Prophet · Old Testament
The Story of Jonah
Also: Yona (Kiswahili)
Prophet who fled from God's call to Nineveh, was swallowed by a great fish, and saw Nineveh repent.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
Jonah son of Amittai was sent to preach against Nineveh but fled by ship toward Tarshish. In a storm he was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish, from which he prayed. Jonah 1:1–17Jonah 2:1–10
Sent again, he preached, and Nineveh repented; God relented, and Jonah was angry. Jesus spoke of the sign of Jonah. Jonah 3:1–10Jonah 4:1–11Matthew 12:39–41
Told in: Jonah
Life at a glance
- Father
- Amittai Jonah 1:1
- Home
- Gath Hepher 2 Kings 14:25
Only what Scripture records. Where the Bible is silent, nothing is filled in.
Follow the life of Jonah
Events in the order Scripture presents them. Expand an event to read its passage here, or open the chapter in the reader.
Flight toward Tarshish
Jonah boards a ship to flee from the LORD. A storm comes; he is thrown into the sea and swallowed by a great fish.
More about this event
Places named: Joppa
Prayer from the fish
From inside the fish Jonah prays, and the fish spits him onto dry land.
Nineveh repents
Jonah proclaims that Nineveh will be overthrown; the people and king repent, and God does not bring the disaster.
Jonah's anger and God's compassion
Jonah is angry at God's mercy; God provides and removes a plant and asks whether he should not have compassion on Nineveh.
Mentioned across the Bible
Later passages that recall, mention or interpret Jonah. These are not new events in the person’s lifetime.
Later recollections of these events
- Luke 11:30–32 recalls “Nineveh repents”
Later recollection
- 2 Kings 14:25 — Jonah son of Amittai, prophet in the reign of Jeroboam II.
Teaching or quotation mentioning them
- Matthew 12:39–41 — The sign of Jonah.
- Matthew 16:4
Family and relationships
- AmittaiFatherJonah 1:1
Books associated with Jonah
- Jonah Main narrative figure
- Jonah Book named after them
The book tells Jonah's story in the third person and does not name its author.
A book named after someone is not necessarily written by them. Authorship traditions are shown as traditions.
Themes and study
Study prompts written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
MercyObedience
- What does God's final question (Jonah 4:10-11) teach?
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