This verse is actually the first verse of chapter 2 in the Hebrew text. Some English translations also follow the Hebrew numbering system (New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures). You should follow the numbering system of the national language translation used in your area.

1:17a

Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah: The form of the Hebrew verb minneh used here and translated appointed by Berean Standard Bible means “to appoint, ordain.” This is an important word in the book of Jonah and shows that the LORD was in control over everything that happened to Jonah. Here is another way to translate this word:

At the Lord ’s command… (Good News Translation)

a great fish: The Hebrew word translated as fish refers to creatures/animals that live in the sea. We are not told what kind of creature it was. Some have suggested that it may have been a whale, or a shark, or even a sea monster (Kleinert, p. 25). The important fact is that it was big enough to swallow Jonah alive and that he was inside it for three days and three nights.

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