Questions tagged [jonah]

The book of Jonah, the story of a reluctant prophet who was sent to prophecy against Nineveh and ended up in the belly of a fish when he tried to flee from the job.

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How did Jesus complete the sign of Jonah?

Matthew 12:40 ESV For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. To those who ...
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Did the authors of Jonah know Assyria would conquer Israel?

Did the writers of Jonah employ dramatic irony by making Jonah aware that by successfully convincing the people of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, to repent, he would set in place events that would ...
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Matthew 12:40 - "heart of the earth": what does it mean?

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The word "the Sabbath" is ...
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Jonah 2:1-2 - why say "Sheol" to refer to the literal belly of a literal fish?

1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my ...
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The Book of the Jonah 1:17, 4:6 comparison of MT and LXX

The Septuagint LXX is the oldest known translation of the Old Testament into ancient Greek. It is generally believed that the formation of the Septuagint began in the 280s BC and in general ended in ...
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דָג and דָגה in Jonah 1:17 – 2:1

Jonah 1:17 – 2:1 1:17 And the Lord appointedd a great fish (דָג)* to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God ...
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What Was the Sin of Nineveh? (Jonah 1:2)

The Book of Jonah begins with God's call to the famous reluctant prophet: “Arise, go to Nin′eveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” As far as I can ...
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What is the story of Jonah really about?

Sometimes it seems that the obvious is not the obvious... From a surface reading it appears as though the prophet was just running away because he didn't want to do what God told him. But, after going ...
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Is Jonah 4:2 use of "this" referring to forestalling of the calamity Or forestalling of Nineveh's repentance?

Jonah 3:4 New American Standard Bible 1995 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:9-10 New ...
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Why would God give Jonah a Godly Revelatory message to warn the city of Nineveh?

Why would God give Jonah a godly revelatory message to warn the city of Nineveh? (like why wouldn't God just raise a prophet from Nineveh who could have warned them? Why Jonah, an Israelite foreigner ...
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What do the words 'fell upon' mean in the story of Jonah?

It's written that the people who traveled with Jonah on the ship, decided to cast lots, and then the lot fell upon Jonah. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we ...
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Was Jonah's success in Nineveh improved by having tried to run away?

Jonah Deliberately Disobeys God Jonah 1:1-3 KJV 1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their ...
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In Jonah (3:5-9), we see the great city of Nineveh repent of their wickedness. How might 8 simple words have such a dramatic effect on them?

Jonah spoke these few words: Jonah 3:4b: "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." Can we understand how such a slight message would be enough to convince the entire population of ...
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Jonah 1:3 - Is the initial "But" word present in the available manuscripts?

Most translation contain the word "But" at the beginning of the verse. Is it present in the manuscripts that are available to us? Fewer translations contain "And" instead.
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Why did the sailors have to pick Jonah up?

Why was it necessary for the sailors to pick Jonah up and throw him into the sea (1:12, 15) instead of him just jumping? It almost sounds like he is handicapped somehow, but then he does other things ...
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What does Jonah's huge fish symbolize?

Jonah 1:17 New International Version Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 2: 1 From inside the fish Jonah ...
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Was Jonah referring to inside the fish or outside in Jonah 2:5?

Jonah 2:5 New International Version The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. Here, was Jonah talking about inside the fish or outside?
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Is casting lots considered prophecy?

In Joshua 18:6 (NASB) And you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. Then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. or in Jonah ...
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Why did Jonah need a plant for shade if he'd already built a hut?

The book of Jonah states that after Ninevah was saved, Jonah left the city in irritation, built a hut, waited under its shade, and watched the city in the hopes that it would be razed. God then ...
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What is the meaning of the phrase in Jonah 4:10b "... IN A SON OF A NIGHT and perished IN A SON OF A NIGHT." (literal translation from Hebrew)

This is a literal translation of the phrase שֶׁבִּן־לַ֥יְלָה הָיָ֖ה וּבִן־לַ֥יְלָה אָבָֽד in Jonah 4:10b. What is the meaning of the phrase, "son in a night" and "perish in a night.&...
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Did the Ninevites believe in Elohim for spiritual salvation?

Jonah 3:5 "The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least," When the text said that they believed in Elohim, did they believe in him for ...
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Was it customary for the Ninevites to fast?

After Jonah preached to the Ninevites, they responded by proclaiming a fast. Jonah 3:5, 6 - And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them ...
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What is the difference between מִשְׁבָּר (billows or waves) and גַּל (waves, heap) in Jonah 2:3

As pointed, מִשְׁבָּר (billows or waves) and גַּל (waves, heap) in Jonah 2:3, they seem to have the same meaning according to the lexicon and also their usage. Is it indicating an emphasis or is there ...
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Why is Jonah 1:17 missing in the BHS?

I was checking the BHS and saw that Verse 17 of Jonah is missing. I can't find the reason why it is omitted. Can anyone tell me why Jonah 1:17 is ommited in the BHS?
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How do we understand the connection between the feminine pronominal suffix with Jonah in Jonah 1:11

Jonah 1:11 (KJV 1900): Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee (לָּ֔ךְ) לָּ֔ךְ is a second person feminine pronominal suffix, which means that it cannot be referring to Jonah. So why do ...
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Did Jonah really think that he could flee from the Lord?

Jonah 1:3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to ...
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What role did the animals in Nineveh play in the book of Jonah?

The king of Nineveh decreed on people and animals! Jonah 3:6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and ...
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Is it implied that Jonah related more to the people of Nineveh than what is recorded?

The scriptures record Jonah's sermon to the people of Nineveh this way: Jonah 3:4-5 (ESV) 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh ...
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How did Jonah become a sign to the people of Nineveh?

How does Jonah become a sign to the people of Nineveh in Luke 11:30? Luke 11:30 (ESV) 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The most ...
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The Son of Jonah / John: Literally, or Metaphorically?

Matthew 16:4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. Then, several verses later : Matthew 16:17  ...
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What was the message of Jonah?

Did God forgive the Ninevites...or did he just grant them temporary respite before destroying them? This article argues the latter https://www.bsw.org/biblica/vol-87-2006/the-end-of-jonah-is-the-...
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Does the fact that Nineveh was not destroyed after 40 days (Jonah 3:4) represent an unfulfilled prophecy by God?

Was God’s announcement to the Ninevites unfulfilled, since He changed His mind?: KJV Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he ...
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Why did ancient people think that mountains have roots?

The Bible mentions in Jonah 2:6 and Job 28:9 that mountains have roots. Why would they believe that? Edit: I was more interested as to why, in the absence of any evidence, they would think so. What ...
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What is the origin of the chapter divisions for the Book of Jonah in English Bibles?

The English Standard Version has a footnote for Jonah 1:17 stating that the verse is "Chapter 2:1 in Hebrew". The Miles Coverdale, Geneva and 1611 Authorised Version all contain Jonah 1:17, while the ...
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In Jonah 4:11, is the phrase "persons who do not know their right hand from their left" a joke at the Assyrian's expense?

Ten years ago I read a commentary on Jonah, that stated that the phrase "persons who do not know their right hand from their left" (ESV) in Jonah 4:11 was a joke from the Hebrew author exploiting the ...
Peter's user avatar
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In Jonah 2:5 is Jonah expecting to see God's temple?

Several translations have "yet"... that Jonah, though banished from GOd's presence (in his mind) was expecting to see His temple (live? be restored?) Jonah 2:5 (NIV) I said, 'I have been banished ...
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Based on the wording of his prayers, did Jonah die inside the fish? Jonah 2:6

Jonah 2:6 (NKJV) I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever... All scripture is inspired. On that premise, I believe that Jonah's prayer relates ...
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Why did Jonah run away from God to Tarshish in Chapter 1?

Why did Jonah run away from God to Tarshish? 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before ...
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In Jonah 2:6, what does he mean by 'roots/cuttings/forms of the mountains' and 'about me forever'' when it was only for 3 days?

Jonah 2 6 I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.New American Standard Bible. . ...
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Was Jonah's prophecy of Nineveh's destruction fulfilled?

Regarding prophecy, the Zondervan Encyclopedia states: Sometimes one feature of a prediction may involve a condition though the prediction as a whole is unconditional. The conditional nature of ...
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How many days until Nineveh will be overthrown?

When Jonah declares the destruction of Nineveh to its inhabitants, his only words are (3:4b): עוֹד אַרְבָּעִ֣ים י֔וֹם וְנִֽינְוֵ֖ה נֶהְפָּֽכֶת׃ (BHS) Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be ...
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Did Jonah actually die in the whale?

I know the common understanding is that Jonah waited, alive and conscious, in the belly of the whale until he was spat out. Has a euphemized "children's version" become accepted truth? Perhaps we can ...
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What sort of city was Nineveh?

Jonah 3:3 (BHS, ESV): וְנִֽינְוֵ֗ה הָיְתָ֤ה עִיר־גְּדוֹלָה֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים wənînəwēh hāyətâ 'îr gədôlâ l'ēlōhîm Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city* ESV footnote: *Hebrew: A great city ...
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Are there two distinct words [‘lexemes’] for ‘fish’ in Jonah 2?

Jonah 2:1 (Eng. 1:17) says that God appointed דָּ֣ג גָּד֔וֹל (dāg gādôl, 'a great fish') to swallow Jonah. The following verse tells of Jonah crying out from the belly of הַדָּגָֽה (haddāgâ, 'the fish’...
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How could the repentance of the early Ninevites in response to Jonah's message have led to "the destruction of the Jews?"

In his commentary on Jonah 1:3, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus (better known as Jerome), asserted that Jonah fled to Tarshish because his insight led him to believe that the repentance of the Gentiles ...
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Is there a significance in the usage of the two Hebrew words for the pronoun "I" (ʾănî and ʾānōkî)

In Jonah 1:9, I noticed that both words for the pronoun "I" are used, ʾănî and ʾānōkî. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם עִבְרִי אָנֹכִי וְאֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם אֲנִי יָרֵא אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה אֶת־הַיָּם וְאֶת־...
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At what point in his narrative does the prophet Yona appear to die? [duplicate]

Christ essentially appealed to Yona being dead three days and three nights in the heart of the sea as proof that he too would be dead three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (i.e., the ...
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What is the order of events of Nahum and Jonah?

I was reading the book of Nahum and it was speaking about Nineveh. Is the book of Nahum foretelling the destruction of Nineveh, for which the people of Nineveh averted by repenting of their sins, or ...
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Historically, how was Jonah classified in terms of literary genre?

I've been reading through a lengthy discussion at this site over the historical nature of Jonah. One position that has been advanced is that there are internal text indicators that the narrative is ...
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When did Jonah compose his prayer in chapter 2?

Almost the entity of Jonah, chapter 2 is a prayer to God: Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish. He said: In my trouble I called to the Lord, And He answered me; From ...
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