A prophet in Israel during the reign of Jereboam II (786-746 B.C.E.). The Biblical book of Jonah tells the story of his being sent by God to preach and warn the people of the city of Nineveh. He refused, and tried to head in another direction by boat, but a storm arose, and the sailors drew lots to determine who was the cause of the storm. The lot fell to Jonah, and he directed them to throw him overboard. The storm ceased, but a fish swallowed Jonah, and later spat him out on the shore. He then went to Nineveh and warned the people to repent or face destruction, and they did repent, and so God spared them. But Jonah was furious that God did not destroy them, and as he sat pouting outside the city, God caused a vine to grow over him and give him shade, and Jonah was glad. Then God caused a worm to destroy the vine, and Jonah was angry. God asked Jonah whether, if Jonah cared so much about a little vine, God should not care about the great city of Nineveh.
The story is also mentioned briefly in the Qur'an (e.g. Q 37:139-148).