Jonah 1:1
New International Version
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai:

New Living Translation
The LORD gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai:

English Standard Version
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,

King James Bible
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

New King James Version
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

New American Standard Bible
The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

NASB 1995
The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,

NASB 1977
The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying,

Amplified Bible
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai:”

American Standard Version
Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Contemporary English Version
One day the LORD told Jonah, the son of Amittai,

English Revised Version
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said,

Good News Translation
One day the LORD spoke to Jonah son of Amittai.

International Standard Version
Now this message from the LORD came to Amittai's son Jonah:

Majority Standard Bible
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,

NET Bible
The LORD said to Jonah son of Amittai,

New Heart English Bible
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

World English Bible
Now Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And there is a word of YHWH to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jonah son of Amittai, saying:

Smith's Literal Translation
And the word of Jehovah shall be to Jonah, son of Amittai, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonas the son of Amathi, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying:

New American Bible
The word of the LORD came to Jonah, son of Amittai:

New Revised Standard Version
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
NOW the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Matai (Matthew), saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the word of LORD JEHOVAH was upon Yonan, son of Matti, saying:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonas the son of Amathi, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonah Flees From the LORD
1Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2“Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 14:25
This Jeroboam restored the boundary of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word that the LORD, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath-hepher.

Matthew 12:39-41
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. / The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:29-32
As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. / For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. / The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here. ...

Matthew 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.

John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Romans 10:14-15
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Hebrews 1:1
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.

Acts 13:2
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Acts 10:36
He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

1 Peter 1:10-12
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, / trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. / It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Jeremiah 1:1-2
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. / The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

Hosea 1:1
This is the word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and of Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel.

Zechariah 1:1
In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying:

Isaiah 1:1
This is the vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.


Treasury of Scripture

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

Jonah.

2 Kings 14:25
He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

Matthew 12:39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Matthew 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Jonas.

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Jonah 1
1. Jonah, sent to Nineveh, flees to Tarshish.
4. He is betrayed by a great storm;
11. thrown into the sea;
17. and swallowed by a fish.














Now the word of the LORD
This phrase introduces the divine communication that is central to the prophetic books of the Bible. The Hebrew term for "word" is "dabar," which signifies not just a spoken word but an active, dynamic force that accomplishes God's will. In the context of the Old Testament, the "word of the LORD" is a powerful, creative, and authoritative command. It is reminiscent of the creation narrative in Genesis, where God speaks the world into existence. This underscores the authority and power of God's word, which is not merely informative but transformative. The phrase also establishes the divine origin of the message, affirming that the subsequent narrative is not of human invention but a revelation from God Himself.

came to Jonah
The Hebrew verb "hayah" is used here, which means "to come to pass" or "to happen." This indicates that the word of the LORD actively seeks out Jonah, emphasizing the initiative of God in reaching out to His chosen prophet. Jonah, whose name means "dove" in Hebrew, is a unique figure among the prophets. Unlike other prophetic books that focus on the prophet's message, the Book of Jonah centers on the prophet's personal journey and response to God's call. This highlights the relational aspect of God's communication, as He engages with Jonah personally and directly.

son of Amittai
The name "Amittai" means "truth" or "faithfulness" in Hebrew. This lineage is significant as it connects Jonah to a heritage of truth, suggesting that Jonah is a bearer of God's truth. The mention of his father’s name serves to authenticate Jonah's identity and prophetic authority. In the historical context, Jonah is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, where he prophesies during the reign of Jeroboam II, indicating his role in the broader narrative of Israel's history. This connection provides a backdrop for understanding Jonah's mission and the significance of his prophetic role.

saying
The Hebrew word "amar" is used here, which is a common term for "saying" or "speaking." It introduces the direct speech of God, which is a hallmark of prophetic literature. This word sets the stage for the divine instructions that follow, highlighting the immediacy and clarity of God's communication. The use of "saying" implies that what follows is not just a message but a command that requires a response. It underscores the expectation of obedience and action on the part of Jonah, reflecting the broader biblical theme of hearing and responding to God's call.

JONAH'S DISOBEDIENCE AND PUNISHMENT.

(1) Now . . .--More strictly, And; but the English quite adequately represents the Hebrew style of beginning a narrative, whether it formed a book by itself, or merely continued an historical account. (See the opening of Exodus, Leviticus, and other historical books; Ezekiel 1:1; and comp. 1Kings 17:1, &c.)

Jonah the son of Amittai.--See Introduction.

Verse 1. - Now; or, and. Some have argued from this commencement that the Book of Jonah is a fragment, the continuation of a larger work; but it is a common formulary, linking together revelations and histories, and is continually used in the Old Testament at the beginning of independent works; e.g. Joshua 1:1; Judges 1:1; 1 Samuel 1:1; Esther 1:1; Ezekiel 1:1. Jonah the son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:25). (See Introduction, § II.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now the word
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

came
וַֽיְהִי֙ (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jonah
יוֹנָ֥ה (yō·w·nāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3124: Jonah -- an Israelite prophet

son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Amittai,
אֲמִתַּ֖י (’ă·mit·tay)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 573: Amittai -- 'true', the father of Jonah

saying,
לֵאמֹֽר׃ (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Prophets: Jonah 1:1 Now the word of Yahweh came (Jon. Jh)
Obadiah 1:21
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