Who Was Jonah in the Bible?
Who Was Jonah in the Bible? Jonah was a prophet of Israel whom God sent to preach repentance to Nineveh — and who famously fled, was swallowed by a great fish, and was delivered.
Key verse: Jonah 1:17 (KJV)
Jonah was a prophet of Israel whom God sent to preach repentance to Nineveh — and who famously fled, was swallowed by a great fish, and was delivered.
Jonah was a prophet of Israel whom God sent to preach repentance to Nineveh — and who famously fled, was swallowed by a great fish, and was delivered.
"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)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
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The Biblical Answer
Jonah, son of Amittai, prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II of Israel (about 793–753 BC). When God commanded him to go to the great pagan city of Nineveh and warn it of impending judgment, Jonah fled in the opposite direction by ship toward Tarshish. A violent storm arose; the sailors cast Jonah overboard at his own word, and the LORD prepared a great fish to swallow him. From the belly of the fish Jonah prayed in repentance, and after three days and three nights he was vomited onto dry land. He went to Nineveh, preached, and the entire city — from king to commoner — repented and was spared. Jonah then sulked under a withered gourd, and God rebuked his lack of compassion. Jesus Himself pointed to Jonah's three days in the fish as a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
Key Scripture References
"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."
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."
"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."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
Who Was Ezekiel in the Bible?
Ezekiel was a priest and prophet taken captive to Babylon, where God called him to proclaim judgment and future restoration to Israel.
What Is Repentance?
Repentance is a genuine change of mind and heart about sin, turning away from it and toward God.
What Is the Passion of Christ?
The Passion of Christ refers to the suffering, crucifixion, and death of Jesus — the events that secured salvation for all who believe.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Deep Dive Commentary
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Jonah. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Jonah on day 176 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “Who Was Jonah in the Bible?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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