Old Testament · Divided Kingdom
Jonah
Who was Jonah?
Jonah was the reluctant prophet who fled from God, was swallowed by a great fish, and finally preached to Nineveh.
RoleThe prophet swallowed by a great fish
EraDivided Kingdom
Sent toNineveh
Known forThe great fish
ThemeGod’s mercy on enemies
Told to warn the great enemy city of Nineveh, Jonah ran the opposite way by ship. A storm arose, and Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish, where he prayed from its belly for three days.
Vomited onto dry land, Jonah finally went to Nineveh and preached. To his dismay, the city repented and God spared it.
The book ends with God gently rebuking Jonah’s anger, revealing a mercy wider than the prophet wanted.
Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)
Jonah 1:3 “Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah 2:1 “From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God,”
Related people
Related topics
Original BibleDawn profile. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy. Scripture quoted from the public-domain Berean Standard Bible.