Jonah — KJV Bible Study Guide
A free 10-lesson Bible study guide on jonah, drawn entirely from the King James Version. Each lesson opens with a study question, gives the verse reference, and offers a short teaching note. Use it for personal devotions, a small group, or a Sunday school class.
The 10 lessons
Lesson 1 · Jonah 1:2 (KJV)
To which great city did the Lord command Jonah to go and cry against it?
Answer: Nineveh
Study note. The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh because their wickedness was come up before Him.
Lesson 2 · Jonah 1:3 (KJV)
To which city did Jonah intend to flee to escape the presence of the Lord?
Answer: Tarshish
Study note. Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Lesson 3 · Jonah 1:5 (KJV)
What was Jonah doing in the ship while the great tempest was raging?
Answer: Fast asleep
Study note. Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship and was fast asleep.
Lesson 4 · Jonah 1:7 (KJV)
How did the mariners determine who was responsible for the evil that befell them?
Answer: They cast lots
Study note. They cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Lesson 5 · Jonah 1:17 (KJV)
How long was Jonah in the belly of the fish?
Answer: Three days and three nights
Study note. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Lesson 6 · Jonah 2:2 (KJV)
What did Jonah say out of the fish's belly regarding his prayer?
Answer: I cried by reason of mine affliction
Study note. Jonah said, 'I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord.'
Lesson 7 · Jonah 3:4 (KJV)
What was the message Jonah preached to the people of Nineveh?
Answer: Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown
Study note. Jonah cried and said, 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.'
Lesson 8 · Jonah 3:8 (KJV)
What did the King of Nineveh command the people and beasts to put on as a sign of repentance?
Answer: Sackcloth
Study note. The king published a decree that both man and beast be covered with sackcloth.
Lesson 9 · Jonah 4:6 (KJV)
What did God prepare to shadow Jonah from the heat of the sun?
Answer: A gourd
Study note. The Lord God prepared a gourd to come up over Jonah to be a shadow over his head.
Lesson 10 · Jonah 4:11 (KJV)
How many persons were in Nineveh that could not discern between their right hand and their left hand?
Answer: More than six score thousand
Study note. The Lord noted there were more than six score thousand persons who could not discern their right hand from their left.
Key verses to memorize
The passages this study returns to most often — pick one or two and commit them to memory this week.
Discussion questions
- Which lesson in this study surprised you the most, and why?
- How does jonah point us to Jesus Christ and the gospel?
- Pick one verse from the key passages above. How does it shape the way you will pray, read, or live this week?
- Who in your life could you share one of these truths with in the next seven days?