very angry

The Hebrew that is translated as “became very angry” or “burned with anger” in English is translated in Irarutu as “his stomach was boiling.”

See also anger, fury / furious, and Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”

Jonah

Drawing by Ismar David from H. L. Ginsberg 1969. For other images of Ismar David drawings, see here.

Following is a contemporary Coptic Orthodox icon of Jonah.

 

Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign that depicts “swallow (by a large fish).” (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Jonah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “stubbornness.”


“Jonah” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

More information on Jonah ,

Translation commentary on Jonah 4:1

To say that Jonah was very unhappy about this is an understatement, in view of the context. The same idiom is found in Neh 2.10 (“they were highly indignant”) and 13.8 (“I was furious”), so Jerusalem Bible “Jonah was very indignant” is more satisfactory. New English Bible “Jonah was greatly displeased and angry” links together the two verbs that describe Jonah’s reaction, and so uses one expression to intensify the other. Good News Translation, on the other hand, suggests two successive stages in the development of Jonah’s feelings. (Compare New American Bible, “This was greatly displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.”) In the use of the two verbs that occur in this verse, the writer echoes the wording of 3.9, 10, with their reference to God’s anger and displeasure at Nineveh, which had been replaced by his mercy.

Was very unhappy must be expressed in a number of languages as suggesting a change of state; therefore, “became indignant” or “became very much irked.” This may be expressed figuratively in some languages as “his stomach became bitter” or “his heart swelled up inside of him.” Anger may also be expressed figuratively as “his face became red” or “his skin flashed hot.”

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on the Book of Jonah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Jonah 4:1

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.

4:1

Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry: When Jonah saw that the LORD had not destroyed Nineveh, he was not pleased. In fact, he was very angry about it.

Jonah, however, was greatly displeased: This expression is literally “it was evil to Jonah with great evil.” This is a strong expression in Hebrew. If you must translate in a way that says that Jonah was unhappy, make it clear in your statement that Jonah was extremely (very) upset. One translation is “this was absolutely disgusting to Jonah” (Stuart, p. 498). Here is another translation:

This made Jonah very indignant (New Jerusalem Bible)

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