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Jonah 1

17 verses

TL;DR

Jonah is commanded by God to preach to Nineveh, but he flees and is cast into the sea by a tempest, only to be swallowed by a great fish.

Summary

The LORD instructs Jonah to deliver a warning to Nineveh. Jonah, seeking escape, boards a ship bound for Tarshish from Joppa. A violent wind from God causes a storm, endangering the crew. They discover Jonah sleeping on board and, after casting lots, find that he is the cause of their peril. The crew throws Jonah overboard, the storm subsides, and the men offer repentance. Subsequently, God provides a great fish to swallow Jonah, who remains inside for three days and nights.

Outline
  1. Divine commission to Jonah
  2. Jonah’s flight and ship voyage
  3. Storm and discovery of Jonah
  4. Jonah’s sacrifice to calm the sea
  5. Repentance and calm
  6. Divine rescue in the fish
Themes
Obedience versus disobedienceDivine compassion for sinnersHuman fear of divine judgmentSacrifice and repentance
Keywords
JonahNinevehtarshishshipstormlotfishrepentanceobediencedivine judgment
People
Jonahthe LORDshipmastermariners
Places
NinevehTarshishJoppa
Things
great windtempestlotgreat fishcargo
Key Verses
  • Jonah 1:1: Introduces the divine command and sets the narrative tone.
  • Jonah 1:4: Shows God's direct intervention in the storm.
  • Jonah 1:7: Illustrates the mariners’ attempt to identify the cause of their danger.
  • Jonah 1:12: Jonah’s confession and self-sacrifice highlight his guilt.
  • Jonah 1:15: Demonstrates the storm’s cessation after Jonah’s removal.
  • Jonah 1:17: Marks the beginning of Jonah’s second divine trial.
Questions
  • What motivates Jonah to flee from God's command?
  • How does the narrative use the storm to convey divine displeasure?
  • What does Jonah’s willingness to be cast into the sea suggest about his understanding of divine justice?
  • In what ways does this chapter foreshadow later themes in the book of Jonah?
  • How might the motif of a great fish as a means of deliverance be interpreted?
  • What lessons about repentance are conveyed by the crew’s reaction to the storm?
Sentiment

mixed
The chapter presents fear and divine wrath, but also repentance and divine mercy.