וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח (way·yiś·maḥ) in Jonah 4:6: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח (way·yiś·maḥ) in Jonah 4:6
Source Word
At Jonah 4:6, the source token וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח is H8055, Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
Was greatly pleased captures the Qal gladness verb together with its strong intensifier. Jonah rejoices intensely over a plant while remaining angry over a spared city, preparing God's contrast between self-concern and compassion.
How To Communicate It
Set Jonah's great pleasure beside his great displeasure so the narrative's moral contrast becomes audible.
What Not To Say
- Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
- Do not condemn ordinary delight in comfort or overlook the chapter's critique of disproportionate compassion.
- The verb itself denotes gladness; moral evaluation comes from the plant and city contrast, not emotion grammar alone.
- Read pleased within Jonah 4:6 as this H8055 occurrence; broader theology requires the passage.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Qal
ConsecImperf
Third
Masculine
Singular
Not applicable
Conjunction w
None
The narrative form presents his joy as the immediate next reaction to relief from discomfort.
The third masculine singular Qal form takes Jonah as subject and advances from the plant's benefit to his emotional response.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Jonah as the one reacting with great pleasure to the plant
The relief provided by its shade over his head
The singular waw-consecutive verb reports Jonah becoming glad, intensified by the repeated great language around his pleasure.
Pleasure in relief is not inherently evil, but the verb does not vindicate Jonah's indifference toward Nineveh.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: Jonah rejoices intensely over a plant while remaining angry over a spared city, preparing God's contrast between self-concern and compassion.
The third masculine singular Qal form takes Jonah as subject and advances from the plant's benefit to his emotional response.. The singular waw-consecutive verb reports Jonah becoming glad, intensified by the repeated great language around his pleasure.. Attached to Jonah as the one reacting with great pleasure to the plant. Governed by the relief provided by its shade over his head. Pleasure in relief is not inherently evil, but the verb does not vindicate Jonah's indifference toward Nineveh.
Why does the narrative emphasize Jonah's pleasure in the plant? His intense joy over personal shade exposes the contrast with his anger when God preserves Nineveh.
Direct: Was greatly pleased captures the Qal gladness verb together with its strong intensifier.
The verb itself denotes gladness; moral evaluation comes from the plant and city contrast, not emotion grammar alone. Jonah's relief is genuine, even as the narrative uses it to expose a narrowed field of care.
Joy over comfort is always selfish: The chapter critiques Jonah's imbalance, not every grateful enjoyment of relief. strong emotion determines moral truth: Great displeasure and great pleasure both require evaluation by God's compassion.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
At Jonah 4:6, the source token וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח is H8055, Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms. The BSB+ word table row therefore anchors this guide.
שָׂמַח is the lemma behind pleased here. Within Jonah 4:6, H8055 retains this exact lexical identity.
The third masculine singular Qal form takes Jonah as subject and advances from the plant's benefit to his emotional response.
Jonah rejoices intensely over a plant while remaining angry over a spared city, preparing God's contrast between self-concern and compassion.
Creaturely comfort is a gift, yet love becomes disordered when personal relief matters more than the lives of neighbors.
Set Jonah's great pleasure beside his great displeasure so the narrative's moral contrast becomes audible.
Do not condemn ordinary delight in comfort or overlook the chapter's critique of disproportionate compassion.