Jonah – Chapter 1

Old Testament • 16 Verses

Chapter Summary

"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:" — so begins Jonah 1. Jonah stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 16 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and worship and praise. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:

2Arise and go to Ninive, the great city, and preach in it: For the wickedness thereof is come up before me.

3And Jonah rose up to flee into Tharsis from the face of the Lord, and he went down to Joppe, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them to Tharsis from the face of the Lord,

4But the Lord sent a great wind to the sea: and a great tempest was raised in the sea, and the ship was in danger to be broken.

5And the mariners were afraid, and the men cried to their god: and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship, into the sea, to lighten it of them: and Jonah went down into the inner part of the ship, and fell into a deep sleep.

6And the ship master came to him and said to him: Why art thou fast asleep? rise up call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us that we may not perish.

7And they said every one to his fellow: Come and let us cast lots, that we may know why this evil is upon us. And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

8And they said to him: Tell us for what cause this evil is upon us, what is thy business? of what country art thou? and whither goest thou? or of what people art thou?

9And he said to them: I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, and the God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land.

10And the men were greatly afraid, and they said to him: Why hast thou done this? (For the men knew that he fled from the face of the Lord: because he had told them.)

11And they said to him: What shall we do with thee, that the sea may be calm to us? for the sea flowed and swelled.

12And he said to them: take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm to you: for I know for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

13And the men rowed hard to return the land, but they were not able: because the sea tossed and swelled upon them.

14And they cried to the Lord, and said: We beseech thee, O Lord let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, oh Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.

15And they took Jonah, and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceased from raging.

16And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims to the Lord, and made vows.

Important Verses in Jonah 1

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:”

Jonah 1:1

“But the Lord sent a great wind to the sea: and a great tempest was raised in the sea, and the ship was in danger to be broken.”

Jonah 1:4

“And he said to them: I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, and the God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land.”

Jonah 1:9

“And they cried to the Lord, and said: We beseech thee, O Lord let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, oh Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.”

Jonah 1:14

Historical Context

Jonah belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for israel, challenged to accept that God's compassion extends even to enemies. Chapter 1 of 4 opens the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 16 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Jonah, the principal figures named in this chapter. It opens with the line: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:" The final verse reads: "And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims to the Lord, and made vows. " In terms of historical background, Jonah is sent to preach to Nineveh, capital of Israel's cruelest enemy—and flees in the opposite direction. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Probably 5th-4th century BC.

Who Wrote It

Unknown; tells the story of the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai

When It Was Written

Probably 5th-4th century BC

Catholic Commentary

The prophetic discourse in this chapter speaks to a community facing the consequences of its choices before God. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

Catholic exegesis reads Jonah 1 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jesus cited Jonah as a sign of His resurrection (CIC 994). St. Irenaeus and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1265).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God's compassion reaches even to enemies. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Jonah 1 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • ✓Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

People in This Chapter

Jonah5 mentions

Reflection for Today

In Jonah Chapter 1, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of God's mercy extends to all nations.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). Jonah Chapter 1 supports that call by drawing attention to trust in providence amid uncertainty within the wider message that God's compassion reaches even to enemies.

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 791).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jonah Chapter 1 about?

Jonah 1 contains 16 verses. It opens with "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:" and closes with "And the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and sacrificed victims to the Lord, and made vows. ". The book as a whole is prophetic narrative.

What is a key verse in Jonah 1?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amathi, saying:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Jonah Chapter 1?

This chapter mentions Jonah.

Who wrote Jonah and when?

Unknown; tells the story of the prophet Jonah, son of Amittai. Probably 5th-4th century BC.

Related Chapters

2 Kings 14Shares people and themes with this chapterMatthew 12Shares people and themes with this chapterLuke 11Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Act of Contrition🙏Kyrie Eleison🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises

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