Jonah
The Book of Jonah reveals the concern of the LORD God for the Gentiles, and rebukes his own people for their indifference.
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SUMMARY
Title
The book is named for its author.
Author
The word “Jonah” means “dove.”
Jonah was a Hebrew man and the son of Amittai. He was from Gath Hepher, a town in the tribe of Zebulun.
Jonah was the only Old Testament prophet to attempt to run from LORD God.
The Lord Jesus Christ mentioned Jonah:
Matthew 12:41. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 11:32. The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
Date
The events in the Book of Jonah took place some time during the reign of Jeroboam (793-753 BC), based on 2 Kings:
2 Kings 14:25. He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the LORD, the God of Israel’s word, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.
This makes Jonah a contemporary of the prophets Hosea and Amos.
Purpose
The Book of Jonah records an historical narrative. But it also conveys a message to the Northern Kingdom.
That message has four parts:
1. The LORD God is concerned for the Gentiles.
2. The LORD God is sovereign in accomplishing His purposes.
3. The LORD God rebukes Israel by means of the favorable response of the Gentiles.
4. The LORD God rebukes Israel by means of the disobedience of Jonah and his indifference to the plight of other peoples.
OUTLINE
JONAH RUNS FROM HIS CALLING
Jonah 1:1-2. The LORD God sends Jonah to Nineveh
Jonah 1:3-17. Jonah runs in the opposite direction
Jonah 2:1-10. Jonah is thankful
JONAH EMBRACES HIS CALLING
Jonah 3:1-2. The LORD God sends Jonah to Nineveh, again
Jonah 3:3-4. Jonah obeys his calling
Jonah 3:5-10. The Ninevites are converted
Jonah 4:6-11. The LORD God explains
MEMORIZE
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
JONAH
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.