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Bible #32
Jonah
Book 32 of the Old Testament
4 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 251
11 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
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* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author
Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.
See also: Anonymous
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
May 16, 2018
My favorite of the minor prophets. :) Such a neat telling of a man who struggled with disobedience towards God -- as we all do!
November 11, 2025
Jonah is most definitely one of the most relatable books in the Bible. It highlights so many things in the human condition and forces the reader to look inward. Great Book.
December 30, 2017
I remember this story from my childhood, so it had a very nostalgic feel to it, despite me not having read the actual full Book of Jonah myself before, but children's versions of the story.
In a nutshell, Jonah is a naughty prophet who decides not to do what God has asked of him. In fact, he tries to run away from God by sailing on a ship. The other sailors are afraid of Jonah and his God, especially when the sea becomes treacherous. Jonah tells them to throw him overboard to calm the sea. Jonah is rescued by a great big fish that swallows him up and spits him back out three days later, once he's agreed to do what God has asked of him.
In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
In a nutshell, Jonah is a naughty prophet who decides not to do what God has asked of him. In fact, he tries to run away from God by sailing on a ship. The other sailors are afraid of Jonah and his God, especially when the sea becomes treacherous. Jonah tells them to throw him overboard to calm the sea. Jonah is rescued by a great big fish that swallows him up and spits him back out three days later, once he's agreed to do what God has asked of him.
In January 2015 I set myself the challenge to read the complete Bible within a year. I discovered that was an unrealistic challenge, and decided to pick up my Bible as and when I felt ready to read more of it. Here is a link to all the reviews in my Bible challenge so far:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
October 13, 2025
Whenever I read this book, I am reminded of the blog post by Kate Willis - https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.....
I’m always amazed by how short this book is, and how vague. We know nothing of Jonah, or the sailors he went with, or the Ninevites he talked to. The ending is very abrupt. As someone who struggles with depression and also begged God to end my life, I am struck by Jonah’s depression, the reason thereof, and God’s reasoning with him. So often, when my own hopes don’t come to pass, my cry too is “Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” Then the Lord says, “Doest thou well to be angry?”
And then I pluck up hope again and sit down and wait. And then when my gourds are destroyed, I faint, and wish in myself to die, and say, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
And God says again, “Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?”
And I answer so sullenly and stubbornly, “I do well to be angry, even unto death.”
And then God reminds me too, what are my hopes and plans compared to the salvation of millions of people “that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand”? Why am I sulking in my little corner over what hasn’t gone right in my world, instead of getting up and trying to rescue souls?
There is so much to ponder in this story—the lovingness of God, His mercy, His grace, His power… and the wickedness of man.
Such a great book to read and think about.
I’m always amazed by how short this book is, and how vague. We know nothing of Jonah, or the sailors he went with, or the Ninevites he talked to. The ending is very abrupt. As someone who struggles with depression and also begged God to end my life, I am struck by Jonah’s depression, the reason thereof, and God’s reasoning with him. So often, when my own hopes don’t come to pass, my cry too is “Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.” Then the Lord says, “Doest thou well to be angry?”
And then I pluck up hope again and sit down and wait. And then when my gourds are destroyed, I faint, and wish in myself to die, and say, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
And God says again, “Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?”
And I answer so sullenly and stubbornly, “I do well to be angry, even unto death.”
And then God reminds me too, what are my hopes and plans compared to the salvation of millions of people “that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand”? Why am I sulking in my little corner over what hasn’t gone right in my world, instead of getting up and trying to rescue souls?
There is so much to ponder in this story—the lovingness of God, His mercy, His grace, His power… and the wickedness of man.
Such a great book to read and think about.
October 17, 2023
Read this as apart of my churches catholic faith formation program on the prophets, and I have to say I like it.
The message seems to be focused on God being merciful.
The message seems to be focused on God being merciful.
January 13, 2020
God tells man to preach judgment on a foreign city. Man runs away and gets swallowed by a giant fish for three days. Man says he's sorry. Fish spits him out. Man finally preaches to foreign city and gets upset when they listen.
The end.
Seriously, though . . . Jonah is probably the most unique of the minor prophets. Instead of containing passages of judgment that sound exactly like any number of other similar passages in the Old Testament, Jonah tells a brief narrative of one man who is arguably just as flawed as the people he's being asked to preach to.
What a challenge to Christians (and Jews) today who might be tempted to look down with pride on the rest of the world, when . . . we all need God just as much as the next person.
The end.
Seriously, though . . . Jonah is probably the most unique of the minor prophets. Instead of containing passages of judgment that sound exactly like any number of other similar passages in the Old Testament, Jonah tells a brief narrative of one man who is arguably just as flawed as the people he's being asked to preach to.
What a challenge to Christians (and Jews) today who might be tempted to look down with pride on the rest of the world, when . . . we all need God just as much as the next person.
June 17, 2023
I have begun a project with an old friend to read the Bible chapter by chapter. To catalog this, I will individually log these chapters on my "Bible" shelf here. The plan is to stick with KJV but I will dapple into some other translations to see how specific passages change with them. We were supposed to begin with John (which I have started), but I found I couldn't resist rereading one of my favorites - The Book of Jonah. Aside - this chapter reminds me of Father Mapples rhyme in Moby Dick :
"In black distress, I called my God,
When I could scarce believe him mine,
He bowed his ear to my complaints—
No more the whale did me confine."
Memorable Quotations:
"And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." - I think there is something worth noting about the complexity of Jonah’s character. He is at once defiant yet self-aware. This duality makes him feel all the more real. It also serves to give a glimpse of the underlying nature of Jonah which justifies this prophethood.
"In black distress, I called my God,
When I could scarce believe him mine,
He bowed his ear to my complaints—
No more the whale did me confine."
Memorable Quotations:
"And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." - I think there is something worth noting about the complexity of Jonah’s character. He is at once defiant yet self-aware. This duality makes him feel all the more real. It also serves to give a glimpse of the underlying nature of Jonah which justifies this prophethood.
April 20, 2021
To get the most out of this book, I would recommend listening to the Jonah sermon podcast series from Tim Mackie (Exploring My Strange Bible). There is a lot more to this book than what it appears to be and I have learnt so much.
September 17, 2020
Sidenote: The reason for such vague and short and "eh" words on each of these books, is because I wasn't challenging the study of the Bible when I read these. I was challenging myself to read the whole Bible in a year because I knew it would be discipline to keep at it daily. I do, however, plan to pick up a book and study what it is saying. Those will be longer reads and more notes.
So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.
So here is my review of Jonah.
So the lovely book of Jonah... The man swallow by a whale, or a big fish depending on who you talk to, because he didn't follow what the Lord wanted him to do. Seriously, it's either follow The Leader or get eaten by a fish. This is a good read.
So here is my review from my "Read the Bible in a Year" challenge. Usually just snippets of thoughts and random things I liked about the book itself. Nothing in-depth.
So here is my review of Jonah.
So the lovely book of Jonah... The man swallow by a whale, or a big fish depending on who you talk to, because he didn't follow what the Lord wanted him to do. Seriously, it's either follow The Leader or get eaten by a fish. This is a good read.
September 21, 2018
May 15, 2016
So much to learn from Jonah. I see something new almost every time I read this one. Highly recommend!
9/20/18
Rereading this one today came at the right time, as I'm also reading Priscilla Shirer's Life Interrupted, which focuses on Jonah's journey. I'll be diving into Jonah again and again over the course of the next week or so, for more knowledge in conjunction with that other book, and I'm excited to see what leaps off the pages at me each time I get into the thick of it.
So much to learn from Jonah. I see something new almost every time I read this one. Highly recommend!
9/20/18
Rereading this one today came at the right time, as I'm also reading Priscilla Shirer's Life Interrupted, which focuses on Jonah's journey. I'll be diving into Jonah again and again over the course of the next week or so, for more knowledge in conjunction with that other book, and I'm excited to see what leaps off the pages at me each time I get into the thick of it.
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June 29, 2019Israel was a coastal nation, but aside from scattered mentions of distant trade, this is one of the more outright maritime narratives. Jonah almost sails to Spain! He was a would be prophet who was given the vocation to prophecy in Assyria one of the richest and hence of course, wicked civilization of the time. It really does come off as a remarkably ambitious task sure to be met with popular resistance and other difficulties. Feeling overwhelmed, Jonah decides to flee, but one cannot flee from God's will. As the whole world knows he is thrown overboard and swallowed by a fish.
In particular I was drawn to Jonah's prayer when trapped in the fish. “I am banished from your sight, yet would I again look upon your holy temple.” I am reminded of the regret that sets in after committing grave sin.
“The abyss enveloped me...down I went to the roots of the mountains, the bars of the nether world were closing behind me forever” Imagine a tiny human silhouette sinking deeper and deeper into and endless, dark sea, swarming with monsters, and you get a sense of an individual running away from the will of God, being trapped in a life of sin.
However God's grace is stronger “But you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord”
Vomited up on the shore, and back on track, Jonah heads towards the Assyrian capital.
Instead of being persecuted, there is an immediate conversion in response to Jonah's preaching. Its like he doesn't even have to try. The people listen to him. The king listens to him and proclaims that “neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep shall taste anything they shall not eat nor shall they drhink water man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand.”
This is in stark contrast to the typical Old Testament prophetic experience of persecution, exile, death, and despair. I find the sudden conversation of Nineveh to be more unexpected than being swallowed by a giant fish. What to make of this story? Well the Nineveh of the story is spared destruction, implying something very literal and very important for the historical Israel which did not listen to the prophets and was destroyed.
Jonah is strangely enraged by the good news, apparently viewing his mission as pointless, and perhaps motivated by xenophobia and yet God humors him. He sends makes a plant grow to provide shade to Jonah, but then takes it away, and then Jonah's concern over the plant is contrasted to his lack of concern over Niniveh. God rather then shows concern over the gentile inhabitants, even the animals.
Here is another important theme in this short story meant to humble the Jewish people in light of their prestigious calling. As much as Israel was given an exalted vocation in the plan of salvation, that vocation itself did not translate to merit, but rather to potential merit, a very harsh set of obligations, which Israel repeatedly failed to carry out. Too often worldly Israelites confused their vocation for merit, and began to view the gentiles as inferior because they were gentiles, instead of viewing the world through a moral point of view in which the good are scatted all throughout the world, and in which merit is the invisible sum of the choices made in response to the manifold paths that God sets out for each individual, regardless of their background. To lose sight of this leads to the worst of disgraces. After all it was the only Judean apostle that betrayed Christ. After all, He was crucified, not in any pagan capital, but in Jerusalem within sight of the temple.
In particular I was drawn to Jonah's prayer when trapped in the fish. “I am banished from your sight, yet would I again look upon your holy temple.” I am reminded of the regret that sets in after committing grave sin.
“The abyss enveloped me...down I went to the roots of the mountains, the bars of the nether world were closing behind me forever” Imagine a tiny human silhouette sinking deeper and deeper into and endless, dark sea, swarming with monsters, and you get a sense of an individual running away from the will of God, being trapped in a life of sin.
However God's grace is stronger “But you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord”
Vomited up on the shore, and back on track, Jonah heads towards the Assyrian capital.
Instead of being persecuted, there is an immediate conversion in response to Jonah's preaching. Its like he doesn't even have to try. The people listen to him. The king listens to him and proclaims that “neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep shall taste anything they shall not eat nor shall they drhink water man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand.”
This is in stark contrast to the typical Old Testament prophetic experience of persecution, exile, death, and despair. I find the sudden conversation of Nineveh to be more unexpected than being swallowed by a giant fish. What to make of this story? Well the Nineveh of the story is spared destruction, implying something very literal and very important for the historical Israel which did not listen to the prophets and was destroyed.
Jonah is strangely enraged by the good news, apparently viewing his mission as pointless, and perhaps motivated by xenophobia and yet God humors him. He sends makes a plant grow to provide shade to Jonah, but then takes it away, and then Jonah's concern over the plant is contrasted to his lack of concern over Niniveh. God rather then shows concern over the gentile inhabitants, even the animals.
Here is another important theme in this short story meant to humble the Jewish people in light of their prestigious calling. As much as Israel was given an exalted vocation in the plan of salvation, that vocation itself did not translate to merit, but rather to potential merit, a very harsh set of obligations, which Israel repeatedly failed to carry out. Too often worldly Israelites confused their vocation for merit, and began to view the gentiles as inferior because they were gentiles, instead of viewing the world through a moral point of view in which the good are scatted all throughout the world, and in which merit is the invisible sum of the choices made in response to the manifold paths that God sets out for each individual, regardless of their background. To lose sight of this leads to the worst of disgraces. After all it was the only Judean apostle that betrayed Christ. After all, He was crucified, not in any pagan capital, but in Jerusalem within sight of the temple.
July 28, 2024
Absolute banger. Great story of God’s heart for the entire world and his people’s disobedience.
August 1, 2019
Two things make it difficult for me to personally connect with the story of Jonah. First, how could a prophet of God be dumb enough to think he can hide from God? And second, why was he upset that God decided not to destroy Nineveh? Did he look forward to seeing all those people die?
But when I think about it more, I do begin to understand. Attempting to run away from God is foolish no doubt about it. But is it any more foolish than me trying to hide from my problems or to ignore a nudge from God? And maybe Jonah or his close friends and relatives suffered terribly at the hands of the Ninevites. It's possible and explain why he was so eager for their destruction.
Also a few days ago I read this:
But when I think about it more, I do begin to understand. Attempting to run away from God is foolish no doubt about it. But is it any more foolish than me trying to hide from my problems or to ignore a nudge from God? And maybe Jonah or his close friends and relatives suffered terribly at the hands of the Ninevites. It's possible and explain why he was so eager for their destruction.
Also a few days ago I read this:
Even when we are most disobedient to the laws of love [God] still cares; he is slow to anger and quick to forgive -- far quicker to forgive than his human creatures, such as Jonah, who is intensely irritated by the Father's compassion.
~Madeleine L'Engle, The Irrational Season p.88
January 8, 2025
12/24–It has a long time for me to feel this, but I love rereading the Bible—there’s always something new swimming under the surface watching to be snatched up. This is my third time reading Jonah. I don’t think I ever put together what a terrible guy he was--something of a racist. He essentially gatekept God from other nations, desiring for their destruction. To him, God’s covenant must only be administered to the Israelites. Yet despite his resistance (even in the light of every other person who repents in this book) he was a prophet of the Lord. God did not let him stew in this mindset but instead called him out and used him for His glory. This is a profound thought.
June 26, 2022
"Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?"
- Jonah 4:4
The book of "Jonah" has many amazing lessons. But there is one that stood out to me...
It is okay to be angered, to feel a stirring of rage at the corruption, cruelty, and injustice of the world.
But it is NOT okay when that anger causes us to disobey God or act in an unrighteous manner. We must ALWAYS be willing to put aside our desires, our emotions and our passions when God calls on us to share the Gospel.
Overall, I loved the book of Jonah and highly recommend it!
- Jonah 4:4
The book of "Jonah" has many amazing lessons. But there is one that stood out to me...
It is okay to be angered, to feel a stirring of rage at the corruption, cruelty, and injustice of the world.
But it is NOT okay when that anger causes us to disobey God or act in an unrighteous manner. We must ALWAYS be willing to put aside our desires, our emotions and our passions when God calls on us to share the Gospel.
Overall, I loved the book of Jonah and highly recommend it!
June 6, 2025
The book of Jonah tells the story of a reluctant prophet who tries to run from God’s calling but finds that Gods mercy and purpose are inescapable.
I learned that even if you go the wrong way out of disobedience, God will still order your steps and create circumstances to bring you back to the path that leads to Him.
His grace pursues us, not to punish, but to restore us to His purpose.
I learned that even if you go the wrong way out of disobedience, God will still order your steps and create circumstances to bring you back to the path that leads to Him.
His grace pursues us, not to punish, but to restore us to His purpose.
May 24, 2018
Well the book is about two pages long but I really like this one. Jonah and the whale is a famous story now. I also find it interesting how Jonah is one of the fewer prophets who ignores God's word only to face the consequences later.
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June 13, 2020Read in conjunction with Moby Dick and its many references. Interesting to compare interpretations, each stressing different elements of the religious and personal choices made by characters within the story. Helps understand Melville a little more.
September 17, 2024
Plenty of action sequences in this book of the Bible with Jonah running off to Nineveh then getting swallowed by a whale. He also wasn’t too happy when the people in Nineveh actually started repenting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
Nínive tiene más de ciento veinte mil habitantes que viven en oscuridad espiritual, sin mencionar todos los animales. ¿No debería yo sentir lástima por esta gran ciudad?
Sometimes, we forget how good God is. How can we complain when He is good? He has been good to us, and that should be enough to be thankful and make us not complain about Him forgiving others.
Sometimes, we forget how good God is. How can we complain when He is good? He has been good to us, and that should be enough to be thankful and make us not complain about Him forgiving others.
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January 1, 2020Описание балдяки-Иона, убегающего от Бога (безуспешно) и жалеющего, что пророчество о разрушении города в сто двадцать тысяч душ не случилось (уроки гуманности от Господа).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
Into whales and whale related literature right now.
October 13, 2023
Ole Jonah, maybe the most relatable prophet (if we’re being honest) flees from God’s calling, repents in the belly of a giant fish, seems to get straightened out, but then almost IMMEDIATELY forgets his sinful/selfish acts and gets butthurt that God followed through and softened to Nineveh when the people repented for their evil. My prayer today is that God redirects me when I get as tunnel visioned as Jonah 😬
July 10, 2022
Jonah tried to run from God, and that simply cannot be done!
After being swallowed by a whale, he repents, and decides to do as God commanded.
The people of Nineveh received his criticism and were ready to change their wicked ways...much to Jonah's dismay.
After being swallowed by a whale, he repents, and decides to do as God commanded.
The people of Nineveh received his criticism and were ready to change their wicked ways...much to Jonah's dismay.
March 30, 2024
Jonah is just. So whiny
April 6, 2022
[Apr 6 2022] *Robert Alter's translation of "Jonah" from The Hebrew Bible: Translation with Commentary.
[Apr 6 2022] *New Revised Standard Version of "Jonah" from the New Oxford Annotated Bible.
[Apr 6 2022] *New Revised Standard Version of "Jonah" from the New Oxford Annotated Bible.
February 19, 2016
Jonah is a short, very interesting story. I've grown up hearing the story of Jonah getting swallowed by a whale ... but it certainly was thought-provoking and exciting to read it over. Like I said, it's quite a quick read, and even ends kind of abruptly; but has a profoundness to it. Of course! *smiles* I truly felt the deep love of a Creator for His creation, wayward though they are.
"But the LORD said, 'You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?'" Jonah 4:10-11 NIV
"But the LORD said, 'You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?'" Jonah 4:10-11 NIV
September 12, 2022
This book was shorter than I remembered it being. Too many times I'm as stubborn as Jonah and want others to be punished for their wrongs. Yet too many times I forget that I deserve the same judgement and that it's only by God's grace that I don't receive the punishment I deserve. This book was a good reminder to be thankful for His mercy.
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January 3, 2018Re-read April 30, 2015
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews