People & Characters

Amittai

The father of the prophet Jonah, mentioned only briefly but providing the only genealogical identification of the reluctant missionary to Nineveh.

Amittai’s name means “my truth” or “truthful.” He was from Gath-hepher in the territory of Zebulun (lower Galilee), which fulfilled a prophecy that the Messiah would come from Galilee, since Jonah was a sign to Jesus’ generation. Outside of the book of Jonah, Amittai is mentioned only in 2 Kings as part of a prophecy of Jeroboam II’s restoration of Israel’s borders. Though little is known about Amittai personally, his son became one of the most famous minor prophets.
Scripture References 2