'de'a' means 'and we will know', 'be-shelemi' means 'by the payment' (idiomatically 'by the cause'), 'ha-ra'ah' means 'the evil', 'ha-zot' means 'this', 'lanu' means 'for us', 'vayapilu' means 'and they cast', 'vayipol' means 'and it fell', 'ha-goral' means 'the lot', 'al-Yona' means 'upon Jonah'.
[JON.1.8] They said to him, "Please tell us, concerning what is this evil to us? What is your work, and from where do you come? What is your land, and from what people are you?" [§]
Vayomeru elav hagida-na lanu ba'asher lemi ha-raah ha-zot lanu mah melakhtkha u-me'ayin tavo ma artzecha ve'ei mi-zeh am ata.
'Vayomeru' means 'they said', 'elav' means 'to him', 'hagida-na' means 'please tell', 'lanu' means 'to us', 'ba'asher' means 'concerning what', 'lemi' means 'to whom', 'ha-raah' means 'the evil', 'ha-zot' means 'this', second 'lanu' repeats 'to us', 'mah' means 'what', 'melakhtkha' means 'your work', 'u-me'ayin' means 'and from where', 'tavo' means 'you will come', 'ma' means 'what', 'artzecha' means 'your land', 've'ei' means 'and from what', 'mi-zeh' means 'of this', 'am' means 'people', 'ata' means 'are'.
[JON.1.9] And he said to them, I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahveh the Gods of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land. [§]
Vayomer aleihem IvrI anochi ve-et-Yahveh Elohei ha-shamayim ani yareh asher asah et-hayam ve-et-hayyabashah.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'aleihem' means 'to them', 'IvrI' means 'Hebrew', 'anochi' means 'I', 've-et' means 'and', 'Yahveh' is the transliteration of YHVH, 'Elohei' means 'the Gods', 'ha-shamayim' means 'of the heavens', 'ani' means 'I', 'yareh' means 'fear', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'asah' means 'made', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'ha-yam' means 'the sea', 've-et' means 'and', 'ha-yabashah' means 'the dry land'.
[JON.1.10] The men were greatly afraid and said to him, 'What is this you have done, because the men knew that he is fleeing before Yahveh, because he told them.' [§]
Vayir'u ha'anashim yir'ah gedolah vayomeru elav mah zot asita ki yada'u ha'anashim ki milifnei Yahveh hu bore'ach ki higgid lahem.
'Vayir'u' means 'they feared', 'ha'anashim' means 'the men', 'yir'ah' means 'great fear', 'gedolah' means 'great', 'vayomeru' means 'and they said', 'elav' means 'to him', 'mah' means 'what', 'zot' means 'this', 'asita' means 'you have done', 'ki' means 'because', 'yada'u' means 'they knew', 'milifnei' means 'before', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHWH, 'hu' means 'he', 'bore'ach' means 'is fleeing', and 'higgid' means 'he reported/told', 'lahem' means 'to them'.
[JON.1.11] And they said to him, 'What shall we do for you, that the sea may be still from upon us, because the sea walks and roars.' [§]
Vayomru elav ma na'aseh lanu ve yishtok hayam me'alenu ki hayam holech ve so'er.
'Vayomru' means 'and they said', 'elav' means 'to him', 'ma' means 'what', 'na'aseh' means 'shall we do', 'lanu' means 'for us', 've' means 'and', 'yishtok' means 'may be still/quiet', 'hayam' means 'the sea', 'me'alenu' means 'from upon us', 'ki' means 'because', 'holech' means 'goes' or 'walks', 'so\'er' means 'roars' or 'rages'. The word 'el' within 'elav' is a suffix meaning 'to him' and does not refer to the divine name, so no special translation is applied.
[JON.1.12] And he said to them, "Lift me up and throw me into the sea, and the sea will be quiet over you, because I know that this great storm belongs to me concerning you." [§]
Vayomer aleihem, sauuni, vahatiluni el-hayam, veyishtok hayam me'aleichem, ki yodea ani ki vesheli hasaar hagadol hazeh aleichem.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'aleihem' means 'to them', 'sauuni' is the plural imperative 'lift me up', 'vahatiluni' means 'and cast me', 'el-hayam' means 'into the sea', 'veyishtok' means 'and it will be quiet', 'hayam' means 'the sea', 'me'aleichem' means 'from upon you' or 'over you', 'ki' means 'because', 'yodea' means 'I know', 'ani' means 'I', 'ki' again means 'that', 'vesheli' means 'of mine' or 'belonging to me', 'hasaar' means 'the storm', 'hagadol' means 'the great', 'hazeh' means 'this', and 'aleichem' means 'upon you'.
[JON.1.13] The men conspired to return to the land, but they could not, because the sea was moving and overwhelming them. [§]
Vayacht'ru ha-anashim lehashiv el-habayasah velo yaklu ki hayam holekh ve-so'er aleihem.
'Vayacht'ru' means 'they conspired', 'ha-anashim' means 'the men', 'lehashiv' means 'to return', 'el' means 'to' or 'toward', 'habayasah' means 'the land', 'velo' means 'and not', 'yaklu' means 'they could', 'ki' means 'because', 'hayam' means 'the sea', 'holekh' means 'going' or 'moving', 've-so'er' means 'and overwhelming' (from the root sa'ar meaning to press or overwhelm), 'aleihem' means 'upon them'.
[JON.1.14] And they called to Yahveh and said, 'Alas, Yahveh, please do not let this man's soul be lost, and do not bring upon us innocent blood, for you, Yahveh, have done as you desired.' [§]
va-yikreu el-Yahveh va-yo'mru ana Yahveh al-na no'vada be-nefesh ha-ish ha-zeh ve-al titen aleinu dam naki ki attah Yahveh ka'asher chafatzta asita.
'va-yikreu' means 'and they called', 'el-Yahveh' means 'to Yahveh' (YHWH translated as Yahveh), 'va-yo'mru' means 'and they said', 'ana' means 'Alas', 'Yahveh' means 'Yahveh', 'al-na' means 'please do not', 'no'vada' means 'let perish', 'be-nefesh' means 'with the soul', 'ha-ish' means 'of the man', 'ha-zeh' means 'this', 've-al' means 'and do not', 'titen' means 'bring/give', 'aleinu' means 'upon us', 'dam' means 'blood', 'naki' means 'pure' or 'innocent', 'ki' means 'for', 'attah' means 'you', 'Yahveh' means 'Yahveh', 'ka'asher' means 'as', 'chafatzta' means 'you desired', 'asita' means 'you have done'.
[JON.1.15] They lifted Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. [§]
Vayis'u et-Yona vayetiluhu el-hayam vayamod hayyam miz'afpo.
'Vayis'u' means 'and they lifted' or 'and they raised', 'et-Yona' means 'Jonah' as the object, 'vayetiluhu' means 'and they threw him', 'el-hayam' means 'into the sea', 'vayamod' means 'and it ceased' or 'and it stopped', 'hayyam' means 'the sea', and 'miz'afpo' means 'from its raging' (literally 'from its tempest').
[JON.1.16] The men feared a great fear of Yahveh, and they offered a sacrifice to Yahveh, and they made vows. [§]
Vayiru ha'anashim yirah gedolah et-Yahveh vayizbchu zevach le-Yahveh vayidru nedarim.
'Vayiru' means 'and they feared', 'ha'anashim' means 'the men', 'yirah' means 'a fear', 'gedolah' means 'great', 'et-Yahveh' means 'of Yahveh', 'vayizbchu' means 'and they offered', 'zevach' means 'a sacrifice', 'le-Yahveh' means 'to Yahveh', 'vayidru' means 'and they made', 'nedarim' means 'vows'.
JON.2
[JON.2.1] Yahveh caused a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. [§]
Vayman Yahveh dag gadol livloa et-Yona vayehi Yona bimei hadag shlosha yamim v'shlosha leilot.
'Vayman' means 'and caused', 'Yahveh' is the literal name of God, 'dag' means 'fish', 'gadol' means 'great', 'livloa' means 'to swallow', 'et-Yona' means 'Jonah', 'vayehi' means 'and was', 'bimei' means 'in the belly of', 'hadag' means 'the fish', 'shlosha' means 'three', 'yamim' means 'days', 'v'shlosha' means 'and three', 'leilot' means 'nights'.
[JON.2.2] And Jonah prayed to Yahveh his God from the belly of the fish. [§]
Vayyitpallel Yonah el Yahveh Elohav mimmei ha-dagah.
'Vayyitpallel' means 'and he prayed', 'Yonah' means 'Jonah', 'el' means 'to' (as a preposition), 'Yahveh' is the literal rendering of YHVH, 'Elohav' means 'his God' (Eloah = God, with the suffix -av indicating 'his'), 'mimm ei' (combined as 'mimm ei') means 'from the belly', and 'ha-dagah' means 'the fish'.
[JON.2.3] And I said, I called out to Yahveh in my distress, and He answered me from the depths of Sheol; my salvation, you have heard my voice. [§]
Vayomer karati mitzara li el Yahveh vayaaneni mibeten Sheol shiva'ati shamatta koli.
'Vayomer' means 'and I said', 'karati' means 'I called out', 'mitzara' means 'distress' or 'trouble', 'li' means 'to me' or 'for me', 'el' means 'to', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'vayaaneni' means 'and He answered me', 'mibeten' means 'from the belly' i.e., 'from the depths', 'Sheol' is the realm of the dead, 'shiva'ati' means 'my salvation' or 'my rescue', 'shamatta' means 'you heard', 'koli' means 'my voice'.
[JON.2.4] And you threw me into a pit in the heart of the seas, and the river surrounded me; all your breaks and your waves passed over me. [§]
Va-tashlikheni metzula bilvav yamim ve-nahar ye-soveveni kol-mishbarecha ve-galekha alai avaru.
'Va' means 'and', 'tashlikheni' means 'you threw me', 'metzula' means 'into a pit', 'bilvav' means 'in the heart', 'yamim' means 'of the seas', 've' means 'and', 'nahar' means 'river', 'yesoveveni' means 'surrounded me', 'kol' means 'all', 'mishbarecha' means 'your breaks' (or 'your destructions'), 've' means 'and', 'galeicha' means 'your waves', 'alai' means 'upon me', 'avaru' means 'passed over' or 'went over'.
[JON.2.5] And I said, I have been cast out from before your eyes, yet I will continue to look toward your holy temple. [§]
Va'ani amarti nigresh'ti minneged einekha akh osif lehabit el-hekhal kadshekha.
'Va'ani' means 'and I', 'amarti' means 'said', 'nigresh'ti' means 'I have been driven out', 'minneged' means 'from before', 'einekha' means 'your eyes', 'akh' means 'yet' or 'but', 'osif' means 'I will add/continue', 'lehabit' means 'to look', 'el' means 'toward', 'hekhal' means 'the temple or house', 'kadshekha' means 'your holy (place)'.
[JON.2.6] I am overwhelmed with water up to my soul; the deep surrounds me, a bound end to my head. [§]
afafuni mayim ad nefes tehom yesoveveni suf chavush l'roshi.
'afafuni' means 'I am overwhelmed' or 'I am choked', 'mayim' means 'water', 'ad' means 'to' or 'up to', 'nefes' means 'soul' or 'life', 'tehom' means 'the deep' or 'abyss', 'yesoveveni' means 'surrounds me' or 'encircles me', 'suf' means 'end' or 'limit', 'chavush' means 'bound' or 'tied', 'l'roshi' means 'to my head' or 'for my head'.
[JON.2.7] To the extremities of the mountains I descended the earth in its flight for my sake forever, and you rose from the ruin of my life, Yahveh my God. [§]
Le kitsvei ha-ramim yaradti ha-aretz briheha baadi le'olam vataal mishachat chayai Yahweh Elohai.
'Le' means 'to the', 'kitsvei' means 'extremities' or 'ends', 'ha-ramim' means 'the mountains', 'yaradti' means 'I descended', 'ha-aretz' means 'the earth', 'briheha' means 'in its flight', 'baadi' means 'for my sake', 'le'olam' means 'forever', 'vataal' means 'and you rose', 'mishachat' means 'from the ruin' or 'destruction', 'chayai' means 'my life', 'Yahweh' is the transliteration of the divine name YHVH which is rendered as 'Yahveh', and 'Elohai' is the form of 'El' meaning 'my God'.
[JON.2.8] My soul clings to me; I have remembered Yahveh, and my prayer has come to you, to your holy temple. [§]
Behit'atef alai nafshi et Yahveh zacharti v'tavo elaycha tefilati el heikhal kadshecha.
'Behit'atef' means 'in being wrapped around' or 'clinging', 'alai' means 'upon me', 'nafshi' means 'my soul', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH, 'zacharti' means 'I have remembered', 'v'tavo' means 'and (you) have come' or 'and it has come', 'elaycha' means 'to you', 'tefilati' means 'my prayer', 'el' means 'to', 'heikhal' means 'temple' or 'house of worship', and 'kadshecha' means 'your holy' (referring to the temple).
[JON.2.9] Those who keep in vain their kindness will abandon it. [§]
meshammrim havlei-shav chasdam ya'azovu.
'meshammrim' means 'those who keep' or 'guards', 'havlei-shav' means 'vain' or 'empty', 'chasdam' means 'their kindness', 'ya'azovu' means 'they will abandon'.
[JON.2.10] And I, with a voice of thanksgiving, will offer to you that which I vowed to pay, salvation to Yahveh. [§]
Va'ani bekol todah ezbechah-lach asher nadarti ashalehma yeshuah laYahveh.
'Va'ani' means 'I', 'bekol' means 'in a voice', 'todah' means 'of thanksgiving', 'ezbechah-lach' means 'I will offer to you', 'asher' means 'that which', 'nadarti' means 'I have vowed', 'ashalehma' means 'I will pay', 'yeshuah' means 'salvation', 'laYahveh' means 'to Yahveh'.
[JON.2.11] And Yahveh said to the fish, and called Jonah to the dry land. [§]
Vayomer Yahveh ladag vayakeh et Yona el hayabashah.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Yahveh' means the divine name YHVH translated as Yahveh, 'ladag' means 'to the fish', 'vayakeh' means 'and called', 'et' is a grammatical marker for the direct object and is not translated, 'Yona' is the proper name Jonah, 'el' means 'to', and 'hayabashah' means 'the dry land'.
JON.3
[JON.3.1] And the word of Yahveh came to Jonah a second time, saying. [§]
Vayehi devar-Yahveh el-Yona shenit le'emor.
'Vayehi' means 'And it was' or 'And it came to pass', 'devar' means 'word', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'el' is the preposition 'to' rendered as 'to', 'Yona' means 'Jonah', 'shenit' means 'second' (indicating a second occurrence), 'le'emor' means 'to say' or 'saying'.
[JON.3.2] Arise, go to Nineveh the great city, and call to it the proclamation which I am speaking to you. [§]
Qum lekha el Nineveh ha'ir ha'g'dolah veqara eleha et hakri'ah asher anochi dover elecha.
'Qum' means 'Arise', 'lekha' means 'go', 'el' means 'to', 'Nineveh' is the name of the city, 'ha'ir' means 'the city', 'ha'g'dolah' means 'the great', 'veqara' means 'and call', 'eleha' means 'to it', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'hakri'ah' means 'the proclamation' or 'the message', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'anochi' means 'I', 'dover' means 'am speaking', 'elecha' means 'to you'.
[JON.3.3] And Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of Yahveh, and Nineveh was a great city to the Gods, a three‑day journey. [§]
vayakam Yonah vayelekh el Nineveh kidvar Yahveh v'Nineveh hayetah ir gedolah leElohim mahalach sheloshet yamim.
'vayakam' means 'and rose/was gotten up', 'Yonah' means 'Jonah', 'vayelekh' means 'and went', 'el' means 'to', 'Nineveh' is the city name, 'kidvar' means 'according to the word of', 'Yahveh' is the literal rendering of YHVH, 'v'Nineveh' means 'and Nineveh', 'hayetah' means 'was', 'ir' means 'city', 'gedolah' means 'great/large', 'leElohim' means 'to the Gods' (Elohim rendered as 'the Gods'), 'mahalach' means 'journey/distance', 'sheloshet' means 'three', 'yamim' means 'days'.
[JON.3.4] And Jonah began to go into the city, a one‑day journey, and he called out, saying, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overturned.” [§]
Vayachel Yona lavot ba'ir mahalakh yom echad vayikra vayomar od arba'im yom veNinveh nehpachet.
'Vayachel' means 'and began', 'Yona' means 'Jonah', 'lavot' means 'to go', 'ba'ir' means 'into the city', 'mahalakh' means 'journey', 'yom' means 'day', 'echad' means 'one', 'vayikra' means 'and he called', 'vayomar' means 'and he said', 'od' means 'still', 'arba'im' means 'forty', 'yom' means 'days', 'veNinveh' means 'and Nineveh', 'nehpachet' means 'shall be overturned'.
[JON.3.5] And the men of Nineveh believed in the Gods, and they called a fast and they put on sackcloth, from the great down to the little. [§]
vayaminu anshei nineveh beelohim vayikreu-tzum vayilbeshu sakkim migdolam vead qethnam.
'vayaminu' means 'and they believed', 'anshei' means 'men of', 'nineveh' is the proper name Nineveh, 'be' means 'in', 'Elohim' means 'the Gods', 'vayikreu-tzum' means 'and they called a fast', 'vayilbeshu' means 'and they put on', 'sakkim' means 'sackcloth', 'migdolam' means 'from the great [ones]', 'vead' means 'and until', 'qethnam' means 'the little [ones]'.
[JON.3.6] And the word reached the king of Nineveh, and he rose from his throne, and he removed his garment from himself, and he covered himself with a sack, and he sat on the ash. [§]
Vayiga ha-davar el-Melekh Nineveh vayakam mikiseo vayaver edrato me-alav vayikas sak vayeshav al-ha-efir.
'Vayiga' means 'and it reached', 'ha-davar' means 'the word' or 'the matter', 'el' means 'to', 'Melekh' means 'king', 'Nineveh' is the name of the city, 'vayakam' means 'and he rose', 'mi' is a prefix meaning 'from', 'kiseo' means 'his throne', 'vayaver' means 'and he removed', 'edrato' means 'his garment', 'me-alav' means 'from himself', 'vayikas' means 'and he covered', 'sak' means 'a sack' or 'cloak', 'vayeshav' means 'and he sat', 'al' means 'on', 'ha-efir' means 'the ash'.
[JON.3.7] And he shouted and said in Nineveh from the king's banquet and his great ones, saying, The man and the beast, the cattle and the flock, let them not taste delicacy, let them not graze, and let them not drink water. [§]
vayaz'eq vayomer b'ni nve mitam ha melech ugedolav le'emor ha'adam vehabhemah habakar vehatzon al yit'amu me'umah al yir'u umayim al yish'tu.
'vayaz'eq' means 'and he shouted', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'b'ni nve' is the place name 'in Nineveh', 'mitam' means 'from the banquet/feast', 'ha melech' means 'the king', 'uge'dolav' means 'and his great ones', 'le'emor' means 'to say', 'ha'adam' means 'the man/human', 'vehabhemah' means 'and the beast', 'habakar' means 'the cattle', 'vehatzon' means 'and the flock', 'al' is a prohibitive particle meaning 'let not', 'yit'amu' means 'they taste', 'me'umah' means 'delicacy/choice food', 'yir'u' means 'they graze', 'umayim' means 'and water', 'yish'tu' means 'they drink'.
[JON.3.8] And they will cover the man's and the beast's sacks, and they will call to the Gods with strength, and each man will return from his evil way and from the violence that is in their palms. [§]
ve-yitkasu sakim haadam ve-habehemah ve-yikreu el-elohim bechazkah ve-yashuvu ish midarko ha-raah u-min-hechamas asher bechapeyhem.
've' means 'and', 'yitkasu' means 'they will cover', 'sakim' means 'bags' or 'sacks', 'haadam' means 'the man', 've' means 'and', 'habhemah' means 'the beast', 've' means 'and', 'yikreu' means 'they will call', 'el' means 'to', 'elohim' means 'the Gods', 'bechazkah' means 'with strength', 've' means 'and', 'yashuvu' means 'they will return', 'ish' means 'a man' or 'each man', 'midarko' means 'from his way', 'ha' means 'the', 'raah' means 'evil', 'u' means 'and', 'min' means 'from', 'hechamas' means 'the violence', 'asher' means 'that', 'bechapeyhem' means 'in their palms'.
[JON.3.9] Who knows that the Gods will turn back and be merciful, and will return from the heat of his anger and will not be destroyed. [§]
Mi yo-dea ya-shuv ve-ni-cham haElohim ve-shav me-charon a-po ve-lo no-a-ved.
'Mi' means 'who', 'yodea' means 'knows', 'yashuv' means 'will turn back' or 'will return', 've' is the conjunction 'and', 'nicham' means 'will be merciful' or 'will have compassion', 'haElohim' means 'the Gods' (the literal translation of Elohim), 'veshav' means 'and will return', 'mecharon' means 'from the heat' or 'from the burning', 'a' is the construct form of 'anger', 'po' means 'his' (referring to God's anger), 've' means 'and', 'lo' means 'not', 'noaved' means 'to be lost' or 'to be destroyed'.
[JON.3.10] And the Gods saw their works because they turned away from their evil way, and the Gods repented concerning the evil which he said to do to them, and did not do it. [§]
Vayar haElohim et ma'aseihem ki shavu midarkam hara'ah vayinnahem haElohim al hara'ah asher diber la'asot lahem velo asa.
'Vayar' means 'and saw', 'haElohim' means 'the Gods', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'ma'aseihem' means 'their works', 'ki' means 'because', 'shavu' means 'they turned away', 'midarkam' means 'from their way', 'hara'ah' means 'the evil', 'vayinnahem' means 'and repented', 'al' means 'concerning', 'asher' means 'that', 'diber' means 'he said', 'la'asot' means 'to do', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'velo' means 'and not', 'asa' means 'did'.
JON.4
[JON.4.1] And it was a great trouble for Jonah, and he became angry. [§]
Vayera el Yona raah gedolah vayichar lo.
'Vayera' means 'and it was bad', 'el' means 'to' or 'against', 'Yona' is the personal name Jonah, 'raah' means 'evil' or 'trouble', 'gedolah' means 'great' (feminine), 'vayichar' means 'and he became angry', 'lo' means 'to him' or 'for him'.
[JON.4.2] And he prayed to Yahveh and said, 'Please Yahveh, is not this my word until I am on my land? Therefore I have gone forth to flee from the enemy, for I know that you are God merciful and compassionate, long‑suffering and great in kindness, and you are sorry for the evil.' [§]
Vayitpalel el-Yahveh vayomer ana Yahveh halo ze d'vari ad-hevoti al-admati al ken kidamti livroch tarshishah ki yada'ti ki attah God Chanun veRachum erekh apayim veRav-chesed veNicham al-hara'ah.
'Vayitpalel' means 'and he prayed', 'el' is the preposition 'to', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ana' means 'please' or 'I', 'halo' means 'is not', 'ze' means 'this', 'd'vari' means 'my word', 'ad-hevoti' means 'until I am', 'al-admati' means 'upon my land', 'al ken' means 'therefore', 'kidamti' means 'I went forth', 'livroch' means 'to flee', 'tarshishah' means 'the enemy', 'ki' means 'for', 'yada'ti' means 'I know', 'ki' means 'that', 'attah' means 'you', 'God' is the literal translation of El, 'Chanun' means 'merciful', 'veRachum' means 'and compassionate', 'erekh' means 'long', 'apayim' means 'sufferings' (patience), 'veRav-chesed' means 'and great kindness', 'veNicham' means 'and you are sorry', 'al-hara'ah' means 'for the evil'.
[JON.4.3] And now Yahveh, take my soul from me, for my death is better than my life. [§]
Ve'atah Yahveh kach-na et nafshi mimeni ki tov moti mechayay.
'Ve'atah' means 'and now', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'kach-na' means 'take please', 'et' is a direct object marker (not translated), 'nafshi' means 'my soul', 'mimeni' means 'from me', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'tov' means 'good', 'moti' means 'my death', 'mechayay' means 'than my life'.
[JON.4.4] And Yahveh said, the good is hard for you. [§]
Vayomer Yahveh haheitev charah lach.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Yahveh' is the literal name of God, 'haheitev' is the definite form of the verb meaning 'the good' used as a noun, 'charah' means 'hard' or 'bitter' in a figurative sense, and 'lach' means 'to you' (addressed to a female).
[JON.4.5] And Jonah went out of the city and sat at the entrance of the city, and he made there a shelter, and he sat under its shade until he would see what would happen in the city. [§]
Vayetze Yonah min-ha'ir, vayyeshev mikedem la'ir, vayya'as lo sham sukkah, vayyeshev tachtah ba-tzel ad asher yireh ma yeheye ba'ir.
'Vayetze' means 'and went out', 'Yonah' means 'Jonah', 'min-ha'ir' means 'from the city', 'vayyeshev' means 'and sat', 'mikedem' means 'at the entrance/ before', 'la'ir' means 'the city', 'vayya'as' means 'and made', 'lo' means 'for him', 'sham' means 'there', 'sukkah' means 'a shelter or booth', 'vayyeshef' means 'and sat', 'tachtah' means 'under it', 'ba-tzel' means 'in the shade', 'ad' means 'until', 'asher' means 'that which', 'yireh' means 'he will see', 'ma' means 'what', 'yeheye' means 'will be/happen', 'ba'ir' means 'in the city'.
[JON.4.6] And Yahveh the Gods made the kikayon, and it rose from above to Jonah to be shade over his head to save him from his evil, and Jonah rejoiced over the kikayon with great joy. [§]
Vayman Yahveh the Gods kikayon vayaal me'al leYona lihyot tsel al rosho le-hatzil lo merato vayishmach Yona al hakikayon simchah gedolah.
'Vayman' means 'and (he) appointed/made', 'Yahveh' is the transliteration of YHVH and is rendered as 'Yahveh', 'the Gods' translates the word Elohim, 'kikayon' is the name of the plant, 'vayaal' means 'and it rose', 'me'al' means 'from above', 'leYona' means 'to Jonah', 'lihyot' means 'to be', 'tsel' means 'shade', 'al' means 'over', 'rosho' means 'his head', 'le-hatzil' means 'to save', 'lo' means 'him', 'merato' means 'from his evil', 'vayishmach' means 'and he rejoiced', 'Yona' means 'Jonah', 'al' means 'over', 'hakikayon' means 'the kikayon', 'simchah' means 'joy', 'gedolah' means 'great'.
[JON.4.7] And the Gods appointed a pestilence in the rising of the dawn for tomorrow, and she struck the kikayon and it dried up. [§]
Vaymān hāElohim tolʿat baʿalot hashachar lamāḥōret vatak et‑hakikayōn vayyibash.
'Vaymān' means 'and He appointed', 'hāElohim' means 'the Gods', 'tolʿat' means 'a pestilence', 'baʿalot' means 'in the rising', 'hashachar' means 'the dawn', 'lamāḥōret' means 'for tomorrow', 'vatak' means 'and she struck', 'et‑hakikayōn' means 'the kikayon (a plant)', 'vayyibash' means 'and it dried up'.
[JON.4.8] It happened at sunrise of the sun and God set a chilling east wind and the sun set upon the head of Jonah and he became angry and asked that his soul die and he said: It is better for me to die than my life. [§]
vayehi kizro'ach hashemesh vayman Elohim ruach kadim charishit vattach hashemesh al rosh Yona vayit'alaf vayishal et nafsho lamut vayomer tov moti mechayai
'vayehi' means 'it happened', 'kizro'ach' means 'at sunrise', 'hashemesh' means 'the sun', 'vayman' means 'and set', 'Elohim' means 'God', 'ruach' means 'wind', 'kadim' means 'east', 'charishit' means 'chilling', 'vattach' means 'and set', 'al' means 'upon', 'rosh' means 'head', 'Yona' means 'Jonah', 'vayit'alaf' means 'and he became angry', 'vayishal' means 'and he asked', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'nafsho' means 'his soul', 'lamut' means 'to die', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'tov' means 'better', 'moti' means 'to die', 'mechayai' means 'than my life'.
[JON.4.9] God said to Jonah, 'Is it good for you to be angry about the plant?' And he said, 'It is good for me to be angry until death.' [§]
Vayomer Elohim el Yonah haheitev chara lekha al hakikayon vayomer heitev chara li ad mavet.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'Elohim' means 'the Gods' (here understood as the one God), 'el' means 'to', 'Yonah' means 'Jonah', 'haheitev' is the definite form of the verb 'heitev' meaning 'good' or 'to be good', 'chara' means 'to be angry', 'lekha' means 'to you', 'al' means 'about', 'hakikayon' means 'the kikayon plant', the second 'vayomer' repeats 'and he said', the second 'heitev' again means 'good', 'chara' again 'to be angry', 'li' means 'to me', 'ad' means 'until', and 'mavet' means 'death'.
[JON.4.10] And Yahveh said, 'You have shown kindness to the kikkayon, which you have not cultivated nor increased; it was born by night and by night it was lost.' [§]
Vayomer Yahveh: Atah chasta al ha-kikkayon asher lo amalta bo velo giddalto; she-bin-layla hayah u-bin-layla avad.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'Atah' means 'you', 'chasta' means 'you have shown favor or kindness', 'al' means 'upon', 'ha-kikkayon' is the name of a plant (often rendered as 'the kikkayon'), 'asher' means 'which', 'lo' means 'not', 'amalta' means 'you have worked on or cultivated', 'bo' means 'in it', 'velo' means 'and not', 'giddalto' means 'you have increased or enlarged it', 'she-bin-layla' means 'that by night', 'hayah' means 'was', 'u-bin-layla' means 'and by night', 'avad' means 'was lost or perished'.
[JON.4.11] And I will not be ashamed of Nineveh the great city, which has many, sixteen times as many men, who do not know right from left, and a great beast. [§]
Va'ani lo achus al Nineveh ha'ir ha'g'dolah asher yesh bah harbeh mishteyim esreh ribo adam asher lo yada bein-yamino le-smalo u'vehemah rabbah.
'Va'ani' means 'and I', 'lo' means 'not', 'achus' means 'be ashamed', 'al' means 'of', 'Nineveh' is the city name, 'ha'ir' means 'the city', 'ha'g'dolah' means 'the great', 'asher' means 'which', 'yesh' means 'there is/are', 'bah' means 'in it', 'harbeh' means 'many', 'mishteyim esreh' is the numeral phrase 'sixteen', 'ribo' means 'times' or 'multiplied', 'adam' means 'men', 'asher' again 'who', 'lo' again 'not', 'yada' means 'know', 'bein-yamino le-smalo' means 'between his right and his left' i.e., 'right and left', 'u'vehemah' means 'and a beast', 'rabbah' means 'great'.