Old Testament · Narrative

Jonah

4 chapters · 48 verses · Unknown · ~750 BC

God tells a prophet to save his enemies. The prophet runs. Gets swallowed by a fish. Preaches the worst sermon in history. And the entire enemy city repents — which makes Jonah furious.

Overview

Jonah is the funniest and most subversive book in the Bible. The "hero" runs from God, sleeps through a storm, gets vomited onto a beach, preaches eight words, and then pouts when it works. The real question isn't about the fish — it's about whether God's mercy should extend to people you hate.

Key chapters of Jonah

Themes:mercyobediencecompassionprejudicegrace

Related

All 4 chapters of Jonah

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