And the Ninevites believed God.The response of the Ninevites to Jonah's message is immediate and profound. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its wickedness and brutality. The belief in God here signifies a recognition of His authority and power, a remarkable shift for a pagan city. This belief is not just intellectual assent but involves a deep conviction leading to action. The Ninevites' response can be seen as a fulfillment of God's desire for repentance, as seen in
Ezekiel 18:23, where God expresses no pleasure in the death of the wicked but rather that they turn from their ways and live. This moment also prefigures the universal call to repentance found in the New Testament, where salvation is extended beyond Israel to all nations.
They proclaimed a fast
Fasting in the ancient Near East was a common expression of mourning, repentance, and humility before a deity. By proclaiming a fast, the Ninevites demonstrate their earnestness in seeking forgiveness and averting the impending judgment. This act of fasting is a communal response, indicating a collective acknowledgment of sin and a desire for change. In the Bible, fasting is often associated with seeking God's favor, as seen inJoel 2:12-13, where the people are called to return to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
and dressed in sackcloth,
Sackcloth, a coarse material usually made from goat's hair, was traditionally worn as a sign of mourning and penitence. The wearing of sackcloth by the Ninevites symbolizes their humility and contrition before God. This practice is seen throughout the Bible, such as inGenesis 37:34, where Jacob mourns for Joseph, and inEsther 4:1, where Mordecai dons sackcloth in response to the edict against the Jews. The use of sackcloth underscores the sincerity of the Ninevites' repentance.
from the greatest of them to the least.
The phrase indicates that the response to Jonah's message was universal across all social strata in Nineveh. This inclusivity highlights the comprehensive nature of their repentance, with everyone from the king to the common people participating. It reflects the biblical principle that all are equal before God, as seen inGalatians 3:28, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. The collective repentance of Nineveh serves as a powerful example of how a community can turn from sin and seek God's mercy.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JonahA prophet of God who was initially reluctant to deliver God's message to Nineveh but eventually obeyed after being swallowed by a great fish.
2.
NinevehThe capital city of Assyria, known for its wickedness and idolatry. It was a significant city in the ancient world, both in size and influence.
3.
The People of NinevehThe inhabitants of Nineveh who responded to Jonah's message with belief and repentance, demonstrating a collective turning to God.
4.
GodThe sovereign deity who sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message of impending judgment, offering the opportunity for repentance.
5.
Fasting and SackclothTraditional expressions of mourning and repentance in the ancient Near East, symbolizing humility and contrition before God.
Teaching Points
The Power of God's WordDespite Jonah's initial reluctance, the message he delivered was powerful enough to bring an entire city to repentance. This underscores the transformative power of God's Word when faithfully proclaimed.
Repentance as a Community ActThe collective response of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least, illustrates the importance of communal repentance and the impact it can have on society.
Humility Before GodThe Ninevites' use of sackcloth and fasting demonstrates a posture of humility and submission, essential attitudes for genuine repentance.
God's Mercy and CompassionThe willingness of God to relent from disaster upon seeing Nineveh's repentance highlights His merciful nature and desire for all to turn from their wicked ways.
Urgency of RepentanceThe immediate response of the Ninevites serves as a reminder of the urgency with which we should respond to God's call to repentance in our own lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Jonah 3:5?
2.How does Jonah 3:5 demonstrate the power of God's message through Jonah?
3.What role does fasting play in the Ninevites' repentance in Jonah 3:5?
4.How can we apply the Ninevites' response to our own repentance today?
5.What other biblical examples show collective repentance similar to Jonah 3:5?
6.How can we encourage our community to believe and repent like Nineveh did?
7.How did the Ninevites' belief in God lead to their repentance in Jonah 3:5?
8.What historical evidence supports the mass repentance of Nineveh as described in Jonah 3:5?
9.Why did the Ninevites believe Jonah's message so quickly according to Jonah 3:5?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jonah 3?
11.Jonah 3:5 – What evidence exists that an entire city as vast as Nineveh would respond so quickly and fully to a single prophet's warning?
12.What does the Bible say about fasting?
13.Jonah 4:11 – Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that Nineveh underwent such widespread repentance to justify Jonah’s reaction in this chapter?
14.Isaiah 58:8 – Does the promise of healing for proper fasting have any scientific or historical evidence, or is it purely religious symbolism?What Does Jonah 3:5 Mean
And the Ninevites believed GodThe very first response in Nineveh is faith. Jonah’s eight–word sermon (Jonah 3:4) meets hearts ready to take God at His word.
• This belief is more than mental agreement; it is trust that God’s warning is true and that His mercy is possible (seeGenesis 15:6;Hebrews 11:6).
• Jesus later confirms their faith was genuine: “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah” (Luke 11:32).
• Notice the contrast with Israel, who often heard prophets yet remained unmoved (Jeremiah 7:25–26). Nineveh’s immediate belief highlights how God can pierce even the hardest culture when His word is received literally and obediently.
They proclaimed a fastBelief quickly turns into action. Fasting signals earnest repentance and dependence on God.
• In Scripture, fasting underscores humility and urgency (Joel 2:12–13;Ezra 8:21).
• By making the fast public, the city leaders align civic life with spiritual need, much like Jehoshaphat who “proclaimed a fast for all Judah” when danger loomed (2 Chronicles 20:3).
• Their decree recognizes that human strength cannot avert divine judgment; only God’s mercy can.
And dressed in sackclothSackcloth—coarse, uncomfortable fabric—visibly demonstrates inward sorrow.
• Wearing it shows grief over sin, not just grief over consequences (1 Kings 21:27;Daniel 9:3).
• Outward symbols matter when they match inward reality; God had rejected empty displays in Israel (Isaiah 58:5). Nineveh’s sackcloth is paired with true contrition.
• The change of clothes underlines a change of heart—shedding status, comfort, and pride.
From the greatest of them to the leastRepentance sweeps through every social layer.
• Leaders do not hide behind position; commoners are not excluded. This mirrors later revivals where “both men and women” respond together (Acts 8:12).
• Scripture often notes whole–community movements—Josiah gathered “great and small” to hear the Law (2 Chronicles 34:30).
• God’s call is universal; everyone must respond personally. Nineveh’s unity amplifies the sincerity of their plea.
summaryJonah 3:5 records a chain reaction: faith, fasting, sackcloth, and citywide participation. The verse shows that when God speaks, genuine belief produces visible repentance, crossing every social boundary. Nineveh’s wholehearted response reminds us that God honors humble faith, and He still turns threatened judgment into mercy when people take Him at His word.
(5)
Believed God.--Or,
believed in God. Notice again an implied contrast to the dulness of the Jews, who were "slow to believe" the prophetic warnings addressed to themselves.
Proclaimed a fast.--Apparently on a spontaneous resolution of the people themselves. (See Note toJonah 3:6.) The fast would no doubt be for one day, according to the Jewish and the general Oriental custom.
Verses 5-9. § 3.
The Ninevites hearken to the cry of Jonah, believe in God, and repent.Verse 5. -
Believed God;believed in God, which implies trust and hope; Vulgate,
crediderunt in Deum. They recognized Jonah as God's messenger; they recognized God's power as able to execute the threat, and they had confidence in his mercy if they repented. This great result has seemed to some incredible, and has occasioned doubts to be east upon the history. But, as we have seen in the Introduction, Jonah's mission occurred probably at a time of national depression, when men's minds were disposed to expect calamity, and anxious to avert it by any means. Other considerations led to the same result. They had heard much of the God of the Hebrews, much of the doings of his great prophets Elijah and Elisha; and now they had in their midst one of these holy men, who, as they were informed, had been miraculously preserved from death in order to carry his message to them; for that it was thus that Jonah was "a sign unto the Ninevites" (
Luke 11:30) seems most certain. They saw the Divine inspiration beaming in his look, dictating his utterance, animating his bearing, filling him with courage, confidence, and faith. The credulity with which they received the announcements of their own seers, their national predilection for presages and omens, encouraged them to open their ears to this stranger, and to regard his mission with grave attention. Their own conscience, too, was on the prophet's side, and assisted his words with its powerful pleading.
So they believed in God, and proclaimed a fast. Spontaneously, without any special order from the authorities. Before the final fall of Nineveh, the inscriptions mention, the then king ordered a fast of one hundred days and nights to the gods in order to avert the threatened danger (see a note by Professor Sayce, in G. Smith's 'History of Babylon,' p. 156).
Put on sackcloth (comp.
Genesis 37:34;
1 Kings 21:27;
Joel 1:13). The custom of changing the dress in token of mourning was not confined to the Hebrews (comp.
Ezekiel 26:16).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And the Ninevitesנִֽינְוֵ֖ה(nî·nə·wêh)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5210:Nineveh -- capital of Assyrbelievedוַֽיַּאֲמִ֛ינוּ(way·ya·’ă·mî·nū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 539:To confirm, supportGod.בֵּֽאלֹהִ֑ים(bê·lō·hîm)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430:gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeThey proclaimedוַיִּקְרְאוּ־(way·yiq·rə·’ū-)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, reada fastצוֹם֙(ṣō·wm)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6685:Fasting, a fastand dressedוַיִּלְבְּשׁ֣וּ(way·yil·bə·šū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3847:Wrap around, to put on a, garment, clothein sackcloth,שַׂקִּ֔ים(śaq·qîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8242:A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bagfrom the greatestמִגְּדוֹלָ֖ם(mig·gə·ḏō·w·lām)Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1419:Great, older, insolentof them toוְעַד־(wə·‘aḏ-)Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5704:As far as, even to, up to, until, whilethe least.קְטַנָּֽם׃(qə·ṭan·nām)Adjective - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6996:Small, young, unimportant
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OT Prophets: Jonah 3:5 The people of Nineveh believed God (Jon. Jh) 
