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Jonah

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Reluctant Hebrew prophet swallowed by a great fish after fleeing God’s command, later preaching repentance to Nineveh.

Detailed Definition
Jonah’s reluctance, sea storm, and fish rescue highlight God’s mercy beyond Israel. His anger at Nineveh’s repentance reveals prejudice. In poetry, Jonah symbolizes resistance to grace, the universality of divine compassion, and the human struggle with undeserved mercy.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Jonah’s flight and fish (Jonah 1–2) illustrate reluctant obedience and grace; In William Blake’s "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," Jonah symbolizes the prophet who resists universal mercy; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Jonah’s prayer from the deep models despair turned to praise; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Jonah’s gourd and worm warn against selfish comfort; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Jonah represents the missionary who learns compassion; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Jonah’s three days prefigure resurrection.
Additional Notes
Jonah: Prophet who fled God’s call to Nineveh, swallowed by a fish, then preached repentance. In poetry, Jonah embodies resistance, divine pursuit, and the scandal of mercy to enemies. His anger at God’s compassion (Jonah 4) reveals human prejudice—ideal for poems on reluctance, second chances, or the universality of divine grace. Jesus links him to resurrection (Matthew 12:40).
Also Known As
Jonah the Prophet Jonah son of Amittai
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