Greek word · G2495

Ἰωνᾶς

iōnas

Jonah

The Greek form of Hebrew Yonah, the prophet of the book of Jonah (and 2 Kings 14:25). In Jewish memory he was known for two things: surviving three days in the great fish, and preaching to Nineveh, which repented.

Appears 9 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἰωνᾶς, -ᾶ, ὁ (Heb. יוֹנָה),

Jonah, the prophet: Matthew 12:39-41 16:4, Luke 11:29-30, 32.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 16:4

Range of meaning

The Greek form of Hebrew Yonah, the prophet of the book of Jonah (and 2 Kings 14:25). In Jewish memory he was known for two things: surviving three days in the great fish, and preaching to Nineveh, which repented.

Against the English

KJV "Jonas" is just the Greek spelling. The real difficulty is that "the sign of Jonah" is not explained in this verse, and English readers may not know that Matthew already explained it in 12:39–41.

Used elsewhere in the period

Matthew 12:40 explains the sign as Jonah's "three days and three nights" in the sea creature, standing for the Son of Man in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:41 adds that the Ninevites repented at Jonah's preaching. Luke 11:30 says Jonah himself "became a sign to the Ninevites". Jewish tradition also took up Jonah: Tobit 14:4, 8 (in some versions) recalls his warning to Nineveh, and Josephus retells the story (Antiquities 9.208–214).

From the study of Matthew 12:39

Range of meaning

The Greek form of Hebrew Yônâ ("dove"), Jonah son of Amittai. He was a prophet under Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:25) and the central figure of the book of Jonah.

Against the English

KJV's "Jonas" copies the Greek spelling and can hide that this is Jonah of the Old Testament. Modern versions say "Jonah".

Used elsewhere in the period

The book of Jonah: Jonah runs from his mission, spends three days and three nights in the great fish (Jonah 1:17; 2:1 in Hebrew), is thrown out alive, and preaches in Nineveh, which repents. See also Tobit 14:4, 8 and 3 Maccabees 6:8, where Jonah is remembered as one delivered from the deep.

From the study of Luke 11:29

Range of meaning

Greek form of Hebrew Yonah, the prophet son of Amittai (2 Kgs 14:25; book of Jonah). He was sent to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria and Israel's most hated enemy, to announce its overthrow, and Nineveh repented.

Against the English

KJV's “Jonas” follows the Greek spelling. All versions mean the same prophet.

How it drifted

Many readers bring in Matthew's explanation (three days and nights in the fish, Matt 12:40) automatically. Luke does not give it. He explains the sign through Jonah's role toward the Ninevites (v. 30) and their repentance at his preaching (v. 32).

Used elsewhere in the period

Jonah 3:4–10: Jonah preaches and Nineveh repents. Jewish tradition remembered Jonah as a reluctant prophet whose preaching brought foreigners to repentance (compare Josephus, Ant. 9.208–214). Luke 11:32 says outright that “they repented at the preaching of Jonah.”

Where it appears

Matthew · 5

  1. Matthew 12:39 Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah

    Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

    Here: "Of Jonah". The Greek can mean the sign that Jonah himself was, or the sign connected with Jonah. Verse 40 ties it to Jonah's three days in the fish. Verse 41 ties it to his preaching, which brought Nineveh to repent.

  2. Matthew 12:40 Ἰωνᾶς 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.

    Here: The prophet Jonah son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:25; book of Jonah), whom every Jewish listener knew as the reluctant prophet sent to Nineveh.

  3. Matthew 12:41 Ἰωνᾶ· Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah;, than Jonah

    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.

    Here: The prophet Jonah son of Amittai (2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1), a reluctant Israelite prophet sent to the enemy capital.

  4. Matthew 16:4 Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah

    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.

    Here: The prophet sent to Nineveh, who came out of the great fish after three days and whose preaching made a pagan city repent. Matthew 12:40–41 has already explained both sides of this sign to the reader.

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 11:29 Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah

    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.

    Here: Genitive. It can mean “the sign that Jonah was” or “the sign connected with Jonah.” Verse 30 points to the first: Jonah himself was the sign to Nineveh, and the Son of Man will be the sign to this generation.

  2. Luke 11:30 Ἰωνᾶς Jonah

    For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

  3. Luke 11:32 Ἰωνᾶ, Ἰωνᾶ of Jonah,, than Jonah

    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.

    Here: The 8th-century BCE prophet from Gath-hepher in Galilee (2 Kings 14:25), sent unwillingly to Nineveh.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.