An illustrated bearded man sitting hunched over with his head in his hands, beside the Hebrew word for 'Jonah'

The Book of Jonah

Client: Institute for Biblical Languages and Translation
Services: Illustration

25 illustrations retelling the Book of Jonah, line by line, for a Hebrew translation training course run by the Institute for Biblical Languages and Translation.

The Story, Illustrated

Illustrated scene of a figure running down toward the coastal town of Joppa — Jonah flees toward Joppa.

Illustrated scene of Jonah boarding a wooden ship — Jonah boards a ship bound away from Nineveh.

Illustrated scene of a giant hand reaching down from the clouds over a small ship at sea — The Lord sends a great storm.

Illustrated scene of a ship being tossed by a violent storm at sea — The ship is caught in the storm.

Illustrated scene of Jonah asleep in the hold of the ship while it is shaken by the storm — Jonah sleeps through the storm, below deck.

Illustrated scene of the ship’s captain waking Jonah during the storm, lightning overhead — The captain wakes Jonah and asks him to pray.

Illustrated scene of sailors on deck casting lots to find the cause of the storm — The sailors cast lots to find who is responsible.

Illustrated scene of sailors rowing hard against the storm, split between the ship’s deck and the raging sea — The sailors row hard to bring the ship to land.

Illustrated scene of sailors gathered together in prayer, dark storm clouds overhead — The sailors pray before casting Jonah into the sea.

Illustrated scene of Jonah being thrown overboard from the ship into the stormy sea — Jonah is thrown overboard.

Illustrated scene of the sailors gathered around a fire making an offering, the calm sea behind them — The sailors offer a sacrifice once the sea grows calm.

Illustrated scene of a huge fish approaching Jonah as he sinks in the sea, a divine hand pointing from above — A great fish is sent to swallow Jonah.

Illustrated scene of Jonah praying, curled up inside the belly of the fish, warm orange tones — Jonah prays from within the fish.

Illustrated scene of Jonah surrounded by rocks and seaweed in the ocean depths, green tones — Jonah continues his prayer from the depths.

Illustrated scene of stormy blue water and lightning, accompanying Jonah’s prayer of thanksgiving — Jonah’s prayer of thanksgiving from within the fish.

Illustrated scene of the people of Nineveh gathered before statues and idols — The city of Nineveh, ahead of Jonah’s warning.

Illustrated scene of Jonah with arms raised in thanksgiving, standing on steps — Jonah vows to fulfil his promise to God.

Illustrated scene of Jonah inside the fish’s ribcage as it releases him back onto dry land — The fish releases Jonah onto the shore.

Illustrated scene of Jonah alone on a beach, the fish’s tail visible disappearing into the water — Jonah, alone on the shore.

Illustrated scene of Jonah warning a crowd in Nineveh, a thought bubble sketch of the city above them — Jonah warns the people of Nineveh.

Illustrated scene of the King of Nineveh removing his robe and sitting in sackcloth — The King of Nineveh repents.

Illustrated scene of Jonah standing angrily against a bright red background — Jonah is displeased by Nineveh’s forgiveness.

Illustrated scene of Jonah sitting under a shelter with a beam of light overhead — Jonah waits and watches outside the city.

Illustrated closing scene of Jonah seated under a simple shelter overlooking the city at sunset — The story’s closing scene.

The Brief

Cumi worked again with the Institute for Biblical Languages and Translation and the 4.2.20 Foundation to illustrate the Book of Jonah, line by line, as a new resource for their training course, which trains people from all over the world to translate the Bible from the original Hebrew into their own native tongue. Jonah is a rich story that made it a joy to work on, the simple brief of illustrating line by line made it easier to work through, and the poetic nature of Jonah's prayer from the belly of the whale allowed for some other lovely moments to illustrate, such as him being locked deep under the ocean or lifting up his dead soul from out of his body. The illustrations are used alongside slides with the Hebrew words, which can be read or listened to.

What Cumi Created

Cumi illustrated the whole story in sequence, Jonah's flight to Joppa and out to sea, the storm and the sailors casting lots, Jonah being thrown overboard and swallowed by the fish, his prayer from within it, his release onto the shore, Nineveh's repentance, and Jonah's own anger and shelter under the plant at the story's end.

Credits

Illustration: Cumi
Client: Institute for Biblical Languages and Translation
Partner: 4.2.20 Foundation