I. Geographical and Historical Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Nineveh (Jonah 1:2; 3:2-7; 4:11): The great capital city of the ancient Assyrian Empire, located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River (in modern-day Iraq). Assyria was a major, often brutal, military power and an enemy of Israel. God's command for Jonah to go and preach against Nineveh because of its wickedness is central to the story.;xNLx;Tarshish (Jonah 1:3; 4:2): A distant port city, likely located in the western Mediterranean, possibly in Spain (Tartessus) or Sardinia. For Jonah, fleeing to Tarshish represented an attempt to go to the farthest known point in the opposite direction of Nineveh, to escape from the presence of the LORD and His commission.;xNLx;Joppa (Jonah 1:3): An ancient seaport on the coast of Israel (modern Jaffa, part of Tel Aviv). Jonah went down to Joppa to find a ship going to Tarshish.;xNLx;Sheol / The Pit / Belly of Sheol (Jonah 2:2, 6): The realm of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought, generally depicted as a dark, watery, silent place beneath the earth. Jonah describes his experience in the belly of the great fish as being like in the depths of Sheol, signifying a state of near death, utter despair, and separation from God's presence.;xNLx;East of the city (Jonah 4:5): Refers to Jonah positioning himself outside Nineveh to see what would become of the city after he delivered his message of impending doom.;xNLx;II. Maritime and Natural Phenomena Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Tempest / Great wind / Mighty tempest (Jonah 1:4, 11-12): A violent storm at sea, which God sent as a means to stop Jonah's flight and bring about His purposes.;xNLx;The deep (Jonah 1:5 [ESV: "inner part of the ship"]; 2:3, 5): The depths of the sea. Jonah was cast into the deep, and his prayer describes being in its heart.;xNLx;Cast lots (Jonah 1:7): An ancient practice used to determine a choice or reveal hidden information (like guilt) by apparent chance, but often believed to be guided by divine will. The sailors cast lots to find out who was responsible for the storm.;xNLx;Great fish (Jonah 1:17; 2:1, 10): A large sea creature, appointed by God to swallow Jonah after he was thrown overboard, and in whose belly Jonah remained for three days and three nights before being vomited onto dry land. Often popularly referred to as a "whale," the Hebrew term is more general.;xNLx;Plant / Gourd (Jonah 4:6-7, 9-10): A fast-growing plant that God appointed to grow up over Jonah to provide shade and relieve his discomfort as he waited outside Nineveh. Its subsequent destruction by a worm is part of God's lesson to Jonah about compassion.;xNLx;Worm (Jonah 4:7): A creature appointed by God to attack and wither the plant that was shading Jonah.;xNLx;Scorching east wind (Jonah 4:8): A hot, dry wind from the desert, appointed by God, which, along with the sun, caused Jonah great discomfort and distress after the plant withered.;xNLx;III. Religious, Prophetic, and Repentance Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Word of the LORD (Jonah 1:1; 3:1, 3): The divine message, command, or revelation received by Jonah from God, commissioning him to go to Nineveh.;xNLx;Cry out against it / Proclaim against it (Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 4): To announce God's impending judgment and condemnation against Nineveh because of its great wickedness.;xNLx;Presence of the LORD (Jonah 1:3, 10): Refers to being in God's service, in the place of His special commissioning, or generally under His direct influence and will. Jonah attempted to flee "from the presence of the LORD.";xNLx;Repent / Turn from evil / Relent (Jonah 3:8-10; 4:2):;xNLx;For humans (Ninevites): To turn away from sinful practices and wrongdoing with a sincere change of heart and behavior (Jonah 3:8, 10).;xNLx;For God (Jonah 3:9-10; 4:2): God "relenting" from disaster signifies His change of course or withholding of threatened judgment in response to genuine repentance. It doesn't mean God made a mistake, but rather that His actions are responsive to human actions and His own compassionate nature. Jonah knew God was gracious and "relenting from disaster" (4:2).;xNLx;Sackcloth (Jonah 3:5-6, 8): A coarse, dark material made from goat or camel hair, worn as a traditional sign of mourning, grief, repentance, or deep distress. The king and people of Nineveh put on sackcloth as a sign of their repentance.;xNLx;Ashes (Jonah 3:6): Used with sackcloth as a symbol of deep mourning, humility, and repentance. The king of Nineveh sat in ashes.;xNLx;Fast / Fasting (Jonah 3:5, 7): Abstaining from food (and in Nineveh's case, also drink, even for animals) for a period as an expression of repentance and earnest seeking of God's mercy.;xNLx;Decree / Proclamation (Jonah 3:7): An official order issued by the king and nobles of Nineveh, commanding the people and animals to fast, wear sackcloth, and cry out mightily to God in repentance.;xNLx;Wickedness / Evil / Violence (Jonah 1:2; 3:8, 10): The sins and wrongdoing of the Ninevites that had "come up before" God and for which they were threatened with judgment.;xNLx;Grace / Gracious (Jonah 4:2): God's unmerited favor, kindness, and benevolence. Jonah acknowledges that God is "a gracious God.";xNLx;Mercy / Merciful / Compassion / Steadfast love (Hebrew: chesed) / Slow to anger (Jonah 2:8 [ESV: "those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love"]; 4:2): Key attributes of God highlighted in the book. God's compassion (rachum), steadfast love (chesed), and slowness to anger lead Him to relent from punishing the Ninevites when they repent. Jonah struggles with this extension of divine mercy to Israel's enemies.;xNLx;Appointed (by God) (Jonah 1:17 [great fish]; 4:6 [plant]; 4:7 [worm]; 4:8 [east wind]): A recurring theme showing God's sovereignty and direct control over creation and events to bring about His divine purposes.;xNLx;IV. Other Notable Terms:;xNLx;;xNLx;Shekels (Implied in "paid the fare" Jonah 1:3, though the unit isn't specified, it would have been a common form of payment): Ancient units of weight, often of silver, used as currency.;xNLx;Salvation belongs to the LORD (Jonah 2:9): Jonah's declaration from the belly of the fish, acknowledging that deliverance and rescue ultimately come from God alone.;xNLx;Anger / Displeasure (Jonah 3:9 [God's fierce anger]; 4:1-2, 4, 9 [Jonah's anger]): Strong emotions. The book contrasts God's justifiable anger against sin (from which He can relent) with Jonah's selfish and inappropriate anger at God's mercy.;xNLx;Perish / Overthrown / Destroyed (Jonah 1:6, 14; 3:4, 9-10; 4:10): The potential fate of the sailors, Jonah himself, the city of Nineveh, and even the plant, from which God delivers or from which He relents in the case of Nineveh.;xNLx;This list covers many of the terms in the Book of Jonah (ESV) that might benefit from definition, especially those relating to its unique narrative, historical setting, and profound theological exploration of God's sovereignty, judgment, and universal compassion.