יוֹנָה (yo.nah)
yo.nah
Jonah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name yonah means "dove" in Hebrew. It identifies Jonah son of Amittai, a prophet from Gath-hepher who served during the reign of Jeroboam II. The sources note he is first mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25 as the one who announced Israel’s territorial restoration.
This same figure appears later in the book that bears his name, where God sends him to Nineveh. The New Testament refers to him by the Greek form Iōnas. His story highlights a prophet who initially resists his mission, contrasting with his earlier role as a messenger of hope for Israel.
The meaning "dove" may reflect a personal characteristic or family tradition, though the texts do not explain this connection explicitly. The name appears fourteen times across Scripture, primarily in Jonah and 2 Kings, anchoring his identity within the historical narrative of the divided monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jonah means "dove," a creature often associated with peace and gentleness in Scripture. Yet the prophet himself was anything but passive when God first called him. Instead of welcoming the mission to Nineveh, he fled in the opposite direction. This contrast reminds us that our names or outward appearances do not always reflect our inner struggles. Even those chosen for significant tasks can feel overwhelmed by the weight of their calling.
His story shows that God’s patience extends beyond human resistance. After Jonah’s return and his anger over Nineveh’s repentance, God gently questions his heart. This interaction invites us to examine where we place our own comfort versus God’s compassion for others. It is a reminder that faith involves surrendering our preferences to align with divine mercy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jonah13×
- and/ Jonah1×
- <to>/ Jonah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יוֹנָה֙3×
- יוֹנָ֖ה3×
- יוֹנָ֔ה2×
- לְ/יוֹנָ֗ה1×
- יוֹנָֽה\׃1×
- יוֹנָ֥ה1×
- יוֹנָ֤ה1×
- יוֹנָ֛ה1×
- יוֹנָ֗ה1×
- וְ/יוֹנָ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jonah 1:1
Now Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
This opening verse establishes Jonah as the recipient of God's direct command, setting the stage for his initial resistance.
-
Jonah 3:3
So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across.
Here Jonah obeys after his second calling, demonstrating a shift from flight to action despite his earlier reluctance.
-
Jonah 4:1
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
This verse highlights Jonah's intense anger at God's mercy toward Nineveh, revealing the conflict between his national pride and divine grace.