Bible Word Study
יוֹנָה
Yôwnâh · Jonah, an Israelite
יוֹנָה
Jonah, an Israelite
Definition
The proper noun יוֹנָה (Yôwnâh) refers primarily to Jonah, the Israelite prophet from Gath-hepher in the tribe of Zebulun (2 Kings 14:25). He is best known as the reluctant prophet whom God commanded to preach to Nineveh, but who initially fled by ship and was famously swallowed by a great fish (Jonah 1:1-17). The name itself means 'dove,' a symbol often associated with peace, innocence, or Israel (as in Song of Solomon 2:14, 5:2). In the biblical narrative, Jonah's story explores themes of divine mercy, repentance, and God's sovereignty over all nations.
Biblical Usage
The name Jonah appears 17 times in the Old Testament, concentrated in the Book of Jonah (e.g., Jonah 1:1, 3:1, 4:1) and in one historical reference in 2 Kings 14:25, which confirms his prophetic ministry during the reign of Jeroboam II. In the Book of Jonah, the name is used to identify the prophet in narrative accounts, divine addresses, and even by pagan sailors (Jonah 1:7-9). Its usage is exclusively as a personal name for this specific individual.
Etymology
The name יוֹנָה (Yôwnâh) is identical to the common noun יוֹנָה (H3123) meaning 'dove' or 'pigeon.' It is derived from the verbal root יון, which conveys the idea of 'moaning' or 'cooing,' imitating the sound of the bird. As a personal name, it follows a common Hebrew practice of using animal names (e.g., Rachel for 'ewe,' Deborah for 'bee').
Semantic Range
Jonah is a profoundly theological figure. His name and story highlight God's expansive mercy for both Israel and pagan nations (like Nineveh), challenging narrow nationalism. The narrative underscores human resistance to God's call and the reality of repentance. Jonah's prayer from the fish (Jonah 2) is a key text on crying out to God from despair. In the New Testament, Jesus uses 'the sign of Jonah' (Matthew 12:39-41) as a typology for his own death and resurrection, deepening the word's theological significance. In ancient Israel, naming a child 'Dove' (יוֹנָה) likely carried positive connotations of gentleness, purity, or beauty, as the dove was a clean animal used in sacrifices (Leviticus 5:7) and a symbol of love in poetry. However, the prophet Jonah's character ironically contrasts with this peaceful imagery, as he is portrayed as stubborn and angry. The story also reflects ancient Near Eastern views of the sea as a chaotic realm and of great fish as instruments of divine judgment or deliverance. None applicable for a proper name.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]