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   readerofbooks Teacher
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   The name Jonah means – “dove” in Hebrew (Yonah). Now I assume that the question is what does the name mean in connection to the story of Jonah in the bible. First, let me give a brief explanation of who Jonah was. Jonah was a one of the minor prophets in the bible. He was called of God to go to Nineveh to preach a message of repentance in view of impending doom. However, Jonah did not want to go. Instead he fled only to be caught in a storm, thrown overboard, and swallowed by a huge fish. Through these events he is finally brought to Nineveh and is wonderfully successful in his preaching. At this point, rather than being happy at his success, he is bitter at God’s kindness. Now what does all of these things have to do with a “dove?”

    

   There is no easy answer, but if you trace the imagery of a dove in the bible – both the Old and New Testaments, then we will see that the dove is present during very important episodes. You will remember that a dove was present with Noah during the flood (Genesis 8:8) and during the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:10). I think the water connection is significant. In both instances, water symbolizes a destructive force, but in the end there is salvation. In the light of this, perhaps Jonah is a symbol of salvation to the people of Nineveh (even though he is an imperfect one!) through his symbolic death in the belly of the fish. From the angle of the New Testament, Jesus is likened to Jonah. Jesus even says that the only sign he will give is the sign of Jonah, namely that Jesus will be in the belly of the earth for three days. I think this is a reference to his death.

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   Posted by readerofbooks on Tuesday November 10, 2009 at 5:23 AM