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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Matthew 12:40 - 12:40
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40. Jonah is a sign (1) as affording a type of the Resurrection, (2) as a preacher of righteousness to a people who needed repentance as this generation needs it.
ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ τοῦ κήτους. The A.V. introduces a needless difficulty by translating κήτους, ‘whale.’ κῆτος (probably from a root meaning ‘cleft,’ so ‘hollow,’ &c., perhaps connected with squatus, ‘a shark’) means a ‘sea monster:’ δελφῖνάς τε κύνας τε καὶ εἴποτε μεῖζον ἕληται κῆτος. Od. XII. 97.
The O.T. rendering is more accurate, ‘the fish’s belly’ (Jon 2:1), ‘a great fish,’ (Jon 1:17). It is scarcely needful to note that there are no whales in the Mediterranean.