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Jonás, 4

1. A Jonás esto no le gustó nada, y se enojó.

1. Et afflictus est Ionas afflictione magna et iratus est;

2. Se dirigió a Yavé y le dijo: «Ah, Yavé, es exactamente lo que yo preveía cuando estaba todavía en mi tierra, y por esto traté de huir a Tarsis. Yo sabía que tú eres un Dios clemente y misericordioso, paciente y lleno de bondad, siempre dispuesto a perdonar.

2. et oravit ad Dominum et dixit: “Obsecro, Domine, numquid non hoc est verbum meum, cum adhuc essem in terra mea? Propter hoc praeoccupavi ut fugerem in Tharsis. Sciebam enim quia tu Deus clemens et misericors es, longanimis et multae miserationis et ignoscens super malitia.

3. Oh Yavé, te ruego que tomes mi vida, pues ahora es mejor para mí morir que vivir.»

3. Et nunc, Domine, tolle, quaeso, animam meam a me, quia melior est mihi mors quam vita”.

4. Yavé le contestó: «Jonás, ¿crees tú que tienes razón para enojarte así?»

4. Et dixit Dominus: “Putasne bene irasceris tu?”.

5. Pero Jonás salió de Nínive y se hizo una cabaña al este de la ciudad, para ver lo que sucedería a la ciudad.

5. Et egressus est Ionas de civitate et sedit contra orientem civitatis et fecit sibimet umbraculum ibi et sedebat subter illud in umbra, donec videret quid accideret in civitate.

6. Entonces Yavé Dios hizo brotar una planta de ricino que creció por encima de Jonás para dar sombra a su cabeza y así calmarlo de su enojo. Jonás se alegró mucho por la planta.

6. Et praeparavit Dominus Deus hederam, et ascendit super Ionam, ut esset umbra super caput eius et protegeret eum ab afflictione sua. Et laetatus est Ionas super hedera laetitia magna.

7. Pero al día siguiente, al amanecer, Yavé mandó un gusano que malogró la planta y la secó.

7. Et paravit Deus vermem, cum surgeret aurora in crastinum, et percussit hederam, quae exaruit.

8. Al salir el sol, Yavé hizo soplar viento caliente desde el este. El sol acaloró tanto a Jonás que éste se desmayó. Se deseó la muerte y dijo: «Mejor es morir que vivir.»

8. Et, cum ortus fuisset sol, praecepit Deus vento orientali calido; et percussit sol super caput Ionae, et elanguit; et petivit animae suae, ut moreretur, et dixit: “Melius est mihi mori quam vivere”

9. Entonces Yavé le preguntó: «¿Te parece bien enojarte por este ricino?» Jonás respondió: «Sí, tengo razón para estar enojado hasta el punto de querer morir.»

9. Et dixit Deus ad Ionam: “Putasne bene irasceris tu super hedera?”. Et dixit: “Bene irascor ego usque ad mortem”.

10. Yavé le replicó: «Te afliges por un ricino que no te ha costado trabajo alguno y que no has hecho crecer, que en una noche ha nacido y en una noche ha muerto.

10. Et dixit Dominus: “Tu doles super hederam, in qua non laborasti neque fecisti, ut cresceret, quae sub una nocte nata est et sub una nocte periit.

11. ¿Cómo, pues, yo no voy a tener lástima de Nínive, la gran ciudad, donde hay más de ciento veinte mil personas que no saben distinguir el bien y el mal, y gran cantidad de animales?»

11. Et ego non parcam Nineve civitati magnae, in qua sunt plus quam centum viginti milia hominum, qui nesciunt quid sit inter dexteram et sinistram suam, et iumenta multa?”.



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Footnotes:

4:1-3 - Jonah is furious at God's mercy toward Nineveh. This episode reveals the human challenge of understanding divine grace, especially when it extends to those we consider enemies or unworthy (see also Matthew 5:44 and Luke 15:28-32).

4:4-6 - God causes a plant to grow to provide shade for Jonah, and then causes it to wither. The lesson is that we must trust in God's wisdom and providence, who knows what is best for us and teaches us through our circumstances (see also Philippians 4:12-13 and James 1:5).

4:7-9 - God questions Jonah about his anger toward the dying plant. This situation illustrates the human tendency to cling to the ephemeral and to fail to understand God's compassion for the greater good of all (see also Romans 9:20-21 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

4:10-11 - God explains to Jonah that He has compassion on Nineveh, a large city with over 120,000 people. This reinforces the idea that God's mercy extends to everyone, without exception, and that God desires everyone to be saved (see also 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Timothy 2:4).

Verses related to Jonás, 4:

Jonah chapter 4 reveals the prophet's inner struggle with God's mercy. Why does Jonah resent God's compassion for Nineveh? This provocative text exposes Jonah's bitterness and his preference for justice over mercy. The chapter uses the plant metaphor to teach Jonah about divine compassion. Jonah 4 challenges our understanding of God's love for all people and our own attitude toward "enemies." Ponder with us five biblical passages that illuminate the themes of grace and mercy expressed in this challenging final chapter.

Luke 15:28-30: "The eldest son was filled with anger and refused to enter. Then his father came out and urged him. But he answered his father: 'Look! All these years I have worked like a slave in your service and have never disobeyed your orders. But you never gave me even a kid to celebrate with my friends. But when that son of yours, who wasted your wealth with prostitutes, returns home, you kill the fatted calf for him!'" - The attitude of the eldest son in the parable of the prodigal son reflects Jonah's indignation at God's mercy towards Nineveh.

Romans 9:15-16: "For he says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.' Therefore, this does not depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy." - This verse reflects the theme of God's sovereignty and mercy, central to Jonah's conflict in chapter 4.

Micah 7:18: "Who is comparable to you, O God, who forgives sin and forgets the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You who do not remain angry forever, but take pleasure in showing love." - Micah exalts God's mercy, contrasting with Jonah's attitude in chapter 4.

Psalms 103:8-10: "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, very patient and full of love. He doesn't constantly accuse us or resent us forever; He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities." - This psalm celebrates the attributes of God that Jonah struggled to accept in chapter 4.

Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" - This verse reflects the theme of the superiority of God's thoughts and ways, contrasting with Jonah's limited perspective in chapter 4.

FAQ:

How did Jonah react to God's mercy to Nineveh?

Jonah was angered by God's mercy toward Nineveh, for he desired the city to be destroyed, not understanding God's goodness. (Jonah 4:1-3)

What did God teach Jonah through the plant that grew?

God made a plant grow to give Jonah shade, but then caused it to wither, teaching him that God's mercy is great and He has compassion for all. (Jonah 4:6-11)

Why did God rebuke Jonah at the end of the book?

God rebuked Jonah for feeling sorry for the plant but not caring about Nineveh's impending destruction, showing that Jonah needed to learn to have compassion for people as God does. (Jonah 4:9-11)

What does God reveal about His nature in the book of Jonah?

God reveals His compassion, mercy, and willingness to forgive, even to the most unrepentant sinners, such as the inhabitants of Nineveh. (Jonah 4:10-11)

What is the main lesson of the book of Jonah?

The main lesson of the book of Jonah is that God offers His mercy to everyone, regardless of their background or sin, and expects His followers to share in that compassion. (Jonah 4:10-11)


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