Jonah
maleDivided MonarchyMeaning: “Dove”
The prophet who fled God’s call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, then preached to the city — and sulked when God spared the repentant Ninevites.
Biography
Jonah, son of Amittai, was a prophet from Gath-hepher in the northern kingdom (2 Kings 14:25). His book is unique among the prophets — a narrative of a prophet who ran from God, and a vivid lesson in divine mercy reaching even Israel's enemies.
Fleeing and the great fish
Called to preach against the wicked Assyrian city of Nineveh, Jonah instead boarded a ship for Tarshish. A violent storm led the sailors to cast him into the sea, where "the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah," and he was in its belly three days and nights (Jonah 1:17). From there he prayed, and the fish vomited him onto dry land.
Nineveh repents
Jonah then preached, and the whole city — from the king down — repented and was spared. But Jonah was angry that God showed mercy, and God gently rebuked his hard heart with the lesson of the withered gourd (Jonah 4). Jesus pointed to Jonah's three days in the fish as a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39–41).
Life Timeline
Flees God’s call and is swallowed by a great fish
Preaches to Nineveh, which repents and is spared
On the Bible timeline
Jonah belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
- 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
Themes & lessons from Jonah
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jonah appears.
Places in their story
Scripture Appearances
17 verses in 2 books2 Kings1 verse
2 Kings 14:25
He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
Jonah16 verses
Jonah 1:1
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Jonah: Gr. Jonas
Jonah 1:3
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah 1:5
Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Jonah 1:7
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Jonah 1:15
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. ceased: Heb. stood
Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. belly: Heb. bowels
Jonah 2:1
Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
Jonah 2:10
And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
Jonah 3:1
And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
Jonah 3:3
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey. exceeding: Heb. of God
Jonah 3:4
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
Jonah 4:1
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
Jonah 4:5
So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
Jonah 4:6
And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd. gourd: or, palmcrist: Heb. Kikajon was: Heb. rejoiced with great joy
Jonah 4:8
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. vehement: or, silent
Jonah 4:9
And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death. Doest: or, Art thou greatly angry? I do well: or, I am greatly angry
Frequently asked about Jonah
Who was Jonah in the Bible?
The prophet who fled God’s call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, then preached to the city — and sulked when God spared the repentant Ninevites.
What does the name Jonah mean?
The name Jonah means “Dove”.
What did Jonah do in the Bible?
Jonah served as prophet.
Where does Jonah appear in the Bible?
Jonah is mentioned 17 times across 2 books: 2 Kings, Jonah.
What can we learn from Jonah?
The story of Jonah touches on themes of jonah, murmuring, nineveh, assyria — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jonah's life.
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