Oh, yeah! I can see the Ninevites shaking in the boots after hearing Jonah preaching "Yet 40 days and every one of you will have a change of heart!"
But at that point the overthrow was destruction, one way or the other, Nineveh would be overthrown.
The Hebrew word used is 'nacham' (
Strong's #5162) and it DOES NOT mean relent, it means repent.
You really should check other translations, and other lexicons than Strongs.
NIV Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
NAU Jonah 3:10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
ESV Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
NET Jonah 3:10 When God saw their actions– they turned from their evil way of living!– God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.
NKJ Jonah 3:10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
NLT Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
Even Strong's says there are various meanings for this word: "nacham naw-kham' a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself):--comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self)."
Do you also know that the verb form affects the meaning in Hebrew? This is the niphal form here, which has the following meanings in that form, according to Holladay: "1. regret: a) have regrets, a change of heart (1Sa. 15:29) b) allow onesf. a change of heart regarding, relent regarding (Exo. 32:12) c) abs. turn fm. former attitude, repent (Job 42:6) — 2. (allow onesf. to) be sorry: a) subj. God (Psa. 90:13) ; — 3. comfort, console onesf.: a) find comfort, consolation (Gen. 24:67); b) obtain satisfaction, take relish in (Isa. 1:24); c) observe time of mourning (Gen. 38:12); d) complete the rites of mourning, be consoled (Jer. 31:15)."
I left out some meanings here that apply when there are certain prepositions, or which apply specifically to man.
Shall we believe you or the Bible, Lee?
Why do you feel it necessary to play such games with the text like this, Lee?
One translation is not "The Bible," how can you be so scornful? And it is you who is playing games with the text here, Clete, or maybe Robert T. Hill, whose
web site is the only place I could find this translation. Would this be the Bob Hill who has posted here, by the way?
You didn't answer my question.
Was God telling the truth when He said He would destroy Nineveh or was He telling a lie?
My answer is still that the Hebrew word is used also of changes in human hearts, Augustine saw this back many centuries ago, and said "overthrow" one way or the other was meant.
I meant before they repented, why not destroy them without warning them, since a warning might cause a change of plan?
Because mercy triumphs over judgment.
But God's whole plan here was for judgment, says the Open View--if not, God did not actually change his mind.
You're stupid. I will not entertain such idiotic questions.
My friend Mr. Clete.
So your answer then is that God lied, is that what you are saying?
See above, with Rob's question, please...
My direct answer to this question is that God's prophesy is never unconditional when it concerns peoples and nations.
How is it that God then changed his mind? His plan was to a) destroy them or b) forgive them, conditioned on repentance. I agree.
Because, as I said a moment ago, you are stupid. I mean you'd have to be to get the impression that Jonah had a better grasp of the situation than God did.
Well, how is it that Jonah thought they would repent, and God apparently did not?
Because you're a blithering idiot who cannot seem to read and understand what has been written on a third grade reading level. My 7 (nearly 8) year old daughter would know better than this.
Tremendous response sir, simply tremendous.
Again, see Jeremiah 18; perhaps the most important chapter of the entire Bible.
I
have seen it!
LM: Also, God may act in a way that spoils his plan, not only may the situation change, and cause a change of plan, but God may do something that wrecks his own plan.
Clete: You are a fool! You will answer for such blasphemy on judgment day unless you repent.
I'm not seriously proposing this, again it seems I must explain an argument
ad absurdum.
Now you must tell me why Open Theism does not have this implication, if God changes his mind.
Name one single Open Theist who has ever said such a thing!
They certainly wouldn't step up to this, yet I claim this is a clear implication in their view.
You can't find someone at your work to lie too and so you come here to the internet so you can lie anonymously?
I use my name, actually, instead of anonymity. Look me up in the phone book if you wish!
Blessings,
Lee
