The meanings of Hebrew names can almost tell the whole story by themselves. They show how the allegory is assembled. For example: Jonah means "dove" and the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus like a dove. Also, Noah sent a dove out to determine if it was safe to get out of the ark. Jonah's father is Amittai. His name means certainty and truth and trustworthy --the very picture of our heavenly Father!
As you read through this story about Jonah, you might want to use this list of meanings to help put the story together.
| Name | Meaning | Representation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonah | Dove | Jesus | |
| Amittai | Certainty; truth; trustworthy | God, the Father | |
| Tarshish | Market place | Judgement Day | |
| Nineveh | A Gentile city | Mankind as a whole | |
| The Ship | A human body | ||
| Ship Captain | Christian's will | ||
| Sailors | Christian's emotions; weaknesses | ||
| The Sea | Physical life with troubles | ||
| The Fish | A body engulfed in sin and death | ||
| King of Nineveh | OT Saint's will | ||
| People of Nineveh | OT Saint's emotions; weaknesses | ||
| The Vine | Israel | ||
| The Tent | Jesus tabernacle (body) on earth |