And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
Jonah 4:11 KJV
About the Book of Jonah
God tells Jonah to warn Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, Israel's feared enemy. Jonah boards a ship in the opposite direction, a storm hits, and the sailors throw him overboard. A great fish swallows him, and from inside he prays; he is then spat onto land. He finally preaches, the city repents, and God relents. Jonah, furious at God's mercy toward his enemies, sulks outside the city until a plant and a worm teach him a lesson. The book ends on a question to Jonah, left open for the reader.
- Testament: Old Testament
- Genre: Narrative / Prophecy
- Chapters: 4
- Verses: 48
Who Wrote Jonah, and When?
Author: Anonymous; the story is about the prophet Jonah son of Amittai.
When it was written: Set in the 8th century BC; probably written later, perhaps the 5th-4th centuries BC.
Main Themes in Jonah
- God's mercy for enemies
- Running from a calling
- Repentance
A Key Verse: Jonah 4:11
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
The closing question about pity for Nineveh's people and animals gives the point of the entire story.
Reading Tip
Jonah is mostly a story, not a collection of oracles, and its humor and irony are easy to miss on a quick read. Use the randomizer above to land on a verse in Jonah, then press Show context to read the verses around it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many chapters and verses are in Jonah?
Jonah has 4 chapters and 48 verses in the King James Version.
Who wrote Jonah?
Author: Anonymous; the story is about the prophet Jonah son of Amittai. When it was written: Set in the 8th century BC; probably written later, perhaps the 5th-4th centuries BC.
What is Jonah about?
God tells Jonah to warn Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, Israel's feared enemy. Jonah boards a ship in the opposite direction, a storm hits, and the sailors throw him overboard. A great fish swallows him, and from inside he prays; he is then spat onto land. He finally preaches, the city repents, and God relents. Jonah, furious at God's mercy toward his enemies, sulks outside the city until a plant and a worm teach him a lesson. The book ends on a question to Jonah, left open for the reader.
Can I get a random verse from only Jonah?
Yes. This page picks a random verse from Jonah only. Every one of its 48 verses has an equal chance.