[1] 1:1 Jonah This is probably the same prophet mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25.

[2] 1:2 Nineveh The capital city of the country of Assyria. Assyria destroyed Israel in 722-721 b.c.

[3] 1:3 Joppa A town on the coast of Israel by the Mediterranean Sea.

[4] 1:3 Tarshish A city far away from Israel, probably in Spain, famous for its large ships that sailed the Mediterranean Sea.

[5] 1:5 cargo The Hebrew word can mean "dishes," "jars," or "tools." Here, this could mean all the jars and boxes the boat carried on its way to Tarshish or the rigging and other heavy tools on the boat.

[6] 1:7 lots Stones, sticks, or bones used like dice for making decisions. See Prov. 16:33.

[7] 1:16 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[8] 2:2 grave Or "Sheol," the home of the dead. This word is often used as a metaphor for death.

[9] 2:4 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[10] 2:5 mouth, and I could not breathe Or, "The water surrounded me to my soul." The Hebrew word for soul also means "life," "self," or "appetite," and "throat" or "mouth."

[11] 2:8 Or, "People who worship useless things have left the one who is kind to them."

[12] 3:6 sat in ashes People did this to show that they were sad.

[13] 4:2 Tarshish A city far away from Israel, probably in Spain, famous for its large ships that sailed the Mediterranean Sea.

[14] 4:11 people . wrong Literally, "people who do not know their right from their left." This might mean "innocent children."

© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.