Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
believed God—gave credit to Jonah's message from God; thus recognizing Jehovah as the true God.
fast . . . sackcloth—In the East outward actions are often used as symbolical expressions of inward feelings. So fasting and clothing in sackcloth were customary in humiliation. Compare in Ahab's case, parallel to that of Nineveh, both receiving a respite on penitence (I Kings 21:27; I Kings 20:31-32; Joel 1:13).
from the greatest . . . to the least—The penitence was not partial, but pervading all classes.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Jonah 3:5:
1 Kings 21:9
Daniel 4:27
Jonah 3:2
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