When did Jonah preach to Nineveh?
Jonah is swallowed by a great fish; Nineveh repents at his preaching.
Jonah & Nineveh took place c. 780 BC at Joppa, the great sea, and Nineveh, during the Divided Kingdom period of Bible history. The account is recorded in Jonah 1:17 (KJV). Jonah is swallowed by a great fish; Nineveh repents at his preaching.
"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)
Called to preach against Nineveh, Jonah fled toward Tarshish. A great fish swallowed him three days and three nights. Vomited onto dry land, he obeyed; the king and city repented in sackcloth, and God spared them — to Jonah's displeasure.
c. 780 BC
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."
"So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them."
Why It Matters
Jesus called Jonah's three days in the fish the only sign that would be given His generation — a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39–40).
Key People
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the story of Jonah literal?
Jesus treated Jonah as a real prophet and a real sign (Matthew 12). The same God who made the sea easily prepared the fish.
When did jonah & nineveh happen?
Jonah & Nineveh is dated c. 780 BC, placing it in the Divided Kingdom era of biblical history. See Jonah 1:17 (KJV).
Where did jonah & nineveh take place?
Scripture places jonah & nineveh at Joppa, the great sea, and Nineveh.
Who was involved in jonah & nineveh?
The key figures are Jonah, The king of Nineveh.
Where is jonah & nineveh in the Bible?
You can read about it in Jonah 1:17, Jonah 3:5 (King James Version).
Why does jonah & nineveh matter?
Jesus called Jonah's three days in the fish the only sign that would be given His generation — a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39–40).
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