Jonah 3:1-10

You can sponsor this page of The Text This Week

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Repentance, Confession and Restitution," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter VII of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • III.XX.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • II.17, II.24, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 208)
  • IV.10, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XXXII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.11, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • John Calvin's Commentary on Jonah.
    • "There is here set before us a remarkable proof of God's grace, - that he was pleased to bestow on Jonah his former dignity and honor."
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "...the fruits of their repentance...proceeded from faith, which God had planted by the ministry of his Prophet."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "In prayer we must cry mightily, with fixedness of thought, firmness of faith, and devout affections. It concerns us in prayer to stir up all that is within us."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "[Nineveh] The greatest city of the known world at that day, it was then in its flourishing state greater than Babylon, whose compass was three hundred eighty - five furlongs, but Nineveh was in compass, four hundred and eighty."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "...arose and went--like the son who was at first disobedient to the father's command, "Go work in my vineyard," but who afterwards "repented and went". Jonah was thus the fittest instrument for proclaiming judgment, and yet hope of mercy on repentance to Nineveh, being himself a living exemplification of both--judgment in his entombment in the fish, mercy on repentance in his deliverance."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Beth Tanner, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "So the story of this old prophet is much more than a whale tale. Its message is meant for those mature enough to understand the ways of God, and to face the ways we try to lay claim to God and God's gift of grace."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "Give Jonah a Break," Rev. Todd Weir, bloomingcactus.
    • "We could berate Jonah for his lack of faith or courage, but it is more helpful to identify with him for a moment. He was given a mission impossible."
  • Jonah 3:1-5, 10, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "Like all serious comedy, Jonah speaks not to a world which would seek to gloss over its pain with trivialities. Rather it brings laughter into a world where serious voices, be they religious, political, economic, or military, would tell us why we cannot break the boundaries we have set up to keep others at a distance."
  • Jonah 3:1-10, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "Phyllis Trible sets out the Book of Jonah in two symmetrical scenes: Jon 1:1 - 2:10 = Narrative of flight, strife and return: Jon 3:1- 4:11 = Narrative of mission, repentance and dissent (Trible:475, 491)."
  • Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • Jonah 3: Study Notes. Detailed commentary and discussion, Tim Bulkeley, University of Auckland.
  • Join the Feast, Jonah 3:1-5, 10, Thomas W. Currie, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "We would prefer that God were more silent, reclusive, distant. But God keeps intruding, calling us again and again to speak an impossible word."
  • "Jonah's Mission," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "Is our faith narrow like that of Jonah or can we see others through God's eyes?"
• Articles & Background:
• ATLASerials is now available on multiple platforms.  Direct links are currently available for ATLASerials via EBSCOhost and ATLA platforms when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLAS on one of these platforms. If you are unsure about which link to choose, please contact support@atla.com.
  • Farmer, David Albert, "Between Text & Sermon, Jonah 3-4," Interpretation, 2000.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ferguson, Paul, "Who Was the 'King of Nineveh' in Jonah 3:6," Tyndale Bulletin, 1996.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Goodhart, Sandor, "Prophecy, Sacrifice and Repentance in the Story of Jonah," Semeia, 1985.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hauser, Alan J., "Jonah: In Pursuit of the Dove," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1985./
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lawrence, Paul J.N., "Assyrian Nobles and the Book of Jonah," Tyndale Bulletin, 1986.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lawson, Steven J., "The Power of Biblical Preaching: An Expository Study of Jonah 3:1-10," Bibliotheca Sacra, 2001.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Moberly, R.W.L., "Preaching for a Response? Jonah's Message to the Ninevites Reconsidered," Vetus Testamentum, 2003.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
  • "Tickets for Tarshish," The Rev. Dr. William J. Carl, Day 1, 2008.
  • "Jonah and the Whale," Sermons from Seattle, Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington.
  • "More Than a Fish Story," Rabbi David Saperstein, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1999.
  • "Jonah after the Whale," Rev. Sarah Buteux, Cambridge Swedenborg Chapel, Cambridge, MA.
  • "The Phone's Ringing!" John Jewell, 2000.
  • "When the God Repented," the Rev. William Carter, Day 1, 2000.
  • "The God of the Second Chance," Dr. Haddon Robinson, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 1996.
• Reviews:
• With Children:
  • "Jonah and the Whale," Illustrating the Story (lessons, children's sermons), coloring pages, activity sheets, crafts, children's songs. MSSS Crafts.
  • "God is Everywhere," Talks to Children, Rev. Donald McCorkindale, Dalgety Parish Church, Fife, Scotland.
  • "A Fishy Tale," Steven Wilson, The Children's Chapel.
  • "Nineveh Repents," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
  • "Running Away Again," the Mental Health & Disabilities Program, Mennonite Central Committee, Canada.
  • "Jonah" monologue, Ross Olson.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Bulletin Cover Art: Jonah and Jesus Calling Disciples, PowerPoint Slides: Jonah, Will Humes, Word & Table.
• Hymns and Music:
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Jonah
• Movies representing the following themes:
  • call
  • conversion
  • repentance
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Jonah