מִֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יָשׁ֔וּב וְנִחַ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְשָׁ֛ב מֵחֲר֥וֹן אַפּ֖וֹ וְלֹ֥א נֹאבֵֽד׃
하나님이 혹시 뜻을 돌이키시고 그 진노를 그치사 우리로 멸망치 않게 하시리라 그렇지 않을 줄을 누가 알겠느냐 한지라
Depths of Yonah
The placement of a comma makes all the difference in the world. In a classic example, there is a very big difference between “let’s eat grandma” and “let’s eat, grandma”. Similarly, the question as to the placement of a comma in the phrase “Mi Yodeia Yashuv VaNicham HaElokim” (Yonah 3:9) stated by the king of Nineveh makes a great difference.
Depths of Yonah
Conclusion
What a difference a comma makes! Fundamental issues regarding Teshuvah and our relationship with Hashem emerge from Yonah 3:9 depending on where one places a comma. Such a rich discussion hinges on the surprisingly important issue as to where we place the pause. Wherever one places the pause, on Yom Kippur it is especially important that we pause and consider our relationship with Hashem. There are many approaches to Teshuvah, but as the Gemara reminds us: either way God desires our repentance.
What a difference a comma makes! Fundamental issues regarding Teshuvah and our relationship with Hashem emerge from Yonah 3:9 depending on where one places a comma. Such a rich discussion hinges on the surprisingly important issue as to where we place the pause. Wherever one places the pause, on Yom Kippur it is especially important that we pause and consider our relationship with Hashem. There are many approaches to Teshuvah, but as the Gemara reminds us: either way God desires our repentance.
Depths of Yonah
Rabi Akiva might have learned the power of a positive vision to create a better reality from Yonah’s positive visualization in the depths of the fish. The same confident approach is reflected in the king of Nineveh proclaiming “Mi Yodeia Yashuv, VeNicham HaElokim,” “if one does Tehsuvah, Hashem will relent” (Yonah 3:9 as interpreted by Targum Yonatan ben Uzziel, discussed at length in our chapter devoted to an analysis of this phrase).