Key Themes in Jonah

The book of Jonah provides no reference to external events. Names of kings are absent and Jonah’s words do not indicate its historical setting, suggesting that its message is not dependent on a specific context.

Although described as ‘a prophet’ in 2Ki 14:25, Jonah is not called a prophet in this book but his calling establishes his prophetic task.

Striking literary features combine to create a story with a power far beyond its length. These include repetition, for example to heighten tension – see 1:4, 11, 13 (storm), and 1:5, 10, 16 (fear); key words (wickedness, calamity, trouble); contrast, for example, going ‘down’ versus ‘getting up’; and irony, for example, Jonah responds to success by longing for death (4:1, 3, 9). Chapters 1–2 mirror the structure of chapters 3–4. So, for example, the start of chapters 1 and 3 both present God’s word coming to Jonah and his response (see 1:1-3; 3:1-4); 2:1-10 presents Jonah’s prayer followed by God’s response which is paralleled in 4:1-11. These parallels illustrate that the entire story is both initiated and concluded by God.

Readers take contrasting stances on the fish. Some suggest that a parabolic understanding is necessary to uphold the true nature of Scripture, while others believe that only a literal and historical view safeguards the Bible as God’s written word.

Themes and relevance

The story highlights a number of theological issues whose relevance transcends specific historical periods:

1. God’s dialogue with the human soul (Jonah)

An overriding concern is the need to hear and respond to God’s word. God addresses Jonah directly (1:1-2; 3:1-2), sends a storm and a fish to arrest his attention (1:4; 17), challenges his preconceptions (4:4), illustrates his challenge with a leafy plant (4:5-10) and leaves Jonah with an open question to consider (4:11).

Jonah’s reluctant response to God underlines the cost of being called as a prophet. Jonah’s initial instincts were to run away and hide. On his door is a large notice which says ‘Do Not Disturb’ and yet he is a prophet in Israel. His is a perplexing struggle with God, as his prayers (2:1-9 and 4:2-3) demonstrate. He discovers that he cannot shake God off. The story is an honest appraisal of the ubiquitous human desire to do one’s own thing instead of journeying with God.

2. The relationship between the chosen people and the rest of humanity

In this story the responses of Jonah and the Gentiles are contrasted. Jonah appears not to fear God (1:3, 5) while the Gentiles show an appropriate fear (1:10, 14; 3:5, 8-9). Jonah preached only judgment (3:4), but the Ninevites received deliverance (3:10).

Hebrew prophecy often highlights the relationship between God and his people. It seems that the prophetic writer intended that God’s people should recognise themselves in the person of Jonah. The whole story then becomes a lengthy prophetic utterance in which the final question is addressed to them. The complexity of God’s dealings with Israel exposed the narrowness of Israel’s beliefs but also showed that God reveals his saving compassion as he chooses. Ironically, the freedom of God exposes the bondage of his people.

3. Challenging perceptions of God

While we question some of the features of this story, we too are being questioned by the God who questions Jonah. The narrative reflects back onto the reader a range of theological questions that challenge our perceptions about the merciful nature of God, the omnipresence of God (being everywhere at the same time), and God’s sovereignty over all things (including the natural world). The book concludes with an unanswered question on the lips of God (4:11) which every reader is challenged to answer.

4. Repentance

The story’s resolution is found in the theme of repentance. The Ninevite king leads his people in repentance (3:7-9; cf. Jer 18:5-11) and the Lord himself relents (3:10).

Equally noteworthy is the absence of any penitence or repentance on Jonah’s part. He is a self-righteous person with little awareness of his own need of divine mercy. So deeply embedded is Jonah’s arrogance that God’s faithful commitment to remain with him may be seen as a profound act of divine humility and love.

The relevance of the sign of Jonah

Mt 12:38-42; 16:4 and Lk 11:29-32 speak about the sign of Jonah and suggest that the religious leaders had lessons to learn from the repentant Ninevites. The sign of Jonah signalled God’s mercy on all penitent sinners – Jew or Gentile, insiders or outsiders, may turn and be saved, despite continued resistance from stiff-necked ‘Jonah’ figures.

The book of Jonah is read by Jews on the Day of Atonement for it underlines many of its great lessons – that it is impossible to escape God’s presence and that God’s compassion means that he is ever willing to offer salvation to whoever truly repents. It is the portrayal of these characteristics of God, so consonant with the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, which grips and absorbs us in the book of Jonah.

This blog post is extracted from the study notes of the NIV BST Bible, ahead of the publication of Obadiah, Jonah and Micah, the new Tyndale Old Testament Commentary by Daniel C. Timmer.