Difference between revisions of "Jonah (prophet)"
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| − | '''Jonah''' is the prophet in the [[Book of Jonah]] famous for being swallowed by a great fish. | + | [[File:Pieter Lastman - Jonah and the Whale - Google Art Project.jpg|thumbnail|350px|right|Jonah and the Whale (1621) by Pieter Lastman]] |
| − | == | + | '''Jonah''' is the [[prophet]] in the [[Jonah (Biblical book)|Book of Jonah]] in the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Bible]] who is famous for being swallowed by a great fish. It is read on [[Yom Kippur]] in the afternoon. |
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| − | God orders Jonah to prophesy to the city of Nineveh.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:2</ref> Jonah despises the Assyrians and attempts to avoid God's command by going to Joppa and sailing to Tarshish, the opposite direction and as far to the west as he could go.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:3-4</ref> A huge storm arises while Jonah is fleeing.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:4-6</ref> The sailors realize this is no ordinary storm, cast lots, and learn that Jonah is to blame.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:7</ref> Jonah admits he is the cause,<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:9-11</ref> and states that if he is thrown overboard, the storm will cease.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:12</ref> The sailors try to find some other way to escape the storm, but eventually throw Jonah overboard; the seas are calmed,<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:15</ref> the sailors fear God and make sacrifices and vows to him.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:16</ref> | + | He is also later mentioned in Muhammad's [[Islamic]] [[Koran]]. Jonah is one of only four prophets mentioned by [[Jesus]]. |
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| + | == The story of Jonah == | ||
| + | |||
| + | God orders Jonah to prophesy to the city of [[Nineveh]].<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:2</ref> Jonah despises the [[Assyrians]] and attempts to avoid God's command by going to Joppa and sailing to Tarshish, the opposite direction and as far to the west as he could go.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:3-4</ref> A huge storm arises while Jonah is fleeing.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:4-6</ref> The sailors realize this is no ordinary storm, cast lots, and learn that Jonah is to blame.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:7</ref> Jonah admits he is the cause,<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:9-11</ref> and states that if he is thrown overboard, the storm will cease.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:12</ref> The sailors try to find some other way to escape the storm, but eventually throw Jonah overboard; the seas are calmed,<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JNH 1:15</ref> the sailors fear God and make sacrifices and vows to him.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:16</ref> | ||
The Lord has a great fish swallow Jonah. While Jonah is inside the fish, he prays to God admitting his sin. After 3 days and nights, God has the fish vomit Jonah out.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:17 - 2:10</ref> | The Lord has a great fish swallow Jonah. While Jonah is inside the fish, he prays to God admitting his sin. After 3 days and nights, God has the fish vomit Jonah out.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 1:17 - 2:10</ref> | ||
| − | === Jonah | + | Eventually Jonah arrives at Nineveh and warns them of God's coming wrath. They repent and God has compassion on them.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 3</ref> Jonah becomes angry that God would forgive Nineveh and not destroy them. God causes a vine to grow and shield Jonah from the hot sun, then the next day he has the vine perish so the sun beats upon Jonah again. Jonah is angry the vine and its shade are gone and tells God that he wishes to die. God reminds Jonah that he is concerned over a vine that he did not tend or cause to grow, so how much more should God be concerned about 120,000 people who 'do not know their right hand from their left'? <ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, JHN 4</ref> |
| − | <!-- | + | |
| − | + | === Jesus speaking on the story of Jonah === | |
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| + | In both the Gospels of [[Matthew]] and the [[Gospel of Luke]], [[Jesus]] makes mention of the story of Jonah and applies the [[miracle]] of Jonah to his own coming miracle. {{cquote|[[Gospel of Matthew|MT]] <sup>12:39</sup> <nowiki>[Jesus]</nowiki> answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. <sup>40</sup> For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.<ref>{{hnb|Zondervan|2002}}, MT 12:39-41, see also MT 16:4, LK 11:29-32,</ref>}} | ||
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| + | It is a common Christian understanding that the story of Jonah being in the belly of the fish is a prefiguring of the three days between the death and [[resurrection]] of Jesus Christ.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/typology-theology</ref><ref>http://www.ctsfw.edu/library/files/pb/1253</ref> | ||
| − | + | Some speculate that even though Jesus uses the story of Jonah to parallel His upcoming resurrection, that He still doesn't mean for the story of Jonah to be taken literally.<ref>http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/J/JONAH,+THE+BOOK+OF/</ref> | |
| − | < | ||
| − | + | === Jewish thought on Jonah === | |
| − | + | Jewish thought, of course, does not tie in the story of Jonah to the life of Jesus, and has come up with other possible meanings. Some believe it is a [[Midrash]] <ref>http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/TO_Prophets_1460/TOLiteraryProphets/MinorProphets/JonahSimon.htm</ref> and some even a [[satire]].<ref>http://seminary.csl.edu/facultypubs/TheologyandPractice/tabid/87/ctl/Details/mid/494/ItemID/40/Default.aspx</ref> | |
| + | |||
| + | According to some rabbinical traditions, the great fish that swallowed Jonah had been created in the beginning for the purpose of swallowing Jonah.<ref>{{hnb|Ref=CITEREFHirschBuddeSchechter2002|Hirsch, Budde, and Schechter|2002}}</ref> | ||
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| + | === Other thoughts === | ||
| + | |||
| + | Some skeptics assert that a whale cannot swallow a human being, but it has been proven that whales do swallow whole creatures larger than men, such as colossal squids. Moreover, the [[Book of Jonah]] never makes reference to the great fish being a whale.<ref>http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/whales/shore_whaling_industry.html</ref> | ||
| − | + | The first digestive chamber of most whales is merely mechanical, without the secretion of any gastric fluids. Accordingly, survival for a period of time seems possible. | |
| − | + | Jesus alluded to Jonah's survival as a miracle | |
| − | |||
| − | === | + | ===Modern Usage=== |
| − | + | The term 'Jonah' has come to mean an unlucky or jinxed person, especially among sailors. | |
| − | + | == Commentary on the Book of Jonah == | |
| − | + | *[https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-jonah/ Guide to the Book of Jonah: Key Information and Helpful Resources], Bible Project | |
| + | *[https://www.biblestudytools.com/jonah/ Summary of the Book of Jonah], Biblestudytools.com | ||
| − | + | == See also == | |
| − | + | *[[Jonah complex]] | |
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| − | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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| − | [[Category:Biblical | + | [[Category:Biblical Persons]] |
| + | [[Category:Jewish People]] | ||
Latest revision as of 03:33, September 9, 2025
Jonah is the prophet in the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament of the Bible who is famous for being swallowed by a great fish. It is read on Yom Kippur in the afternoon.
He is also later mentioned in Muhammad's Islamic Koran. Jonah is one of only four prophets mentioned by Jesus.
The story of Jonah
God orders Jonah to prophesy to the city of Nineveh.[1] Jonah despises the Assyrians and attempts to avoid God's command by going to Joppa and sailing to Tarshish, the opposite direction and as far to the west as he could go.[2] A huge storm arises while Jonah is fleeing.[3] The sailors realize this is no ordinary storm, cast lots, and learn that Jonah is to blame.[4] Jonah admits he is the cause,[5] and states that if he is thrown overboard, the storm will cease.[6] The sailors try to find some other way to escape the storm, but eventually throw Jonah overboard; the seas are calmed,[7] the sailors fear God and make sacrifices and vows to him.[8]
The Lord has a great fish swallow Jonah. While Jonah is inside the fish, he prays to God admitting his sin. After 3 days and nights, God has the fish vomit Jonah out.[9]
Eventually Jonah arrives at Nineveh and warns them of God's coming wrath. They repent and God has compassion on them.[10] Jonah becomes angry that God would forgive Nineveh and not destroy them. God causes a vine to grow and shield Jonah from the hot sun, then the next day he has the vine perish so the sun beats upon Jonah again. Jonah is angry the vine and its shade are gone and tells God that he wishes to die. God reminds Jonah that he is concerned over a vine that he did not tend or cause to grow, so how much more should God be concerned about 120,000 people who 'do not know their right hand from their left'? [11]
Jesus speaking on the story of Jonah
In both the Gospels of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, Jesus makes mention of the story of Jonah and applies the miracle of Jonah to his own coming miracle.
| “ | MT 12:39 [Jesus] answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.[12] | ” |
It is a common Christian understanding that the story of Jonah being in the belly of the fish is a prefiguring of the three days between the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.[13][14]
Some speculate that even though Jesus uses the story of Jonah to parallel His upcoming resurrection, that He still doesn't mean for the story of Jonah to be taken literally.[15]
Jewish thought on Jonah
Jewish thought, of course, does not tie in the story of Jonah to the life of Jesus, and has come up with other possible meanings. Some believe it is a Midrash [16] and some even a satire.[17]
According to some rabbinical traditions, the great fish that swallowed Jonah had been created in the beginning for the purpose of swallowing Jonah.[18]
Other thoughts
Some skeptics assert that a whale cannot swallow a human being, but it has been proven that whales do swallow whole creatures larger than men, such as colossal squids. Moreover, the Book of Jonah never makes reference to the great fish being a whale.[19]
The first digestive chamber of most whales is merely mechanical, without the secretion of any gastric fluids. Accordingly, survival for a period of time seems possible.
Jesus alluded to Jonah's survival as a miracle
Modern Usage
The term 'Jonah' has come to mean an unlucky or jinxed person, especially among sailors.
Commentary on the Book of Jonah
- Guide to the Book of Jonah: Key Information and Helpful Resources, Bible Project
- Summary of the Book of Jonah, Biblestudytools.com
See also
References
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JNH 1:2
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JNH 1:3-4
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JNH 1:4-6
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 1:7
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JNH 1:9-11
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 1:12
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JNH 1:15
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 1:16
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 1:17 - 2:10
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 3
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, JHN 4
- ↑ Zondervan 2002, MT 12:39-41, see also MT 16:4, LK 11:29-32,
- ↑ http://www.answers.com/topic/typology-theology
- ↑ http://www.ctsfw.edu/library/files/pb/1253
- ↑ http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/J/JONAH,+THE+BOOK+OF/
- ↑ http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/TO_Prophets_1460/TOLiteraryProphets/MinorProphets/JonahSimon.htm
- ↑ http://seminary.csl.edu/facultypubs/TheologyandPractice/tabid/87/ctl/Details/mid/494/ItemID/40/Default.aspx
- ↑ Hirsch, Budde, and Schechter 2002
- ↑ http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/whales/shore_whaling_industry.html
Sources
- Archer, G. (2006), Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, Zondervan Publishing Company, ISBN 978-0310435709
- Barker, Kenneth L. & John R., III Kohlenberger (1999), NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishing Company, ISBN 978-0310578505
- Hirsch, Emil G.; Karl Budde & Solomon Schechter (2002), Jonah, JewishEncyclopedia.com Retrieved on 2007-05-11
- Zondervan (2002), Zondervan NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Publishing Company, ISBN 978-0310929550