In Hebrew, Jonah’s name means Dove. In ancient Israel, doves were seen as foolish and silly birds. They did not have the same connotation of peace like they do today.
Hosea 7 v 11
Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless.
The Bible also associates doves with moaning and complaining. At the end of the book, we see Jonah moaning about how God showed mercy to the Ninevites. In effect, he was moaning ‘like a dove’.
Nahum 2 v 7
Her female slaves moan like doves and beat on their breasts.
Jonah lives up to his name. He was silly to think he could outfox God, he ‘flew’ away and ended up bitterly complaining.
Dove of Truth
Jonah’s father was called Amittai. This would mean his full title was the ‘Dove of Truth’.
When the Bible talks about how the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. It was like a dove.
Mark 1 v 9-10
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Symbolically, the Holy Spirit is like a ‘Dove of Truth’.
John 14v 16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit of truth.
So in the story of Jonah, symbolically, the Holy Spirit is testifying about God to the inhabitants of Nineveh (the gentiles), calling them to repentance.
Like today, the Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus and calls the whole World to repentance.
John 15 v 26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
Dove Sacrifice
Jonah 1 11v 12
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
In this part of the story, Jonah sacrifices himself to save the sailors. Once he goes below the waves, the storm stops.
Leviticus 1 v 14 - 17
If the offering to the Lord is a burnt offering of birds, you are to offer a dove or a young pigeon. The priest shall bring it to the altar, wring off the head and burn it on the altar; its blood shall be drained out on the side of the altar. He is to remove the crop and the feathers and throw them down east of the altar where the ashes are. He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely, and then the priest shall burn it on the wood that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
Here, the Bible discusses how a guilt offering is to be made. I find it interesting that the dove’s crop and feathers are throw to the East of the altar.
Because, in the story of Jonah, after the city repents, Jonah then leaves the city and heads East. Is the writer of Jonah alluding to the idea that this act of sacrifice was similar to a guilt offering?
Jonah gets a bad reputation in this story, but even amongst his poor life choices, God still uses him for His purposes. This gives us all hope.
The Spirit descending as a dove on Christ at His baptism; the dove being a groaner….so is this why Christ’s Spirit groans for us when we do not know what to say (Rm 8:26)?
I was recently reflecting on the symbolism of Birds and particularly doves. This is an excellent and helpful piece. I had no idea that Jonah meant Dove--the symbolism of going to Nineveh as the gentiles is fascinating!
If the down is thrown east (where the ashes are), and Jonah heads east after leaving Nineveh, could that also be saying something like he has completed his purpose for God? I don't know how down was used for the jews but throwing the down with the ashes looks like just conveniently disposing of the trash, the superfluous stuff that is no longer needed. So Jonah heading east, while alluding to the guilt sacrifice, could also mean (if I am right that down = trash) that he has fulfilled his purpose and his job is done. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust--he heads east with the ashes.