9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."
9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish."
9 Who knows? Maybe God will turn around and change his mind about us, quit being angry with us and let us live!"
9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jonah 3:9
Commentary on Jonah 3:5-10
(Read Jonah 3:5-10)
There was a wonder of Divine grace in the repentance and reformation of Nineveh. It condemns the men of the gospel generation, Psalm 66:18. The work of a fast-day is not done with the day. The Ninevites hoped that God would turn from his fierce anger; and that thus their ruin would be prevented. They could not be so confident of finding mercy upon their repentance, as we may be, who have the death and merits of Christ, to which we may trust for pardon upon repentance. They dared not presume, but they did not despair. Hope of mercy is the great encouragement to repentance and reformation. Let us boldly cast ourselves down at the footstool of free grace, and God will look upon us with compassion. God sees who turn from their evil ways, and who do not. Thus he spared Nineveh. We read of no sacrifices offered to God to make atonement for sin; but a broken and a contrite heart, such as the Ninevites then had, he will not despise.