Appointed by Yahweh in Jonah 1:17*

"Yahweh appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah..."

(Jonah 1:17a)

One significant theme in Jonah is Yahweh’s sovereignty.  The Hebrew verb מנה (“to appoint”) occurs four times to detail some of his dominion. He directed the great fish to deliver and transport Jonah (1:17), a plant to shade him (4:6), a worm to strike the plant (4:7), and the scorching wind with the sun to strike him (4:8). The book of Jonah is about Yahweh (see 4:2)!

In 1:17 (above), Yahweh appointed or directed a great fish, meaning that Yahweh made the fish intervene, assigning it a task. This Hebrew verb thus fundamentally entails the sense “to command or order” (S#1), but given the purpose statement in the verse (“to swallow up Jonah”), the translation of the verb should also entail “to designate or name someone/thing” (to a function) (S#2). Yahweh did not send a large fish without aim, but he authoritatively dispatched it (S#1) to accomplish a certain job (S#2). This important and profound verb highlights the fact that Yahweh, as Master of all things, accomplished his will through the fish.

We pray for great biblical wisdom for our dear brothers translating the Word and using these notes in Cameroon (see some of those translators above to the left), and that the Lord would grant the same for other translation teams with whom we have the privilege of ministering.

*Adapted from Chris' Notes for Cameroonian translators.