Literary Context
This verse sits in the middle of Jonah’s second commission to go to Nineveh (3:1–4), where Jonah finally delivers the warning. Verse 5 marks the first wave of Nineveh’s reaction before later details expand how far the response spreads, including leadership participation and specific commands (3:6–9). The narrative moves quickly from proclamation to citywide action, highlighting contrast between Jonah’s earlier reluctance and the city’s rapid compliance. The story’s logic here is straightforward: a warning is heard, it is accepted as credible, and it produces visible communal practices.