JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

December 1987

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question concerning Jonah 1:17.

The original Hebrew wording of Jonah 1:17 is accurately translated in the King James Version as "a great fish." In the Old Testament translation produced by the Jewish Publication Society also refers to this creature as "a great fish."

Some controversy arises over the King James translation of Matthew 12:40. This verse says Jonah was "in the WHALE'S belly." But, this was only an assumption on the part of the translators. The New King James Version correctly renders this phrase as "in the belly of the GREAT FISH."

"Smith's Bible Dictionary" makes the following comments about the word WHALE: "Probably the fish which swallowed Jonah was some large kind of shark, or fish especially provided." The evidence from the Scriptures supports this conclusion -- that it was some kind of large fish, and not a whale, which swallowed Jonah.

If we can assist you further with your study of the Bible, we hope you will let us know. It is our pleasure to serve you.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT