Definition: And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, [was] not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jonah 4:2. It’s a really important passage about repentance and God’s forgiveness. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Jonah was sent out to the sea to warn the people of Nineveh that God is a good and merciful God. But, he disobeyed God's command and ran away! God then called him back. What happened next? Jonah prayed desperately to God, asking why He had sent him out in this way. He was feeling very ashamed and guilty for disobeying. He knew he had done something wrong. Here’s what the verse says: “And he prayed unto the LORD, and said…” : Jonah is sincerely begging God for forgiveness. “…I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying?” : He's admitting that he did disobey God. It’s a confession of wrongdoing. "...when I was yet in my country?" : This means he was still living and working in his original location – Nineveh. "Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil." : This is the core of the message. Jonah says he ran to Tarshish – a place known for being a safe harbor – because he knew that God was truly good and forgiving. He recognized that God had shown mercy to those who disobeyed Him. He also acknowledges that he was repentant – sorry for his mistake. In short, the verse is saying: “I messed up! I disobeyed you, but I understand now that you are a good and merciful God, and I’m truly sorry for my wrongdoing.” What does this mean about forgiveness? This passage is a key part of the story of Jonah's repentance. It shows that even when we make mistakes and disobey God, He always offers forgiveness. It emphasizes God's unconditional love and willingness to forgive us. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse from this passage? Discuss the significance of Jonah’s story in general?