Imagery and Religious Conversion. The Symbolic Function of Jonah 1:13

Jonah 1:13 has a delaying function in the narrative, introducing a pause between Jonah's demand to be thrown in the sea (1:12) and the event's occurrence (1:15). Most commentators discuss only the events of 1:13 and their causes. In this article, I suggest an interpretation of Jonah 1:13 b...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Oancea, Constantin (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: MDPI [2018]
In: Religions
Year: 2018, Volume: 9, Issue: 3, Pages: 1-9
RelBib Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Theology
B Bible. Jona 1,13
B Jonah
B biblical imagery
B Religious Conversion
B Old Testament
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:Jonah 1:13 has a delaying function in the narrative, introducing a pause between Jonah's demand to be thrown in the sea (1:12) and the event's occurrence (1:15). Most commentators discuss only the events of 1:13 and their causes. In this article, I suggest an interpretation of Jonah 1:13 based on the imagery of the narrative. An analysis of the use of metaphors and symbols does not replace the message of the verse; such an analysis simply augments it with motives of the seamen's conversion. Beside the narrative level, there is a hidden level suggesting a deeper understanding of the story where symbols and metaphors have a consolidating function. Distance, directions, and movement in Jonah 1 describe acts with religious connotation. At the same time, the physical action of rowing is a symbolic anticipation of the seamen's conversion. It contains a message about the inner itinerary that leads to the transformation of the sailors. Thereby, I suggest that Jonah 1:13 not only reveals YHWH's plan with Jonah but it also focuses on the sailors and their conversion.
ISSN:2077-1444
Contains:Enthalten in: Religions
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.3390/rel9030073