Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 12:40 – Jonah, the ’Whale,’ and Jesus: Clearing Up the Ancient Language Confusion

Host Lance Smith examines the classic ‘‘Jonah and the Whale’’ question by reading the Hebrew and Greek texts, consulting the Septuagint, and comparing translations. The episode explains how ancient language and translation choices—not contradiction—account for ‘‘great fish’’ versus ‘‘whale,” and shows why Jesus’ reference in Matthew 12:40 aligns with the original text.

The show also listens to skeptical objections, reviews Christian scholarship, and explores the theological importance of Jonah as a sign pointing to Jesus’ death and resurrection, while emphasizing God’s sovereignty and the story’s message of repentance and mercy.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith 

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com 

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/whale.html 
2. GotQuestions.org – "Was Jonah truly swallowed by a whale?" https://www.gotquestions.org/Jonah-whale.html
3. Apologetics Press – "Was Jonah Swallowed by a Fish or a Whale?" by Eric Lyons https://apologeticspress.org/was-jonah-swallowed-by-a-fish-or-a-whale-2830/
4. Apologetics Press – "Jonah and the 'Whale'?" by Dave Miller, Ph.D. https://apologeticspress.org/jonah-and-the-whale-69/
5. Answers in Genesis – "Jonah and the Great Fish" by Don Landis https://answersingenesis.org/bible-characters/jonah-and-the-great-fish/
6. The Domain for Truth – "Bible Contradiction? Was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale?" by SLIMJIM https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/bible-contradiction-was-jonah-swallowed-by-a-fish-or-a-whale/
7. Logically Fallacious – "Examining Jonah: A Secular Critique of a Biblical Tale" https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/posts/examining-jonah-a-secular-critique-of-a-biblical-tale.html
8. Catholic Answers – "Is the story of Jonah and the whale a myth?" https://www.catholic.com/qa/is-the-story-of-jonah-and-the-whale-a-myth
9. Armstrong Institute – "Is the Book of Jonah 'Entirely Ahistorical'?" https://armstronginstitute.org/639-is-the-book-of-jonah-entirely-ahistorical
10. The Atheist Experience – "Scientific Proof For The Story Of Jonah" (YouTube clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCSMpS0BCkc