Amittai is a name that appears in the sacred text, not due to his own deeds, but by virtue of being the father of one of the most well-known and often misunderstood prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures. His name, which means “truthful” or “my truth,” offers a subtle contrast to the story of his son, a man who initially ran from the truth of God’s command.
👤 His Identity and Lineage
The Bible clearly establishes Amittai’s identity in the very first verse of the Book of Jonah:
“Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2, KJV)
Amittai was from Gath-hepher, a town located in the tribal territory of Zebulun (2 Kings 14:25, KJV). This detail is significant, as it places the family in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during a time of both national prosperity and spiritual decline, under the reign of Jeroboam II.
🕰️ A Historical Anchor
While Amittai is not recorded as a prophet himself, his son Jonah is the only minor prophet whose ministry is dated outside of his own book, providing a crucial historical reference point for his father’s time:
“He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.” (2 Kings 14:25, KJV)
This passage confirms that Jonah, Amittai’s son, prophesied the successful military expansion and restoration of Israel’s borders under Jeroboam II. This indicates that Amittai was a respected figure whose son was known to have been a legitimate, established prophet within the Northern Kingdom before he was called to prophesy to Nineveh.
🔑 The Significance of the Name
The name Amittai (“truthful”) serves as a powerful thematic backdrop to the narrative of his son, Jonah.
- Jonah’s Calling: The Lord called Jonah to speak the truth—a message of impending destruction—to the great Gentile city of Nineveh.
- Jonah’s Flight: Jonah initially rebelled against this truth, attempting to flee from the Lord’s presence and refusing to deliver the divine message (Jonah 1:3, KJV).
- The Contrast: The father’s name, meaning “truthful,” contrasts sharply with the son’s initial reaction, which was a rejection of God’s truth and a flight from duty.
Though a very minor figure in the narrative, Amittai’s legacy is secured through his parental connection to the prophet of the great fish. His mention anchors the fantastic narrative of Jonah in the solid historical and geographical reality of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.