Jonah 3:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Jonah was cast out of the great fish and emerged in Nineveh, while Christ entered the world proclaiming the message of repentance. In essence, genuine existence is often compared to the depths of the ocean.

Now, with renewed fervor, he receives a second instruction to journey to Nineveh and deliver the same message that had initially been given to him, which is the declaration of his wrongdoing that has risen before the Lord. I have previously discussed the subject concerning Christ, and I will not hesitate to reiterate it, as it is written: “It is not tedious for me to write the same things” (Philippians 3:1). Thus, we will see that before the holy cross, as if still awaiting to complete His mission, He offers the Gentiles the proclamation of the Gospel truths. He states clearly that He was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24), and He instructed His faithful disciples: “Do not go among the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:5).

Why do we inquire about the example of the prophet who was engulfed by a creature and then released alive on the third day, when Christ Himself clarified it? He stated, “The wicked and adulterous generation seeketh a sign; and no sign shall be given unto them but the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, even so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights” (Matt. 12:39-40). Just as Jonah descended from the ship into the belly of the whale, Christ descended from the cross into the grave, entering the depths of death. As Jonah endured suffering for those trapped in the storm, Christ bears suffering for those lost in the tumult of this age.

The word of the Lord addressed Jonah for the second time, commanding him to rise and go to Nineveh, the great city, and to proclaim the message that had been given to him previously. It is not recorded that the prophet was asked why he had failed to fulfill the Lord's instructions. Instead, it was enough for him to learn from the storm and to be swallowed by the great fish, enabling him to comprehend the Lord's command through his eventual salvation. It would also be unnecessary for a servant who has sinned to be reminded, after facing such hardships, of his misdeeds, as this type of admonishment serves more as a reprimand than a correction.

Ultimately, Nineveh serves as an illustration of the Church. God referred to it as a great city for a reason; He foresaw the moment when individuals from diverse nations, scattered across the globe but united in their faith in Christ, would come together to form one grand community – His holy Church under the everlasting Sovereign, Christ. The parallel between Nineveh and the Church is further validated by the transformative repentance of the Ninevites toward God.

Jonah likely intended to travel to Jerusalem to fulfill a vow of gratitude at the temple. However, the execution of this vow needed to be delayed for a later time. The Lord issued another directive to Jonah, instructing him to go to Nineveh and deliver the message he had previously received—specifically, Jonah was to confront the Ninevites regarding the iniquities of those who were pleading with heaven, seeking divine retribution.