Interpretation of the book of jonah in the bible

Our previous treatment of jonah illustrates the importance of the discernment of genre for interpretation of the bible. Commentary or the expositors bible commentary for a full set. Though the book contains no direct prophecy, the experience of jonah is itself a reflection of the message of god. My jewish learning is a notforprofit and relies on your. A bible commentary for teaching and preaching offers a full interpretation of the biblical text, combining historical scholarship and theological purpose. The foundational source for the book was likely jonahs own telling of the story after his return from nineveh. New essays on specific themes, with links to related content within the site for further reading, are published throughout. Focus on jonah written by leading scholars, the focus on essays are designed to stimulate thought and to explore in depth topics of interest in the field of biblical studies.

My jewish learning is a notforprofit and relies on your help. This little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion and difference of opinion as the first four chapters of genesis. The god of the bible is a truly loving and forgiving god. Jonah s experiences form the main contents and purpose of the book. The historicity and assyrian background of the book of jonah.

But, as every bible student knows, his plans were soon thwarted. Nachtigal 1799 contended that there were three different authors of widely different periods. With regard to nineveh, the eerdmans dictionary of the bible makes this comment. Jonah is identified as a prophet and servant of god during the reign of king jeroboam ii of israel 2 kings 14. Jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible kindle edition by cary, phillip.

He was gods instrument to carry out gods will on earth. He is the central figure of the book of jonah, in which he is called upon by god to travel to nineveh and warn its residents of impending divine wrath. Jonah therefore is the only prophet of the ot revealing the grace of god towards the heathen. Psychology and the interpretation of the book of jonah show all authors.

The book of jonah is different from the other minor prophets, for it is the personal experience of the prophet himself. The bible is full of men and women who, despite their best efforts, suffer from a chronic lack of love. The people of ninevah are included among another historical figure the queen of the south. After jonahs complaint, god explains in verses 1011 why it is silly for jonah to care so much about a plant and so little about a city full of peopleand thats the end. So jonah himself had to be taught a lessonabout gods mercy and forgivenessand at the end of the book this lesson is conveyed by god himself in so many words. Jonah came from the tribe of zebulon, one of the tribes in the northern kingdom of. The book of jonah is a subversive story about a rebellious prophet who. Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom kippur, but it has less to say about repentance than it. The people of ninevah are assumed to have repented, and to be among those who will judge jesus generation in the future.

The final position is that the story of jonah is to be taken as literal history, but some problems with dating the events and the miracles described in the book have been taken by some critics as an argument against a literal interpretation bullock 5357. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the lord by taking a ship to foreign shores jon. Aug 10, 2010 yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. The book contains fascination interaction between men and god, which sasson brings out well. It tells of a hebrew prophet named jonah son of amittai who is sent by god to prophesy the destruction of nineveh but tries to escape the divine mission. The book is unusual in that it only contains one prophecy jonah 3. New essays on specific themes, with links to related content within the site for further reading, are published throughout the year.

The events recorded in the book probably covered only a few months or years at the most. As we have seen, jonah, like many literary works, does not identify its genre but leaves it to the reader to discern. The bible and interpretation jonah in the shadows of eden. The book of jonah is more than just a delightful story for children. The book of jonah stands unique in the prophetical canon, in that it does not contain any predictions, but simply relates the story of its hero, beginning for that reason with waye. The word translated a great fish in the old testament, and a whale in the. Analysis of the book of jonah essay 2162 words bartleby. David guzik commentary on jonah 1, where jonah receives a call from god, but decides to run from him, which god prevents by sending a storm. Foolishly, he attempts to flee the presence of the lord by taking a ship to foreign shores. Before examining each fruit in the spiritual orchard of jonah, this study puts us on a plane to fly above it. Jonah, satire and literal interpretation theopolitical. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jonah is assumed to have been a genuine sign to the people of ninevah. Study basics about bible books, people, dates, places, and content, and take webbased selftests.

Full text in english of the book of jonah my jewish learning. Perhaps the third quarter of the eighth century is the most likely date for the book, after the public ministries of amos and hosea and before the fall of samaria to assyria in 722721. Book of jonah overview insight for living ministries. This book is the greatest missionary book in the old testament, if not in the whole bible. In response, god sent a violent storm, which threatened to break the ship to pieces. Unlike the others, however, jonah rejects gods call. Many have questioned whether the book of jonah is historical. As is typical with twelve prophets, the book of jonah begins with a call from god to the prophet jon. Unpublished class notes in 103 introduction to hebrew exegesis. The book of jonah stands as an important link in the prophetic chain, giving readers a glimpse of christs death and resurrection hundreds of years before they actually occurred. Many critics however want to lower the book of jonah to an allegory, a parable or a legend because of the miracles described in it especially the appearing of the great fish devouring jonah. Still, the book gives significant clues about how it was meant to be read. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.

Jonah was a prophet in the land of israel about 800750 bc. The theme of repentance nominates it for being read on yom. Jonah, gods objectionable mercy, and the way of wisdom. It concerns a disobedient prophet who rejected his divine commission, was cast overboard in a storm and swallowed by a great fish, rescued in a marvelous manner, and returned to his starting point. No writer in the bible tells such a bad story about himself. Metaphysical bible interpretation of jonah chapter 3 metaphysically interpreting jonah 3. Technically, the book of jonah is anonymous, however jewish tradition holds that the author is jonah himself. When the call of god came to him, jonah could not see beyond his own selfish desire for god to punish the assyrians.

In more recent years it has come to be believed that the book is about jonah rather than by him. Jonah or jonas, in the hebrew bible tanakhold testament, is a prophet of the northern kingdom of israel in about the 8th century bce. Jonahs name means dove, and his fathers name amittai means truthful. Had not the inhabitants of it repented, he had done. If you want a standalone commentary on jonah, we recommend the niv application commentary. The book of jonah is anonymous, and we really do not know who the author was or when he lived. The purpose of this book is to show that god is a merciful and gracious god. The view that jonah wrote the story of his own disobedience and his debate with the merciful god has not been made wholly untenable.

It is chiefly a book about a prophet instead of being a collection of oracles of the prophet. The book of jonah demonstrates the sovereignty of the almighty as he employs his creation to accomplish the divine plan. Jonah 1 kjv now the word of the lord came unto bible gateway. While in the belly of the big fish whale, jonah prayed to god for help, repented, and praised god. The significance and application of the book of jonah.

Then, god had the big fish throw up jonah onto the shores of nineveh. Dream bible is a free online dream dictionary to help you interpret the meanings to your dreams. The book is replete with irony, wherein much of its humor lies. The amazing power of god was illustrated by these miracles. The story of jonah as allegory, parable or history. Jonah overview john calvins commentaries on the bible. Yonah is a strange prophet, and sefer yonah the book of jonah a strange book. Jonah, the book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The book is anonymous, and there are no indicators elsewhere in scripture to identify the author.

I think the more familiar we become with the hebrew bible the more apparent it will become that jonah presents itself as a satirical morality play, rather than a. As with most old testament interpretations found in the new testament, jesus interpretation is primarily. Jonah 3 metaphysical bible interpretation truthunity. The book of jonah is narrative history and a prophetic oracle. Best jonah commentaries updated for 2020 best bible.

Christian missionaries can use the book of jonah, therefore, but they should do so by stressing its true message, not by making jonahs call the main point. Intro to jonah biblica the international bible society. Jonah 4 commentary james burton coffman commentaries on the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading jonah brazos theological commentary on the bible. I welcome your feedback and insights into these important books of the bible. The severe winds and boisterous sea that god sent, then miraculously calmed jonah 1. Following the lead of the hebrew masoretic text, the title of the book is derived from the principal character, jonah. Jonah preached to nineveh and warned them to repent before the city is destroyed in 40 days. While jonah eventually did what he was asked to do, the book closes with showing jonah as a bitter man. As a result, we become unaware of the storys historical validity.

Mercy triumphs over judgment commentary on the book of jonah. This post continues some of my work sharing the significance and application of specific books of the bible. A free bible commentary on the book of jonah in simple english. The story is presented much like that of elijah and elisha. Jonah is commanded to go east to nineveh but flees toward the westernmost possible point 1.

Jonah free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. Jonah lived during jeroboam iis reign over the northern kingdom of israel 793753 b. Jonah, the son of amittai, the fifth of the minor prophets, was a galilean, a native of gathhepher, which is believed to be the same as jotapata, celebrated for the siege which josephus the historian there maintained against the roman army, a little before the destruction of jerusalem. The supposed legendary character of some of the events e. In some cases, stories are used to share a moral concept, or used as a tool to teach a lesson. Psychology and the interpretation of the book of jonah. The story of jonah and the whale, one of the oddest accounts in the bible, opens with god speaking to jonah, son of amittai, commanding him to preach repentance to the city of nineveh. In the jonahaspacifist section of the study, i present one interpretation that embraces the declarative reading of the books last line that you and others have advocated, although i have difficulty with it an as exclusive reading for reasons that the study clarifies. Jonah, the book of this little roll of four short chapters has given rise to almost as much discussion. Now nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days journey. Resources for the book of jonah check the scripture index for links and study resources pertaining to specific pericopes. You will also find options for commentaries on jonah that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. It brings an understanding of what the text says into dialogue with the critical questions and problems of contemporary life and faith. Jonah is perhaps one of the least understood books of the bible, with most people unable to get by the whale actually, dag gadol, or great fish.

We often read stories in the bible without taking the historical context into consideration. We have been invited to consider the relationship between scripture and theology with special reference to wisdom. Through some supernatural events, god convinced him to obey and carry out the lords plan. Jonah, gods objectionable mercy, and the way of wisdom the. The name jonah means dove in hebrew, but jonahs character is anything but dovelike. Apr 12, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of jonah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book seems to drop off a cliff without any further resolution. Jonah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. His making use of us is an evidence of his being at peace with us. Jonah author and title the title of the book is the name of the main character, jonah. A paper presented in 381 bible researchold testament. Caught in a storm, he orders the ships crew to cast him overboard. During this time, an important event happened to israel.

Key personalities include jonah, the captain and the ships crew and the people of nineveh. Although yonah is generally defined as dove, its actual meaning remains uncertain based on its usage in other biblical books and other. The prophetic significance of this book not only lies in the short message in nineveh but also in the entire history of jonah described in his book. I grant that this is true, but i dont believe jonah asks to be believed or rejected as literal history. This is because the story is not very favourable towards jonah. The book exemplifies the miraculous power and supremacy of god over his entire creation.

This instructive account, together with the inspired new testament commentary which discusses it. Jonah 4 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. The book of jonah reveals a great deal about gods mercy. Is that the reason why jonah is read on yom kippur. Apr 30, 2018 the major question of jonah 4 is connected to the books abrupt ending. The book of jonah is a book of the neviim prophets in the hebrew bible. Jonah is one of the most striking examples of a heart in need of expansion. It would be presumptuous to think that one could, in a brief article, speak the final word on the questions in debate. Jonah had forsaken the lord, resigning from his ministry as a prophet in israel. Jonah signifies a dove, a proper name for all gods prophets, all his people, who ought to be harmless as doves, and to mourn as doves for the sins and calamities.