Jonah Chapter 1 — The Prophet's Flight from God
Jonah tries to run away from God’s command to preach in Nineveh but is caught in a storm and eventually swallowed by a large fish.
1Now the LORD’s*When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh). word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.”
3But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
4But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty storm on the sea, so that the ship was likely to break up.
5Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship and he was laying down, and was fast asleep.
6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God!†or, gods Maybe your God‡or, gods will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
7They all said to each other, “Come! Let’s cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
8Then they asked him, “Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?”
9He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God§The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim). of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”
10Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “What have you done?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
11Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us?” For the sea grew more and more stormy.
12He said to them, “Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you.”
13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.
14Therefore they cried to the LORD, and said, “We beg you, LORD, we beg you, don’t let us die for this man’s life, and don’t lay on us innocent blood; for you, LORD, have done as it pleased you.”
15So they took up Jonah and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging.
16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
17The LORD prepared a huge fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Jonah 1:3
“But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”
This verse establishes the central conflict of the book: a prophet's attempt to evade God's specific call.
Jonah 1:9
“He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.””
Jonah acknowledges God's authority over all creation even while in the midst of his disobedience.
Jonah 1:17
“The LORD prepared a huge fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
This verse introduces the miraculous event that preserves Jonah's life after he is thrown into the sea.
Chapter Summary
Jonah, the son of Amittai, receives a command from God to go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against its wickedness. Instead of obeying, Jonah attempts to flee to Tarshish to escape the presence of the Lord. He boards a ship in Joppa, but God sends a mighty storm that threatens to break the vessel apart. The terrified mariners cast lots to find out who is responsible for the disaster, and the lot falls on Jonah. After Jonah explains he is fleeing from God, he instructs the sailors to throw him into the sea to save themselves. The sailors reluctantly comply, and the storm immediately ceases, leading the crew to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. The chapter concludes with God preparing a huge fish to swallow Jonah, where he remains for three days and nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jonah fled to avoid God's command to preach in Nineveh. By traveling toward Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction, he hoped to escape his responsibility and the presence of the Lord.
The sailors cast lots, a common practice for seeking divine guidance or determining hidden facts, and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah then admitted he was fleeing from the Lord, the God of heaven.
After throwing Jonah overboard and seeing the sea become calm, the sailors were exceedingly afraid of the Lord. They offered a sacrifice and made vows to Him, recognizing His power over the elements.
Study Note
The city of Nineveh mentioned in verse 2 was the capital of the Assyrian Empire, which was known in historical records for its military power and historical conflict with Israel.
Related Chapters
Matthew Chapter 12
Jesus references the 'sign of Jonah' and his three days in the fish as a parallel to His own resurrection.
Psalm 139
This psalm explores the theme of the impossibility of escaping God's presence, which Jonah unsuccessfully attempted.
Nahum Chapter 1
Nahum also contains a prophecy regarding Nineveh, providing further context on the city Jonah was sent to.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.