Jonah 3:5

Jonah 3:5 

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

a. ASV: And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

b. YLT: And the men of Nineveh believe in God, and proclaim a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even unto their least,

c. Classic Amplified: So the people of Nineveh believed in God and proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth [in penitent mourning], from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

d. Septuagint: And the men of Nineve believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloths, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: The people of Nineveh believed in God, so they proclaimed a fast and donned sackcloth, from their great to their small. 

1. “So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast…”

a. [So the] people [Strong: 376 'iysh eesh contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

b. [of] Nineveh [Strong: 5210 Niynveh nee-nev-ay' of foreign origin; Nineveh, the capital of Assyria:--Nineveh.]

c. believed [Strong: 539 'aman aw-man' a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once (Isa. 30:21; interchangeable 541) to go to the right hand:--hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, + fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.]

d. God [Strong: 430 'elohiym el-o-heem' plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

e. [and] proclaimed [Strong: 7121 qara' kaw-raw' a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

f. [a] fast [Strong: 6685 tsowm tsome or tsom {tsome}; from from 6684; a fast: --fast(-ing).]

2. “...and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.”

a. [and] put on [Strong: 3847 labash law-bash' or labesh {law-bashe'}; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively:--(in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.]

b. sackcloth [Strong: 8242 saq sak from 8264; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain, etc.):--sack(-cloth, -clothes).]

c. [from the] greatest [of them] [Strong: 1419 gadowl gaw-dole' or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), + exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.]

d. even [Strong: 5704 `ad ad properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.]

e. [to the] least [of them] [Strong: 6996 qatan kaw-tawn' or qaton {kaw-tone'}; from 6962; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance):--least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est).]

1). During his earthly ministry Jesus taught that the people of Nineveh repented. When we look at the whole counsel of God we can see Jesus was saying these people will not only be in heaven, but they will sit in judgment over the people who lived during Jesus ministry.

a). Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

2). Christians will judge the world.

a). 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?

b). We will see the people of Nineveh who repented during Jonah’s ministry in heaven. Glory to God!

3). Tradition says that Jonah is buried in ancient Nineveh in modern day northern Iraq near the modern city of Mosul.

a). “The sanctuary of Jama Naballa Jonas is another place that tradition says is Jonah's grave, near the city of Mosul(today in Iraq), near the ancient remnants of Nineveh. On one of the two most prominent mounds of Nineveh ruins, rises the Mosque of the Prophet Yunus (previously a Nestorian-Assyrian Church). Jonah is believed to be buried here, where King Esarhaddon had once built a palace. It is one of the most important mosques in Mosul and one of the few historic mosques that are found on the east side of the city.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah 

b). If this tradition is true it means that Jonah stayed and ministered to the people of Nineveh after their conversion, which would be completely appropriate and necessary.