Does the book of Jonah call human beings animals?

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

The book of Jonah says:

Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8“But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.

I've tried diligently to try and figure out this passage but it just comes off as the bible is saying certain people are animals. To add to the that the book of Jonah finishes off saying:

11“Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

This last verse confirms at least in my mind some people are considered animals according to the bible. I looked up the word "animals" in strong's concordance and the word is behemah.

Here's a link: Strong's Hebrew: 929. בְּהֵמָה (behemah) -- 190 Occurrences

The thing is when one inserts people into some of the passages where behemah is used the passages only make sense if the verse is talking about literal people. For instance, Zechariah 8:10.

For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

As far as I can tell there aren't any instances where I suspect any people were potentially called animals in the new testament, perhaps it was that the nations were considered "animals" before Christ hit the scene? Does anyone have a rationalization for this or am I reading into things too much, thanks in advance for the response.

Papias · Jul 7, 2017

You aren't reading too much - that's what it says. Plus, remember that scripture interprets scripture, and the book of Eccl. confirms this, again pointing out that humans are another type of animal.

Eccl 3: 18 -
God is testing them to show that they are but animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other.

In Christ - Papias

Dave-W · Jul 7, 2017

Why do you think the passages are talking about people instead of actual animals?

In the Gospels, it says that God is aware of every sparrow.

Dkh587 · Jul 7, 2017

How exactly is it calling humans animals?

the first quote is about the whole city of Nineveh being called to fast. This includes humans AND animals. Even the animals were commanded to fast...

The 2nd quote is basically God saying to Jonah, shouldn't I have compassion on these humans and animals?

I fail to see how humans are being called animals with the examples above

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

Papias said:
You aren't reading too much - that's what it says. Plus, remember that scripture interprets scripture, and the book of Eccl. confirms this, again pointing out that humans are another type of animal.

Eccl 3: 18 -
God is testing them to show that they are but animals. For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other.

In Christ - Papias

Not sure what point you're making with the book of Ecclesiasties, though the same word behemah is used, \the reason why some people called beasts and others not is not explained in that passage? Is it an Israelite and non-Israelite thing? Is there a definitive answer to this?

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

Dave-W said:
Why do you think the passages are talking about people instead of actual animals?

In the Gospels, it says that God is aware of every sparrow.

I think certain passages are talking about people because it's clear that they are. For instance, a animal cannot wear sackcloth and sit in ashes (Jonah 4:8). A creature also cannot earn a days wage (Zechariah 8:10). The passages don't really make sense any other way.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
As far as I can tell there aren't any instances where I suspect any people were potentially called animals in the new testament

Look up where Jesus noted the gentile nations / foreigners-heathen
were considered dogs.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
The book of Jonah says:
... ...
I've tried diligently to try and figure out this passage but it just comes off as the bible is saying certain people are animals.

"it just comes off as the Bible is saying"
looks like simply not understanding what the Bible is saying - not understanding the language use.
Check out several translations, if possible, like on biblegateway.com,
and see if they makes a difference ....

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

Dkh587 said:
How exactly is it calling humans animals?

the first quote is about the whole city of Nineveh being called to fast. This includes humans AND animals. Even the animals were commanded to fast...

The 2nd quote is basically God saying to Jonah, shouldn't I have compassion on these humans and animals?

I fail to see how humans are being called animals with the examples above

Reread Jonah 4:8 again. The verse says that the "beasts" wore sackcloth. Also, you might have missed the portion in Zechariah that says that there was hire for neither "man" or "beast."

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

yeshuaslavejeff said:
"it just comes off as the Bible is saying"
looks like simply not understanding what the Bible is saying - not understanding the language use.
Check out several translations, if possible, like on biblegateway.com,
and see if they makes a difference ....

I have and they all say the same thing. I posted the Hebrew word in my original OP and the word is Behemah, there are 190 occurrences. Some of the passages make more sense if one imagines humans rather then animals if I'm honest.

Strong's Hebrew: 929. בְּהֵמָה (behemah) -- 190 Occurrences

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
To add to the that the book of Jonah finishes off saying:
-------
11“Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”
-------
This last verse confirms at least in my mind some people are considered animals according to the bible.
This last verse confirms at least in my mind some people are considered animals according to the bible.

Not from this verse or book.
All through Scripture, YHWH shows compassion on whom He shows compassion,
AND it is written frequently HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS. (even livestock).
i.e. YHWH(GOD) has compassion.... as written ... "as well as many animals" doesn't compare people to animals, but shows YHWH'S COMPASSION on animals, many animals, by His Choice.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
The verse says that the "beasts" wore sackcloth.

When Israel obeyed YHWH, the "beasts" rested on YHWH'S SABBATH.
Beasts: livestock, work animals, etc....

Other times and places, and maybe here(who knows?) ,
YHWH may compare men to beasts .... that's His Choice.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
I have and they all say the same thing. I posted the Hebrew word in my original OP and the word is Behemah, there are 190 occurrences. Some of the passages make more sense if one imagines humans rather then animals if I'm honest.

Strong's Hebrew: 929. בְּהֵמָה (behemah) -- 190 Occurrences

So ?

Dkh587 · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
Reread Jonah 4:8 again. The verse says that the "beasts" wore sackcloth. Also, you might have missed the portion in Zechariah that says that there was hire for neither "man" or "beast."

In Jonah 3:8, a fast for the entire city is called - both man and animal were commanded to fast/wear sackcloth, hence "both man AND beast". You are reading your own interpretation into the scripture & not allowing it to say what it says

Same for Zechariah. It says "man and beast", signifying 2 different things.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
The thing is when one inserts people into some of the passages where behemah is used the passages only make sense if the verse is talking about literal people.

"The thing is" and "only make sense" is subject to error.

YHWH'S WORD does not make sense to the world- the world (people) cannot comprehend it.
So the world does not know, and cannot know nor understand,
many times whether YHWH
is referring to "literal people" or to something else,
unless YHWH reveals this to them.

Papias · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
Not sure what point you're making with the book of Ecclesiasties, though the same word behemah is used, \the reason why some people called beasts and others not is not explained in that passage? Is it an Israelite and non-Israelite thing? Is there a definitive answer to this?

The passage says that all people are are animals. That's consistent with the ones you raised too - that people are animals just like any other animal - that's why we need to eat, to say warm, have bodies, give birth, need oxygen, are made up of cells, have blood, etc. It's not an Israelite vs foreigner thing. It's just what we are. If we weren't animals (like, say, angels), then we could walk through walls, be anywhere, not have to eat nor breathe, etc.

In Christ-

Papias

Dave-W · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
I think certain passages are talking about people because it's clear that they are. For instance, a animal cannot wear sackcloth and sit in ashes (Jonah 4:8). A creature also cannot earn a days wage (Zechariah 8:10). The passages don't really make sense any other way.

There are at least 4 levels of meaning to almost all Hebrew scriptures.

The very first is called peshat (plain meaning) and is ALWAYS true. So where it says animals, it MEANS animals. But where you are going is either the remez (hinted at) or derash (a moral teaching) levels. Those levels are also true, but not AS true as peshat.

yeshuaslavejeff · Jul 7, 2017

Polar Bear Quest said:
A creature also cannot earn a days wage

Why not ?
They did all the time, six days a week anyway , in Israel.

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

yeshuaslavejeff said:
Not from this verse or book.
All through Scripture, YHWH shows compassion on whom He shows compassion,
AND it is written frequently HOW TO CARE FOR ANIMALS. (even livestock).
i.e. YHWH(GOD) has compassion.... as written ... "as well as many animals" doesn't compare people to animals, but shows YHWH'S COMPASSION on animals, many animals, by His Choice.

This doesn't, that is, God showing compassion to animals, not say that he doesn't, but he has animals sacrificed to him all throughout the old testament. Why would he all of a sudden care if 120,000 animals die?

Polar Bear Quest · Jul 7, 2017

yeshuaslavejeff said:
When Israel obeyed YHWH, the "beasts" rested on YHWH'S SABBATH.
Beasts: livestock, work animals, etc....

Other times and places, and maybe here(who knows?) ,
YHWH may compare men to beasts .... that's His Choice.

I don't see any comparison in the verse. There is mention of man and then of beast. Now considering it makes no sense for 120,000 beasts to literally have on sackcloth there is only one logical conclusion, correct?

Does the book of Jonah call human beings animals?

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