Jonah 1:1
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jonah 1:1
Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The opening word, "And," isn't just a casual connector; it explicitly links this new prophecy to all the previous revelations God had given His people, showing that even a message for a foreign city is part of the ongoing, unified story of God's redemptive plan. This subtle detail emphasizes that God's dealings extend beyond Israel, weaving even a reluctant prophet's journey into the grand tapestry of His covenant faithfulness.
The book opens with the direct call of God to the prophet Jonah, tasking him with a mission to the great, wicked city of Nineveh. This is not just a random event but part of God's ongoing communication with His people and prophets, connecting this new message to all that came before. Jonah's immediate reaction, however, will be to flee, setting in motion a dramatic story of disobedience, divine intervention, and unexpected mercy.
Every great story has a beginning, but what if the very first word of a book is designed to link it to everything that came before?
The book of Jonah opens not with 'In the beginning,' but with the simple conjunction 'And.' This isn't just a grammatical quirk; it's a deliberate literary device common in Hebrew scripture. Think of it like the word 'and' in a conversation, linking what was just said to what's about to be said.
Imagine God's voice, not as a distant rumble, but as a direct, unmistakable call to you. What happens next?
The phrase 'the word of the LORD came to Jonah' is profound. It signifies a direct, personal, and authoritative divine communication. This wasn't a vague feeling or a human idea; it was God initiating contact with His prophet.
Understand the original words
dāḇār · Hebrew Noun
A reference to God's self-revelation and His direct communication of His will to His prophets. It implies divine authority and the expectation of obedience from the hearer.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the covenant God of Israel, YHWH, who is self-existent, faithful, and the Almighty Creator who enters into personal relationship with His people.
The opening of Jonah's story connects it to a specific moment in Israel's history – a time of national strength but also of deep spiritual decay, setting the stage for a divine mission that challenges both prophets and nations.
c. 800-750 BC— this verse
Jonah prophesies during Israel's resurgence
Jonah son of Amittai, from Gath-hepher in Zebulun, prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II, a time when Israel experienced significant territorial expansion and national resurgence.
c. 786-746 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II
Under Jeroboam II, Israel enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity, reclaiming lands lost to enemies like Syria. This era marks the historical backdrop for Jonah's prophetic ministry.
c. 745 BC
Assyrian Empire's growing power
The Neo-Assyrian Empire began to exert increasing influence and military pressure on the region, a geopolitical reality that would profoundly shape the destinies of both Israel and Assyria.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
Though occurring after Jonah's time, the eventual fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) to the Assyrians serves as a stark reminder of God's judgment on unrepentant nations.
This passage also begins with the phrase 'the word of the LORD came to...' establishing a pattern for how prophetic messages were delivered and recorded in Scripture.
Ezekiel 1:1Similar to Jonah, Ezekiel's prophetic commission also starts with 'the word of the LORD came to him,' highlighting the divine origin of the message and the prophet's role as a recipient.
Jeremiah 1:1This verse mirrors Jonah 1:1 in its structure, showing the direct, authoritative call from the LORD to a prophet and emphasizing the beginning of a significant divine communication.
Acts 11:18This New Testament passage echoes the concept of God's word and message coming to His servants, but expands it to include Gentiles, reflecting the broader implications of God's communication across different peoples, as seen later in Jonah's story.
barnesJonah 1:1: "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"
Now the word of the Lord - , literally, "And, ..." This is the way in which the several inspired writers of the Old Testament mark that what it was given them to write was united onto those sacred books which God had given to others to write, and it formed with them one continuous whole. The word, "And," implies this. It would do so in any language, and it does so in Hebrew as much as in any other. As neither we,…
ellicottJonah 1:1: "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,"
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.
The opening word, "And," isn't just a casual connector; it explicitly links this new prophecy to all the previous revelations God had given His people, showing that even a message for a foreign city is part of the ongoing, unified story of God's redemptive plan. This subtle detail emphasizes that God's dealings extend beyond Israel, weaving even a reluctant prophet's journey into the grand tapestry of His covenant faithfulness.
The book opens with the direct call of God to the prophet Jonah, tasking him with a mission to the great, wicked city of Nineveh. This is not just a random event but part of God's ongoing communication with His people and prophets, connecting this new message to all that came before. Jonah's immediate reaction, however, will be to flee, setting in motion a dramatic story of disobedience, divine intervention, and unexpected mercy.
The book opens with the direct call of God to the prophet Jonah, tasking him with a mission to the great, wicked city of Nineveh. This is not just a random event but part of God's ongoing communication with His people and prophets, connecting this new message to all that came before. Jonah's immediate reaction, however, will be to flee, setting in motion a dramatic story of disobedience, divine intervention, and unexpected mercy.
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The names we carry often hold deep significance. What does the name of Jonah, and his father, hint at about this prophetic call?
The names of the individuals mentioned in scripture are rarely accidental. They often carry layers of meaning that enrich our understanding of the person and their story.
"Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying," — The opening word, "And," isn't just a casual connector; it explicitly links this new prophecy to all the previous revelations God had given His people, showing that even a message for a foreign city…