And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

JONAH 4:11KJV
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Jonah 4:11 (KJV)

What does Jonah 4:11 mean?

Jonah 4:11 records God’s question to Jonah, asking whether God should not show mercy to Nineveh, a huge city with over 120,000 people who “cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand,” as well as many animals. The verse highlights God’s concern for both the people and the animals of Nineveh, emphasizing compassion even for those who are morally or spiritually unaware.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to Jonah, who is angry that God spared Nineveh after its people repented. God points out the vast number of people in Nineveh—described as unable to tell right from left, often understood as morally or spiritually ignorant—and also mentions the city’s many animals. The verse closes the book by showing God’s broad mercy, extending beyond Israel to a foreign city and even to its livestock.

The Hebrew behind Jonah 4:11

  • “spare” (חָס H2347, chas): This word means to have compassion or to show pity. God uses it to challenge Jonah’s lack of mercy, highlighting that divine compassion is not limited by nationality or worthiness.
  • “great” (גָּדוֹל H1419, gadol): The word for “great” stresses Nineveh’s size and importance, underlining the scale of what is at stake—not just a small group, but a major city.
  • “persons” (אָדָם H120, adam): This term refers to human beings in general, emphasizing the humanity of Nineveh’s population, not just their identity as foreigners.
  • “discern” (יָדַע H3045, yada): This word means to know or to distinguish. The phrase about not knowing right from left uses this verb to suggest a lack of moral or practical understanding, not just physical direction.

Why Jonah 4:11 matters

  • Jonah 4:11 corrects the idea that God’s mercy is only for those who already know Him or for one nation; it shows God’s compassion for all people, even those who are ignorant or outsiders.
  • The mention of animals (“much cattle”) reminds the reader that God’s care extends to all creation, not just humans, which is unusual and striking in the context of ancient writings.
  • By ending the book with a question, Jonah 4:11 leaves the reader to reflect on the scope of God’s mercy and challenges narrow or nationalistic views of divine compassion.

Where else these words appear

“thousand” Hebrew H7239 · used in 10 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 29:7 And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.
  • Nehemiah 7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
  • Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

“Nineveh” Hebrew H5210 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 10:11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
  • Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
  • Jonah 3:7 And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

“spare” Hebrew H2347 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 45:20 Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
  • Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
  • Ezekiel 8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

“hand” Hebrew H8040 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.
  • Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
  • 2 Chronicles 18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.