Did Jonah Die in the Great Fish?

1. Reasons some believe Jonah died-

1. Jonah was a type of picture of Christ’s death and resurrection (Matt. 12:40). The type or picture would be incomplete if Jonah did not die.
2. Jonah cries out of the belly of hell “Sheol” which is the primary meaning of being a grave and Jonah concerned the fish to be his grave.
3. The phrase in v. 3, “Floods compassed me about” describes a man who is drowning.
4. They say the phrase in v. 4, “I am cast out of Thy sight” indicates physical death.
5. “Weeds were wrapped about my head” in v. 5 speaks of death.
6. The word “corruption” in v. 6 describes death.

2. Reasons most believe Jonah did not die-

The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah in 1:17. This speaks of preservation and not death.

 

1. The term “belly of hell or Sheol [v. 2] is used by David in speaking of death even though David did not die (Ps. 18:5; 30:31).
2. Matt. 12:40 does not require Jonah to die. The fulfillment is greater than the picture. The emphasis is on being in and not dying. The emphasis is on the time and not death.
3. Jonah had to be alive to pray. If he died he would not have remembered praying. Nowhere do we see in chapter 2 that Jonah died. The closest is v. 7, “When my soul fainted within me.” Then he remembered the Lord.
4. The word “corruption” means “pit.” Jonah was in the belly of the fish and the bottom of the sea [v. 6a].
5. Note the word “then” in v. 1. It seems Jonah prayed at the end of his time in the great fish.
6. Jonah knows how long he was in the fish! Jonah did not die but was at the point of death.