Definition: Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Jonah 4:10. It’s a really interesting story about God’s mercy and a little bit of stubbornness! Here’s the explanation in simpler terms: Basically, God is saying: “You’ve been kind to me by letting this gourd grow – it didn't need much effort from you. But now, it’s dying quickly.” Let's unpack it a bit: “Then said the LORD…” : This is God speaking directly to us. “…Thou hast had pity on the gourd…” : God is acknowledging that he did care about this little plant. He recognizes its existence and perhaps even appreciates it for something. “…for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow?” : This is the key part. God isn’t saying you are responsible for the gourd growing. He's saying you didn’t put any effort into it. You didn't work hard to encourage it to grow. He’s acknowledging that this plant simply happened to grow without your help. “…which came up in a night, and perished in a night.” : This describes the gourd's quick demise. It withered away almost instantly after growing for a short while. The Meaning & Significance: This verse is about God’s grace . He’s showing mercy because he didn’t force this plant to grow. It’s a reminder that sometimes, things happen naturally and don’t need our effort or intervention. It's also a message about humility – acknowledging that we don’t always have to control everything and that God can work in ways we don’t understand. In short: God is praising the gourd for its existence without needing us to do anything, while also gently reminding us that sometimes things happen naturally and need to be accepted. --- Do you want me to explain any of these points further or perhaps connect this verse to a specific theme in the Bible? For example, we could talk about: The concept of grace The difference between working hard and God’s will A broader context within Jonah's story