AUTHOR: According to tradition, the Book of Jonah is authored by Jonah, a Galilean from the city of Gath-Hepher, located in Zebulun, north of Nazareth, in Galilee. He was the son of Amittai [ Jn 1:1 - “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai with this command:”. ], and no doubt the same son of Amittai who prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II [ 2Ki 14:25 - “It was he who restored the borders of Israel from Lebo-hamath to the sea of Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, God of Israel, spoken by his servant Jonah, son of Amittai, prophet of Gath-hepher”. ]. Jesus testified to Jonah's existence, miraculous deliverance, and his prophetic office [ Mt 12:40 - “The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now a greater than Jonah is here.” ].

ORIGIN OF THE NAME: The name Jonas comes from the Hebrew “Yonah”, the same root gave rise to the female name “Yoná”​, which means “dove”. In the religious context, the dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit of God, representing peace and harmony among human beings.

THEME: The famous rebel prophet, in disobedience to God, seeks to take a course in his life contrary to God's plans. After a tragedy, Jonah decides to surrender to the Lord and obey God's plan. This book portrays an emotionally unstable prophet. The book of Jonah is a rebuke against exclusivism, God's people today have a responsibility to put aside inflexible nationalism and racial hatred and share God's love with all nations, kindreds, peoples and tongues.

COMPILATION: Approximately 750 BC, consists of 4 chapters and 48 verses.