Topical Bible: Converts: Ninevites

◄ Converts: Ninevites ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Ninevites, inhabitants of the ancient city of Nineveh, are prominently featured in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its grandeur and also for its wickedness. The narrative of the Ninevites' conversion is a powerful testament to God's mercy and the transformative power of repentance.

Historical Context

Nineveh was one of the largest cities of its time, located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River in what is now modern-day Iraq. The Assyrians were known for their military prowess and often brutal conquests, which contributed to their reputation as a feared and ruthless empire. Despite their might, the Ninevites were not beyond the reach of God's call to repentance.

The Prophet Jonah

The account of the Ninevites' conversion begins with the prophet Jonah, who was called by God to deliver a message of impending judgment to the city. Jonah 1:2 records God's command: "Arise, go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me." Initially reluctant and disobedient, Jonah attempted to flee from God's presence, only to be redirected through a series of divine interventions, including being swallowed by a great fish.

Repentance and Conversion

Upon finally arriving in Nineveh, Jonah proclaimed God's warning: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!" (Jonah 3:4). The response of the Ninevites was immediate and profound. From the greatest to the least, the people of Nineveh believed God. They declared a fast and put on sackcloth as a sign of their repentance. Even the king of Nineveh rose from his throne, removed his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. He issued a decree urging everyone to call urgently on God and to turn from their evil ways and violence (Jonah 3:5-8).

Divine Mercy

The repentance of the Ninevites was met with divine compassion. Jonah 3:10 states, "When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them." This act of mercy highlights the character of God as one who is willing to forgive and restore those who earnestly seek Him, regardless of their past transgressions.

Significance in Scripture

The conversion of the Ninevites serves as a powerful example of the universal scope of God's grace. It underscores the biblical theme that God's desire is for all people to come to repentance and knowledge of the truth. The account also serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's call, as seen in Jonah's eventual compliance with God's command.

In the New Testament, Jesus references the repentance of the Ninevites as a rebuke to the unrepentant generation of His time. In Matthew 12:41 , He states, "The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here."

The account of the Ninevites' conversion remains a compelling narrative of repentance, divine mercy, and the power of God's word to transform even the most unlikely of hearts.

Nave's Topical Index

Jonah 3:1
And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Conversion of all that Come.
... But when the Holy Spirit actually converts the man, then the act of man coalesces
with ... In this sense it is said of the Ninevites that God saw their works, that ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxix conversion of all that.htm

2 Thessalonians i. 1, 2
... cuts off all that is relaxed and dissolute in it, and converts it, and braces ... If
the Ninevites had not feared destruction, they would have been overthrown, but ...
/.../homily ii 2 thessalonians i.htm

Life and Writings of Sulpitius Severus.
... Chapter V. Martin converts a Robber to the Faith. Chapter VI. ... The remarkable faith
of the Ninevites is related to have been manifested about these times.? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /

The Letter of the Church of Rome
... 7Jonah preached destruction to the Ninevites; and when they had ... 4They preached in
country and city, and appointed their first converts, after testing them ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the letter of the church.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... Garments, men and women not to dress in each other's, [665]153. Gehazi, [666]389,
a pitiful person, [667]ib. Gentile converts, their weakness, [668]115. ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

Homilies on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians.
... great, of glorifying God, [1498]ib. Glorying, of St. Paul in his converts,
[1499]381. God, everywhere called great in the Scriptures ...
/.../homilies on philippians colossians and.htm