Jonah

A figure from the Hebrew Bible, known for being swallowed by a great fish after he attempted to flee from God's command to prophesy against the city of Nineveh. The story symbolizes notions of divine mercy, repentance, and the idea of a reluctant prophet. The term 'Jonah' has since become synonymous with misfortune, particularly in maritime contexts, where it describes someone who brings bad luck.

Jonah meaning with examples

• The fisherman believed that having a Jonah aboard would bring storms and ruin their catch, so they were wary of superstitions when choosing their crew.
• When the team's star player was injured right before the championship, fans jokingly called him a Jonah, as it seemed bad luck had nested itself in their ranks.
• In the story, Jonah initially resisted God's call, but after his ordeal, he emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to fulfill his duties.
• During the meeting, one participant made a comment that everything he touched seemed to fail, prompting a colleague to tease him about being a ‘real Jonah’ in their project.