Jonah 1 Study Notes: Jonah Runs from God
God sends Jonah to warn Nineveh, but the prophet boards a ship for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. The LORD sends a fierce storm, the sailors learn Jonah is the cause, and when they throw him overboard the sea grows still, the crew worships the LORD, and a huge fish swallows Jonah.
General
In Matthew 12:40, Jesus compares Jonah's time inside the great fish (1:17) to what?
Answer: His own three days and nights deep within the earth
Verse 17 says the LORD had sent a huge fish, which swallowed the prophet, and he stayed inside it three days and nights. The fish was God's means of rescue, not an accident. Jesus treated this event as real history and used it as a sign of Himself: just as Jonah spent that time inside the fish, the Son of Man would spend three days and nights deep within the earth (Matthew 12:40). Jesus called this the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:39), and it was fulfilled when Christ died, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
- Jonah 1:17 (BSB)“Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.”The LORD appoints a huge fish that takes Jonah in, and he stays inside it for three days and nights.
- Matthew 12:40 (BSB)“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”Jesus says Jonah's time in the fish points to His own three days and nights deep within the earth as the Son of Man.
- Matthew 12:39 (BSB)“Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”Jesus calls Jonah's experience the one sign His unbelieving generation would be given.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”Paul states the gospel facts Jesus foretold: Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Theological
To what does Jesus liken Jonah's three days and nights inside the fish (1:17) in Matthew 12:40?
Answer: His own three days and nights deep within the earth
The LORD appointed the great fish (1:17), another act of His sovereign rule over creation, and Jonah remained inside it three days and nights. Jesus takes this as historical and as a sign pointing to Himself: Jonah's time inside the fish foreshadowed the Son of Man's three days and nights deep within the earth (Matthew 12:40). This is the sign of Jonah given to an unbelieving generation (Matthew 12:39), fulfilled in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
- Jonah 1:17 (BSB)“Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.”The LORD appoints a huge fish that takes Jonah in, and he stays inside it for three days and nights.
- Matthew 12:40 (BSB)“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”Jesus says Jonah's time in the fish points to His own three days and nights deep within the earth as the Son of Man.
- Matthew 12:39 (BSB)“Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.”Jesus calls Jonah's experience the one sign His unbelieving generation would be given.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”Paul states the gospel facts Jesus foretold: Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
General
How does Jonah describe the God he worships when the sailors question him in 1:9?
Answer: The God of heaven, maker of sea and land
When the sailors asked who he was, Jonah said he was a Hebrew and that he worshiped the LORD, Creator of both sea and land and God of heaven (1:9). The irony is sharp: he was running across the sea from the very God who made it. His answer made the sailors even more afraid (1:10). Scripture often praises God as Creator of sea and land (Psalm 95:5; Genesis 1:9-10), and the first Christians prayed to Him as Maker of heaven, earth, and sea (Acts 4:24).
- Jonah 1:9 (BSB)““I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.””Questioned by the sailors, Jonah names himself a Hebrew who worships the Creator of sea and land.
- Psalm 95:5 (BSB)“The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.”The psalm says both sea and land belong to God because His hands formed them.
- Genesis 1:9-10 (BSB)“And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”At creation God gathered the waters and made the land appear, the work Jonah confesses.
- Acts 4:24 (BSB)“When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”The early believers pray to the Sovereign Lord as Maker of heaven, earth, and sea.
Theological
What confession about the LORD does Jonah make to the sailors in 1:9?
Answer: The God of heaven, maker of sea and land
Jonah identifies himself as a Hebrew who worships the LORD, Creator of sea and land and God of heaven (1:9). The confession is orthodox and the irony is pointed: the prophet professes the Creator of the sea while fleeing across it, and the sailors grow more afraid at what he has done (1:10). God's ownership of sea and land rests on His work of creation (Psalm 95:5; Genesis 1:9-10), the same ground on which the apostolic church addressed Him as Sovereign Lord (Acts 4:24).
- Jonah 1:9 (BSB)““I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.””Questioned by the sailors, Jonah names himself a Hebrew who worships the Creator of sea and land.
- Psalm 95:5 (BSB)“The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.”The psalm says both sea and land belong to God because His hands formed them.
- Genesis 1:9-10 (BSB)“And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of waters He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.”At creation God gathered the waters and made the land appear, the work Jonah confesses.
- Acts 4:24 (BSB)“When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.”The early believers pray to the Sovereign Lord as Maker of heaven, earth, and sea.
General
What did Jonah do after the LORD told him to go and preach against Nineveh?
Answer: He took a ship toward Tarshish to escape the LORD
The LORD commanded Jonah son of Amittai to go to Nineveh, a great city, and speak out against it, for its evil had risen up before Him (1:1-2). Instead Jonah traveled to the port of Joppa, paid for a place on a ship, and set sail for Tarshish to get away from the LORD's presence (1:3). Jonah was a known prophet of the LORD in Israel (2 Kings 14:25), yet he ran. But no one can truly escape God, as Psalm 139:7-10 says. Later Jonah explains that he fled because he expected God to show mercy to Nineveh (Jonah 4:2).
- Jonah 1:1-3 (BSB)“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.”The LORD sends Jonah to preach against Nineveh, but Jonah boards a ship at Joppa heading for Tarshish.
- 2 Kings 14:25 (BSB)“This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.”Kings names Jonah son of Amittai as the LORD's servant and prophet in the days of Jeroboam.
- Psalm 139:7-10 (BSB)“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.”David confesses that there is nowhere, even at the farthest sea, where a person can get away from God.
- Jonah 4:2 (BSB)“So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.”Jonah later gives his own reason for running: he expected the LORD to show mercy to Nineveh.
Theological
How did Jonah respond to the LORD's commission to preach against Nineveh in 1:1-3?
Answer: He took a ship toward Tarshish to escape the LORD
The commission was clear: go to Nineveh and denounce it, for its evil had risen before the LORD (1:1-2). Jonah, a recognized prophet in Israel (2 Kings 14:25), traveled to Joppa instead and boarded a ship for Tarshish to flee the LORD's presence (1:3). The flight is futile from the start, since the omnipresent God cannot be escaped (Psalm 139:7-10). The book later lets Jonah state his own motive: he foresaw that the LORD would relent and spare the city (Jonah 4:2).
- Jonah 1:1-3 (BSB)“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.”The LORD sends Jonah to preach against Nineveh, but Jonah boards a ship at Joppa heading for Tarshish.
- 2 Kings 14:25 (BSB)“This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.”Kings names Jonah son of Amittai as the LORD's servant and prophet in the days of Jeroboam.
- Psalm 139:7-10 (BSB)“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.”David confesses that there is nowhere, even at the farthest sea, where a person can get away from God.
- Jonah 4:2 (BSB)“So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.”Jonah later gives his own reason for running: he expected the LORD to show mercy to Nineveh.
General
True or False: The sailors cast lots to learn who was to blame for the storm, and the lot picked out Jonah.
Answer: True
This is true. The sailors cried to their own gods and threw the cargo overboard, while Jonah lay in a deep sleep below; the captain came to him and urged him to rise and pray to his God (1:5-6). Then the sailors decided to cast lots (a way of drawing marked objects to reach a decision) to learn who had brought this disaster on them, and the lot singled out Jonah (1:7). The result was not chance: Proverbs 16:33 teaches that every decision of the lot comes from the LORD. Lots were also used when the apostles sought God's choice of a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:26).
- Jonah 1:7 (BSB)““Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”The sailors draw lots to learn who caused the trouble, and the lot singles out Jonah.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”The proverb teaches that the LORD determines every outcome of the lot, so the result on the ship was His doing.
- Acts 1:26 (BSB)“Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.”The apostles also drew lots, and the result pointed to Matthias, showing lots used to seek God's choice.
Theological
True or False: When the sailors drew lots to learn the cause of the calamity, the lot pointed to Jonah.
Answer: True
This is true. While the crew cried to their gods and lightened the ship, the captain confronted the sleeping Jonah and told him to call on his God (1:5-6); then the sailors cast lots to identify the one responsible for the calamity, and the lot singled out Jonah (1:7). God's providence governs even the lot (Proverbs 16:33), so the same LORD who sent the storm now exposes the fugitive in front of the pagan crew. The apostles likewise cast lots before the choice of Matthias (Acts 1:26).
- Jonah 1:7 (BSB)““Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.”The sailors draw lots to learn who caused the trouble, and the lot singles out Jonah.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”The proverb teaches that the LORD determines every outcome of the lot, so the result on the ship was His doing.
- Acts 1:26 (BSB)“Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.”The apostles also drew lots, and the result pointed to Matthias, showing lots used to seek God's choice.
General
How did the sailors respond after the sea became calm in 1:15-16?
Answer: They feared the LORD, sacrificed, and made vows
When the sailors threw Jonah into the sea, the raging water grew calm (1:15). The men who had each cried to their own gods at the start (1:5) now greatly feared the LORD, offered Him a sacrifice, and made vows (1:16). The runaway prophet's disobedience ended with pagan sailors worshiping the true God. Psalm 107:28-29 describes the LORD hushing a storm for sailors who cry to Him, Jesus' disciples react with fear when He calms the sea (Mark 4:41), and Psalm 50:14 calls for thank offerings and kept vows.
- Jonah 1:15-16 (BSB)“Then they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm. Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him.”Once Jonah is thrown overboard the sea grows calm, and the sailors respond with fear and worship toward the LORD.
- Psalm 107:28-29 (BSB)“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”The psalm describes sailors crying out to God and Him hushing the storm, as happens here.
- Mark 4:41 (BSB)“Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””When Jesus calms the sea, His disciples are filled with fear and ask who He is, a parallel response to such power.
- Psalm 50:14 (BSB)“Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.”God calls for thank offerings and the keeping of vows, the kind of worship the sailors offer.
Theological
What was the sailors' response to the calm sea in 1:15-16?
Answer: They feared the LORD, sacrificed, and made vows
The calm that followed Jonah's casting into the sea (1:15) found the crew who had cried to their own gods (1:5) now fearing the LORD greatly; they offered sacrifice and made vows (1:16). Even through Jonah's flight God was making Himself known among the nations. The LORD's stilling of the storm for those who cry to Him (Psalm 107:28-29) and the disciples' awe when Christ calms the sea (Mark 4:41) show the same response to divine power, and Psalm 50:14 names sacrifice and vows as fitting worship.
- Jonah 1:15-16 (BSB)“Then they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm. Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him.”Once Jonah is thrown overboard the sea grows calm, and the sailors respond with fear and worship toward the LORD.
- Psalm 107:28-29 (BSB)“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”The psalm describes sailors crying out to God and Him hushing the storm, as happens here.
- Mark 4:41 (BSB)“Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””When Jesus calms the sea, His disciples are filled with fear and ask who He is, a parallel response to such power.
- Psalm 50:14 (BSB)“Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.”God calls for thank offerings and the keeping of vows, the kind of worship the sailors offer.
General
True or False: As soon as Jonah told the sailors to throw him overboard, they did it without hesitation.
Answer: False
This is false. Jonah told them to throw him overboard because he knew the storm was his fault (1:12). But the men first rowed with all their strength toward shore, and they could not, because the sea kept growing wilder (1:13). Then they called on the LORD by name, asking Him not to let them die for Jonah's life or hold them guilty of killing an innocent man, and they confessed that He had done as He pleased (1:14). Their prayer resembles Israel's own plea about innocent blood (Deuteronomy 21:8) and the truth that God does whatever He pleases (Psalm 115:3).
- Jonah 1:12-14 (BSB)““Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more. So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.””Jonah tells them to throw him overboard, but the men row hard first and then pray to the LORD not to hold them guilty.
- Deuteronomy 21:8 (BSB)“Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for.”The law shows Israel praying that the LORD not hold innocent bloodshed against His people, the same concern the sailors voice.
- Psalm 115:3 (BSB)“Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”The psalm says God acts according to His own pleasure, the truth the sailors confess about what the LORD has done.
Theological
True or False: The sailors threw Jonah overboard immediately once he told them it would calm the sea.
Answer: False
This is false. Though Jonah acknowledged his guilt and told them to throw him in (1:12), the sailors first rowed hard for land and failed as the sea raged more and more (1:13). Only then, after praying to the LORD by name not to hold them guilty of innocent blood and confessing that He had done as He pleased (1:14), did they act. Their plea parallels Israel's own prayer concerning innocent blood (Deuteronomy 21:8), and their confession of the LORD's freedom matches Psalm 115:3.
- Jonah 1:12-14 (BSB)““Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more. So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.””Jonah tells them to throw him overboard, but the men row hard first and then pray to the LORD not to hold them guilty.
- Deuteronomy 21:8 (BSB)“Accept this atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel whom You have redeemed, and do not hold the shedding of innocent blood against them.” And the bloodshed will be atoned for.”The law shows Israel praying that the LORD not hold innocent bloodshed against His people, the same concern the sailors voice.
- Psalm 115:3 (BSB)“Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.”The psalm says God acts according to His own pleasure, the truth the sailors confess about what the LORD has done.
General
According to 1:4, who caused the storm that threatened Jonah's ship?
Answer: The LORD, who flung a mighty wind on the sea
Verse 4 says plainly that the LORD flung a mighty wind onto the sea, raising a storm so violent that the vessel was about to break apart. The storm was not bad luck; God sent it to stop His runaway prophet. The God Jonah tried to flee rules the very sea he fled across. Psalm 135:6 says the LORD does whatever He pleases in the seas, Psalm 107:25 says He stirs up storms by His word, and Jesus shows the same authority when He calms the wind and waves (Mark 4:39).
- Jonah 1:4 (BSB)“Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.”The LORD Himself sends the wind that stirs up a storm violent enough to threaten the ship.
- Psalm 135:6 (BSB)“The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.”The psalm affirms that the LORD does whatever He pleases, even in the ocean depths.
- Psalm 107:25 (BSB)“For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.”The psalmist says the LORD raises the storm and lifts the waves by His word.
- Mark 4:39 (BSB)“Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.”Jesus stills wind and sea with a word, showing the same lordship over the waters.
Theological
To whom does 1:4 attribute the storm that endangered Jonah's ship?
Answer: The LORD, who flung a mighty wind on the sea
The text assigns the storm directly to the LORD, who flung a mighty wind across the waters until the ship was close to breaking up (1:4). This is the first of several acts in the book by which God governs creation to accomplish His purpose with Jonah. His providence extends to the seas and their depths (Psalm 135:6) and to storm and wave (Psalm 107:25); Christ displays the same sovereign rule when wind and sea fall silent at His command (Mark 4:39).
- Jonah 1:4 (BSB)“Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.”The LORD Himself sends the wind that stirs up a storm violent enough to threaten the ship.
- Psalm 135:6 (BSB)“The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.”The psalm affirms that the LORD does whatever He pleases, even in the ocean depths.
- Psalm 107:25 (BSB)“For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.”The psalmist says the LORD raises the storm and lifts the waves by His word.
- Mark 4:39 (BSB)“Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.”Jesus stills wind and sea with a word, showing the same lordship over the waters.