Who was Jonah in the Bible?

Last updated Jul 14, 2026

Published by Bible Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0

Jonah's story is told in the Book of Jonah — sent by God to Nineveh, fleeing by ship, swallowed by a great fish, and finally preaching to the city.

Traditional attribution: The Book of Jonah is traditionally attributed to Jonah (Wikidata Q2468262).

Key passages:

"Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me." — Jonah 1:2

"Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." — Jonah 1:17

"And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land." — Jonah 2:10

"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." — Jonah 3:10

Read the full account in Jonah — the book is only four chapters.

Also asked as

  • · Jonah and the whale
  • · Jonah Nineveh
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