Original Word: κῆτος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: kétos
Pronunciation: KAY-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (kay'-tos)
KJV: whale
NASB: sea monster
Word Origin: [probably from the base of G5490 (χάσμα - chasm)]

1. a huge fish (as gaping for prey)

whale, sea monster

Probably from the base of chasma; a huge fish (as gaping for prey) -- whale.

see GREEK chasma

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a huge fish
NASB Translation
sea monster (1).

STRONGS NT 2785: κῆτος

κῆτος, κητεος (κήτους), τό, a sea-monster, whale, huge fish (Homer, Aristotle, others): Matthew 12:40, from Jonah 2:1 where the Sept., κήτει μεγάλῳ for גָּדול דַּג.

General Overview

Strong’s Greek 2785 points to a singular occurrence in the New Testament—Matthew 12:40—where the Lord Jesus Christ recalls Jonah’s confinement “in the belly of the great fish.” Drawing on a rich Old Testament background (Genesis 1:21; Jonah 1:17; Job 7:12), Scripture presents this immense sea creature as an instrument in God’s sovereign hand and, ultimately, as a prophetic sign that foreshadows the burial and resurrection of the Son of Man.

Old Testament Background

• Creation: “So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves” (Genesis 1:21). From the outset, vast marine life is depicted as part of a flawlessly ordered creation.
• Jonah’s Sign: “Now the Lord had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish” (Jonah 1:17). The prophet’s deliverance illustrates both divine discipline and mercy.
• Poetic Usage: “Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?” (Job 7:12). Such imagery portrays the untamable forces of nature over which only God has mastery.

New Testament Fulfillment and Typology

Matthew 12:40: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Here Christ affirms the historicity of Jonah and elevates Jonah’s experience into a messianic sign. The descent into the creature’s belly prefigures Jesus’ burial; the prophet’s emergence anticipates the Resurrection (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). By citing Jonah, Jesus rebukes an unbelieving generation (Matthew 12:39) and calls attention to the climactic redemptive act soon to occur.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty: The creature’s appearance is never chance; it obeys God’s direct appointment (Jonah 1:17).
2. Judgment and Mercy: Jonah’s incarceration disciplines disobedience while ultimately preserving the prophet for renewed mission (Jonah 3:1-2).
3. Resurrection Hope: The three-day motif unites Jonah’s deliverance with Christ’s triumph over death, assuring believers of bodily resurrection (Romans 6:4-5).
4. Reliability of Scripture: Christ’s endorsement of the Jonah narrative undergirds confidence in Old Testament history and prophecy.

Historical Reception

• Second Temple Judaism already viewed Jonah’s experience as miraculous deliverance, preparing first-century hearers to grasp Jesus’ comparison.
• Early Church Fathers (e.g., Tertullian, Augustine) treated Jonah’s fish as a type of the tomb and baptism, stressing both judgment on sin and new life in Christ.
• Medieval theologians employed the account to illustrate Christ’s descent to the dead and ascension.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Evangelism: The sign of Jonah underlines the Resurrection, the cornerstone of gospel proclamation (Acts 17:30-31).
• Apologetics: Jesus’ reference validates the literal nature of Old Testament miracles, offering a defensive bulwark against skepticism.
• Discipleship: Jonah’s repentance and renewed obedience encourage believers to submit to God’s call, however daunting.
• Worship: The narrative invites awe at the Creator’s power over the natural world and His redemptive purposes within it.

Related Scriptures

Genesis 1:21; Job 7:12; Jonah 1:17; Jonah 2:10; Matthew 12:39-41; Luke 11:29-32; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

Key Insights for Study and Teaching

• Emphasize continuity: the same God who controlled the creature in Jonah controls death and the grave in the Gospel narrative.
• Highlight the precision of prophecy: Jonah’s “three days and three nights” becomes a measurable timeframe culminating in Resurrection Sunday.
• Use the account to demonstrate balanced preaching—warning of judgment while extending grace and hope through Christ.

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