Jonah 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The caterpillar is referred to as the early worm, as it begins its journey with the dew that descends before dawn. God ordains it, along with the scorching wind, in the same way He instructs the gourd and the great fish. In an instant, the gourd shriveled, and the fierce wind attacked him, while the sun's heat fell upon the weakened man, who was left without shelter. This amplified his sorrow, leading him to become so frightened that he found death increasingly appealing.

And at dawn on the following day, the Lord sent a worm, which struck the gourd, causing it to wither. When the sun rose, the Lord commanded a scorching wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah's head, leaving him exhausted, and he wished for death for himself, declaring that it was better for him to die than to live. In the LXX version: God commanded the worm in the morning of the next day, striking the plant so that it became barren. As soon as the sun ascended, the Lord commanded a hot, blistering wind, and the sun afflicted Jonah’s head, leading him to feel fatigue and discontent with his existence, uttering that it would be preferable for him to perish rather than to live.

Anticipating divine retribution upon the Ninevites, Jonah observed that the heavens were clear and bright, devoid of clouds, lightning, or thunder—essentially, there was no celestial punishment. Meanwhile, at daybreak, a worm emerged and began to wither the gourd plant, depriving Jonah of the shade from the scorching sun.

Initially angered by the transgressions of the Ninevites, God was softened by the tears and cries of the children. While it is noted that the entire population grieved, the plight of the innocent young ones called for mercy above all else. Thus, God addresses Jonah, saying, "Thou art sorry for the plant," and continues, "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 their right hand and their left hand?"

Jonah's happiness regarding the plant that provided him shade was fleeting. When dawn broke, the plant withered away, stripped by a worm as commanded by God. At sunrise, again under God’s command, a scorching wind blew, and the sun's rays combined with this wind began to severely scorch the prophet’s vulnerable head. Overcome by despair and weariness, Jonah became despondent, expressing his aversion to life by proclaiming that he preferred death over existence, declaring, "it is better to die than to live." This somber attitude from Jonah regarding the dying gourd allowed the Lord to impart a valuable lesson on compassion for the Ninevites.