And the Lord God prepared an ivy, and it came up over the head of Jonah, to be a shadow over his head, and to cover him (for he was fatigued): and Jonah was exceeding glad of the ivy.
וַיְמַ֣ן יְהוָֽה־אֱ֠לֹהִים קִיקָי֞וֹן וַיַּ֣עַל ׀ מֵעַ֣ל לְיוֹנָ֗ה לִֽהְי֥וֹת צֵל֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ לְהַצִּ֥יל ל֖וֹ מֵרָֽעָת֑וֹ וַיִּשְׂמַ֥ח יוֹנָ֛ה עַל־הַקּֽ͏ִיקָי֖וֹן שִׂמְחָ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The Lord instructed the sun to intensify its radiant heat, and He also directed the earth to yield a large gourd capable of sheltering the prophet's head, thus restoring his strength and alleviating his suffering. This serves as a message to those who face trials due to the tribulations that have occurred, as well as the oppression and anguish experienced by the people and numerous clergy, alongside the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Jews.
God instructed the gourd in the same manner as He did the whale, with a mere gesture and a desire. Instantly, a splendid and thriving gourd sprang forth, its leaves quickly enveloping the entire tent, providing ample shade like a forest, much to the delight of the prophet. The Prophet was filled with immense joy, celebrating as though it were a momentous occasion. This illustrates his simplicity and honesty of spirit. He was deeply grieved due to the unfulfilled prophecy, yet simultaneously overwhelmed with joy for the flourishing plant. An innocent heart is highly sensitive to both sorrow and happiness. You can observe the truth of this by observing children, who often feel despondent over minor issues and weep over little matters.
Conversely, they can become enchanted by slight wonders, shifting abruptly from sadness to delight. Just as frail human bodies are readily prone to collapse at even the lightest push, so too does an innocent heart readily yield to whatever can affect or distress it.
The Scriptures indicate that Eli the priest displeased the Lord due to the transgressions of his sons. It is stated that a man cannot serve as a bishop if he has undisciplined and immoral children. Conversely, it is noted that a woman will find salvation through childbearing, provided she continues in faith, love, and holiness, together with propriety. When parents carry a degree of accountability for their children upon reaching adulthood and civil independence, their responsibility is even greater for a vulnerable infant who, without divine guidance, cannot discern the difference between right and wrong.
The Lord God caused a plant to grow above Jonah's head, providing him shade and comfort during his distress, which led Jonah to celebrate the plant with immense joy. Someone claiming to be of an ancient lineage has recently accused me of sacrilege for translating "ivy" instead of "gourd," suggesting he was concerned that the absence of gourds would rob him of something to drink in secrecy. However, the distinction between the gourd and the gourd plants associated with Jonah cannot be overlooked. The vessels referred to, often colloquially termed, commonly bear the imprint resembling the apostles, a facet he exploited to support his baseless accusation. If titles can change so easily, such that the rebellious tribunes of Cornelia can be named after Aemilian consuls, I see no reason why I cannot refer to ivy instead of gourd.
Turning to the text, the Hebrew original uses the word ciseion, which also translates into Syriac and Punic as ciseia. This term describes a type of shrub or tree characterized by broad leaves similar to vine leaves and a dense shadow, thriving in Palestine's sandy habitats. Its rapid growth is astonishing; it transforms from grass to tree within days. Accordingly, when I translated the prophets, I desired to maintain the Hebrew nomenclature as there is no precise Latin equivalent for this plant. However, I worried that grammatical liberties might lead to fantastic interpretations. Thus, I followed previous translators who rendered it as "ivy," termed χισσσὸς in Greek, due to the lack of alternatives.
Examining the narrative context and its literal meaning, both gourd and ivy naturally creep along the ground and depend on supports to climb high. Thus, how did the gourd, which appeared overnight unbeknownst to the prophet, manage to provide shade when it lacked the means to elevate itself? The plant's sudden growth not only showcased a miracle but also manifested God's protective power through its abundant greenery. In light of the Savior's teachings, we may reference Isaiah's words, depicting the desolation of Zion and her similarity to a vine in a garden amid desolation. The gourd is notably absent in other Scripture passages, while they often discuss cucumbers, symbolizing Israel, which once provided shade for Jonah as he awaited the Gentiles' transformation, offering brief joy through its semblance of shelter despite lacking substantive foundations.
Likewise, our fast-growing yet fleeting tree mirrors Israel, with its shallow roots and aspirations to reach great heights, yet falling short of God's mighty cedars. I believe this also relates to the locusts that John consumed, which encapsulate the sentiment of Israel as they acknowledge the necessity of growth: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Although the locust flies briefly, it cannot soar high like birds, reminding us of its limited nature against something greater.
The Lord God instructed the gourd to grow. This does not indicate a literal voice from God but illustrates that it brought Him pleasure, resulting in the plant’s emergence. Similarly, He previously said, “God commanded the whale” (2:1), demonstrating that this occurred not through a verbal command but through God’s will, as the prophet refers to the divine intention as a command. Consequently, the blessed Jonah experienced joy in place of his earlier distress. However, God allowed a worm to inflict damage on the gourd’s root before morning arrived, and when the sun rose, the plant withered. The heat of the sun then bore down on the Prophet’s head more intensely than usual.
Initially angered by the transgressions of the people of Nineveh, the Lord’s heart was softened by the cries and tears of the innocent children. While it is noted that all the inhabitants grieved, the plight of the vulnerable infants warranted greater compassion. Thus, God addresses Jonah, expressing, “Thou art sorry for the plant,” and then adds, “Shall I not be sorry for Nineveh, a great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand men, who cannot distinguish between the right hand and the left hand?”
The shelter that Jonah sought for refuge provided scant relief from the intense heat of the sun, so he was filled with joy when, by divine command, a lush plant sprouted quickly above him. In the Greek text, it is referred to as a gourd, while Blessed Jerome's translation uses the term gourd as well; he also refers to it as a pincushion. Most scholars support his interpretation, and its wide leaves offered ample shade, shielding him from the discomfort caused by the oppressive heat and his distressing circumstances.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS