The following passage was recorded in the Book of Jonah 4:10–11:

“Then said Jehovah, You have had pity on the gourd,

for the which you have not labored, neither made it grow;

which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city,

wherein are more than six score thousand persons

that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand;

and also much cattle?”

I

On the level of literal meaning,

people can interpret the word “pity” in different ways:

First, it means “to love and protect, to feel tenderness toward something”;

second, it means “to love dearly”;

and finally, it means “to be unwilling to hurt something

and to be unable to bear doing so.”

In short, this word implies tender affection and love,

as well as an unwillingness to give up someone or something;

it implies God’s mercy and tolerance, God’s mercy and tolerance toward man.

Though God used this word, which is commonly spoken by men,

when He said it, the voice of His heart

and His attitude toward mankind were completely laid bare,

the voice of His heart and His attitude toward mankind

were completely laid bare.

II

Although all the people in the city of Nineveh were just as corrupt, wicked

and violent as those of Sodom,

their repentance caused God to have a change of heart

and decide not to destroy them.

Because the way they treated God’s words and instructions

demonstrated an attitude

that starkly contrasted with that of the citizens of Sodom,

and because of their sincere compliance to God and true repentance,

as well as their true and heartfelt behavior in all regards,

God once more expressed His own heartfelt pity

and bestowed it upon them.

III

What God bestows upon mankind and His pity for mankind

are impossible for anyone to duplicate,

and it is impossible for any person to possess God’s mercy,

His tolerance, or His sincere feelings toward mankind.

Only the Creator has tenderness toward this mankind.

Only the Creator shows this mankind compassion and affection.

Only the Creator holds a true, unbreakable affection for this mankind.

Likewise, only the Creator can bestow mercy on this mankind

and only the Creator can pity all of His created beings.

from The Word, Vol. 2. On Knowing God. God Himself, the Unique II