Prophets & WritingsOld Testament

Jonah

2 Kings Jonah Matthew Luke

When

c. 793–753 BC· In the text

Placed by the story. The date is a rough guide. How the dates are worked out

Name meaning

"dove" · Hebrew

About

Prophet who fled by ship to avoid God's call to preach to the city of Nineveh. A great storm arose and the sailors cast lots, identifying Jonah as the cause. He was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish, inside which he prayed for three days. He was vomited onto dry land, went to Nineveh, and the entire city repented. Jesus cited Jonah's three days in the fish as a sign of his own death and resurrection.

Relationships

ContemporaryJeroboam IIKing of Israel, whose restored border fulfilled the word spoken through Jonah

Key Scripture AppearancesKJV

Jonah 1:1

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,Jonah 1:1, KJV

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.Jonah 1:17, KJV

Jonah 2:1

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,Jonah 2:1, KJV

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.Jonah 3:3, KJV

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.Matthew 12:40, KJV

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