YNA 4:11 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=important (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ φείσομαι ὑπὲρ Νινευὴ τῆς πόλεως τῆς μεγάλης, ἐν ᾗ κατοικοῦσι πλείους ἢ δώδεκα μυριάδες ἀνθρώπων, οἵτινες οὐκ ἔγνωσαν δεξιὰν αὐτῶν ἢ ἀριστερὰν αὐτῶν, καὶ κτήνη πολλά;
(egō de ou feisomai huper Nineuaʸ taʸs poleōs taʸs megalaʸs, en haʸ katoikousi pleious aʸ dōdeka muriades anthrōpōn, hoitines ouk egnōsan dexian autōn aʸ aristeran autōn, kai ktaʸnaʸ polla; )

BrTr and shall not I spare Nineve, the great city, in which dwell more than twelve myriads of human beings, who do not know their right hand or their left hand; and also much cattle?

ULT So I, should I not feel troubled about Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than 120, 000 people who do not know between their right hand to their left hand, and many animals?”

UST In the same way, but very much more, it is right for me to feel sad about destroying the huge city of Nineveh. There are more than 120, 000 people living there who do not know right from wrong. There are also many animals. I created all of them, so it is right for me to be concerned about them.”

OEB Should I not care for the great city Nineveh, in which there are one hundred and twenty thousand people who do not know their right hand from their left; and many cattle too?’

CSB So may I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than a hundred twenty thousand people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals? ”

NLT But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

NIV And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

CEV In that city of Nineveh there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell right from wrong, and many cattle are also there. Don't you think I should be concerned about that big city?

ESV And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

NASB “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

LSB So should I not have pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

WEBBE Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many animals?”

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(10-11)God said, “What’s this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?”

NET Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!”

LSV and I—do I not have pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than one hundred twenty thousand of mankind, who have not known between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

FBV Shouldn't I be concerned about the great city of Nineveh where one hundred and twenty thousand people live who don't know their right hand from their left,[fn] not to mention all the animals?”

4:11 In other words they are spiritually ignorant.

T4T But there are more than 120,000 people in Nineveh who are very young, and because of that, they cannot tell which is their right hand and which is their left hand, and there are also many cattle, and none of these have done anything to displease me. So ◄is it not right for me to be concerned about the people of that huge city, and not want to destroy them?/it is certainly right for me to be concerned about the people of that huge city and not want to destroy them!► [RHQ]”

LEB And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, the great city, _⌊in which there are_⌋[fn] more _⌊than one hundred and twenty thousand_⌋[fn] people who do not know right from left,[fn] plus many animals?”

4:11 Literally “which there are in it”

4:11 Literally “than two ten myriad” (12 x 10,000)

4:11 “hand” is often supplied, but it is not clear just what deficiency is meant by this expression, which occurs only here in biblical Hebrew

NRSV And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

NKJV And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

NAB And should I not be concerned over the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot know their right hand from their left, not to mention all the animals?”

BBE And am I not to have mercy on Nineveh, that great town, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons without the power of judging between right and left, as well as much cattle?

Moff No Moff YNA (JNA) 4:11 verse available

JPS and should not I have pity on 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?'

ASV and should not I have regard for 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?

DRA And shall not I spare Ninive, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that know not how to distinguish between their right hand and their left, and many beasts?

YLT and I — have not I pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than twelve myriads of human beings, who have not known between their right hand and their left — and much cattle!'

Drby and I, should not I have pity on Nineveh, the great city, wherein are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

RV and should not I have pity on 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?

SLT And shall I not spare for Nineveh the great city which there is in it more than one hundred and twenty thousand men which knew not between his right hand to his left, and many cattle?

Wbstr And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also many cattle?

KJB-1769 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?

KJB-1611 And should not I spare Nineueh that great citie, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons, that cannot discerne betweene their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattell?
(And should not I spare Nineveh that great city, wherein are more then sixscore thousand persons, that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?)

Bshps And shall not I spare Niniue that great citie, in the which are more then sixscore thousand persons that knowe not their right hand and their left, and also much cattaile?
(And shall not I spare Nineveh that great city, in the which are more then sixscore thousand persons that know not their right hand and their left, and also much cattle?)

Gnva And shoulde not I spare Nineueh that great citie, wherein are sixe score thousande persons, that cannot discerne betweene their right hand, and their left hand, and also much cattell?
(And should not I spare Nineveh that great city, wherein are six score thousand persons, that cannot discern between their right hand, and their left hand, and also much cattle? )

Cvdl And shulde not I then haue compassion vpon Niniue that greate cite, wherin there are aboue an C. and xx. thousande personnes, yt knowe not their right hode fro the lefte, besydes moch catell?
(And should not I then have compassion upon Nineveh that great city, wherein there are above an C. and 20 thousand persons, it know not their right hand from the left, besides much cattle?)

Wycl And schal Y not spare the grete citee Nynyue, in which ben more than sixe score thousynde of men, which witen not what is betwixe her riyt half and left, and many beestis?
(And shall I not spare the great city Nineveh, in which been more than six score thousand of men, which perceive not what is betwixe her right half and left, and many beasts/animals?)

Luth und mich sollte nicht jammern Ninives, solcher großen Stadt, in welcher sind mehr denn hundertundzwanzigtausend Menschen, die nicht wissen Unterschied, was rechts oder links ist, dazu auch viel Tiere?
(and me should not yammern Ninives, such large city, in which are more because/than one_hundred_and_twenty_thousand people, the not realise Unterschied, what/which rights or links is, to_that/in_addition also many animals?)

ClVg et ego non parcam Ninive, civitati magnæ, in qua sunt plus quam centum viginti millia hominum qui nesciunt quid sit inter dexteram et sinistram suam, et jumenta multa?
(and I not/no I_will_spare Ninive, to_the_city great, in/into/on which are plus how hundred twenty thousands of_men who/which they_don't_know what be between right_hand and left_side his_own, and cattle fine? )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–11: The LORD showed Jonah his mercy and compassion

Jonah was upset that the LORD had not destroyed the people of Nineveh, and he argued with the LORD about it. The LORD taught Jonah that Jonah, too, should have compassion on the people of Nineveh. The LORD caused a plant to grow to shelter Jonah from the sun and then sent a worm to destroy it. When Jonah was upset about the plant being destroyed, the LORD told him that if he could be concerned about a mere plant, it was more fitting that the LORD should be concerned about people—as people are more important to him than plants. This was to show Jonah how much the LORD cared about people—even the enemies of the Israelites.

Paragraph 4:10–11

The LORD wanted Jonah to see that his attitude towards the people of Nineveh was not reasonable. If Jonah could care about a plant which he never looked after or caused to grow, then was it not right that the LORD should care about the people of Nineveh, whom he created and whom he loved?

4:11a

So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh,

So, is it not right that I should show compassion for the huge city Nineveh and all its inhabitants?
Similarly, it is proper that I be concerned about that huge city, Nineveh, and all its inhabitants.”

So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh: The book ends with another rhetorical question to which the implied answer is “Yes, I [the LORD] am right to have compassion for the people in Nineveh.” If you cannot use rhetorical questions in this way in your language, you can use a statement instead. See 4:11d in the Display.

care about: This is the same Hebrew verb ḥus as in 4:10b. See the comments there. You should translate the verb in the same way in the two verses.

4:11b

which has more than 120,000 people

Are not its people more valuable than that plant? Yes they are! And there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) of them,
Then Yahweh added, “There are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people in the city, and they are more valuable than that plant,

4:11c

who cannot tell their right hand from their left,

people who cannot even distinguish evil from good.

4:11b-c

which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left: Here the LORD contrasted Jonah’s compassion for an insignificant plant with his own compassion for the people of Nineveh. If Jonah could feel compassion for a plant, which only lived a day, it was even more fitting that the LORD should have compassion on the people of Nineveh, who were much more important.

more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left: Scholars do not agree about to whom this refers. The two possibilities are:

This refers to all the people living in Nineveh. In this case the expression who cannot tell their right hand from their left is a Hebrew idiom which means that the people cannot tell right from wrong. (NIV, RSV, CEV, GW, NCV, NJB, REB)4.11 Allen, p. 230; Baldwin, p. 590; Ellison, p. 389; Sasson, p. 300; Stuart, p. 507
This refers only to the small children living in Nineveh, children too young to be able to tell their right hand from their left hand. (TEV)4.11 Keil-Delitzsch, pp. 416–17; UBS Handbook, pp. 114–15

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as do the majority of English versions and commentaries.

Some versions make explicit the meaning of the Hebrew idiom who cannot tell their right hand from their left. For example, NCV has:

which has more than one hundred twenty thousand people who do not know right from wrong (NCV)

You need to decide whether you should do the same or keep the literal expression with perhaps a footnote to explain its meaning.4.11 See also CEV

4:11d

and many cattle as well?”

Not only that, but there are also many animals there as well.”

and many cattle as well: God not only had compassion on the people of Nineveh, he also had compassion on the animals and spared them as well.

cattle: The Hebrew word behemah which the BSB translates as cattle can also be a general term for domestic animals and is not limited to cattle4.11 See also GW, NCV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV. Here is a more general way to translate this word:

animals (GNT)

General Comment about 4:11

In some languages it may be more natural to reorder 4:11, so that God’s statement about the size of the city comes before his rhetorical question about his concern for them. One model for this would be the NIV:

But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city? (NIV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙

and,I

This expression, So I, paired with “You” in verse [4:10](../04/10.md), indicates a direct comparison between Yahweh’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh and Jonah’s attitude toward the plant. Indicate this comparison in a way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [So on my part] or [So as for me]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

וַֽ⁠אֲנִי֙ לֹ֣א אָח֔וּס עַל־נִינְוֵ֖ה הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩ מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ אָדָ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣⁠וֹ לִ⁠שְׂמֹאל֔⁠וֹ וּ⁠בְהֵמָ֖ה רַבָּֽה

and,I not concerned on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in Nīnəvēh the=city (the),great which/who there_are in,it more more,than_two_plus teen twenty_thousand humankind which/who not knowing between hand_of,his_right and,his_of,left and,livestock enough/great(fs)

God is using the question form to emphasize his claim that he should have compassion on Nineveh. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [I certainly should have compassion for Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left hand, and also many cattle!]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־בָּ֡⁠הּ הַרְבֵּה֩

which/who there_are in,it more

To make this verse simpler, it can be divided into two parts. The first part, ending with the great city, can be ended with a question mark. The rest of the verse can then be a statement, ending with a period. If that would be helpful in your language, begin the second part as follows: Alternate translation: [There are more than] or [It has more than]

Note 4 topic: translate-numbers

מִֽ⁠שְׁתֵּים־עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה רִבּ֜וֹ

more,than_two_plus teen twenty_thousand

Alternate translation: [one hundred twenty thousand]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדַע֙ בֵּין־יְמִינ֣⁠וֹ לִ⁠שְׂמֹאל֔⁠וֹ

which/who not knowing between hand_of,his_right and,his_of,left

This idiom means “who do not know the difference between right and wrong.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use an idiom from your language that does have this meaning or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who do not know up from down] or [who do not know what is good for them]

Parallel YNA 4:11