Jonah and the Great Fish
A great fish swallowed Jonah and held him three days and nights before delivering him alive on land.
Jonah fled the Lord's command to preach in Nineveh and was thrown overboard during a storm. The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow him. Jonah prayed from inside the fish for three days and three nights, and the fish vomited him out upon the dry land.
God
The Mediterranean Sea
What Happened
Key KJV Scriptures
"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."
"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."
Spiritual Significance
Jesus called this 'the sign of the prophet Jonas' — a prophetic picture of His own death, burial, and resurrection. Jonah's repentance also led to the greatest revival of a Gentile city in the Old Testament.
Lesson for Today
You cannot outrun God. Even when His chastening swallows you whole, His mercy can spit you back onto the shore of obedience.
Key People
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Jonah swallowed by a whale or a fish?
The Old Testament says 'a great fish' (Jonah 1:17). Matthew 12:40 uses the Greek word 'ketos,' often translated whale, which can describe any large sea creature.
How long was Jonah in the fish?
Three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17), a sign Jesus applied to His own burial and resurrection.
Where in the Bible is the miracle of Jonah and the Great Fish?
The miracle of Jonah and the Great Fish is recorded in Jonah 1:17 (KJV), with additional references in Matthew 12:40.
Who performed the miracle of Jonah and the Great Fish?
Scripture records that God carried out this miracle at The Mediterranean Sea. Ultimately the power belonged to God, who alone does wondrous things (Psalm 72:18).
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Read moreQuiz yourself on Bible miracles
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A 10-question journey through the book of Jonah according to the King James Version.
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Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Jonah and the Great Fish
A great fish swallowed Jonah and held him three days and nights before deliverin
Fire on Mount Carmel
Elijah's prayer brought fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice and the wat
Jonah and the Whale
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Jonah in the Bible
The Reluctant Prophet
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The reluctant prophet swallowed by a great fish — and sent to preach to Nineveh.
Jonah and the Whale Quiz for Kids
The runaway prophet and the great fish.