01Jonah boards the ship
Jonah boards a ship toward Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh. Jonah 1:1-3.
A little color. A story to remember.
Jonah and the Big Fish Coloring Pages
Eight original scenes following Jonah’s story from the ship to Nineveh and the plant. Choose an individual A4 coloring PDF or download the complete eight-page pack.
ZIP · 619 KB · 8 PDFs + collection PDF
Choose a scene. Make it your own.- In the collection
- 8 coloring designs
- File types
- 8 PDFs
- Original PDF sizes
- A4
- Ready when you are
- Free to download
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How to print ↓Pick a coloring page
Download one design or collect them all. “Open to print” opens the file in a new tab, where you can use your browser or PDF viewer’s print button.
01
02The storm at sea
A great storm strikes, and Jonah tells the sailors about his flight from God. Jonah 1:4-12.
03Jonah and the great fish
After Jonah is put into the sea, God provides a great fish to swallow him. Jonah 1:15-17.
04Jonah prays inside the fish
Jonah prays to God from inside the fish. Jonah 2:1-9.
05Jonah reaches dry land
At God’s command, the fish releases Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:10.
06Jonah speaks in Nineveh
Jonah goes to Nineveh and delivers God’s warning. Jonah 3:1-4.
07Nineveh turns back to God
The king and people turn from their evil ways, and God spares the city. Jonah 3:5-10.
08Jonah and the withered plant
The plant withers, and God questions Jonah about compassion for Nineveh. Jonah 4:5-11.
From screen to coloring table
Print, color, and enjoy.
Original PDF sizes: A4. Choose your paper size and use “Fit to page” when needed.
- Choose your designDownload an individual file, or download the ZIP and extract the collection first.
- Open and printOpen the downloaded file, then choose Print in your browser or viewer.
- Fit it to your paperSelect the orientation and paper size that suit the design, then “Fit to page.” Check the preview before printing.
About these coloring pages
Color the story of Jonah and the big fish
Explore Jonah’s story with eight original coloring pages for children and families. The designs follow the main events from the ship and storm to Nineveh and the lesson of the plant. Choose an individual A4 PDF or download the complete eight-page story pack.
Read Jonah and the Big Fish Bible Story for Kids alongside the coloring activity. These pages cover the whole story, including its lesson about compassion.
Eight scenes in story order
- Jonah boards the ship: he travels toward Tarshish instead of Nineveh. Jonah 1:1-3.
- The storm at sea: Jonah speaks with the frightened sailors. Jonah 1:4-12.
- Jonah and the great fish: God provides a great fish after Jonah is put into the sea. Jonah 1:15-17.
- Jonah prays inside the fish: he cries out to God. Jonah 2:1-9.
- Jonah reaches dry land: the fish releases him at God’s command. Jonah 2:10.
- Jonah speaks in Nineveh: this time he goes where God sends him. Jonah 3:1-4.
- Nineveh turns back to God: the king and people repent, and the city is spared. Jonah 3:5-10.
- Jonah and the withered plant: God questions Jonah about his concern for the plant and for Nineveh. Jonah 4:5-11.
Read the Bible story together
In Jonah 1-4, God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah instead boards a ship going toward Tarshish. A great storm strikes. The sailors eventually put Jonah into the sea, and the storm stops. God provides a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he remains inside it for three days and three nights.
Jonah prays to God. At God’s command, the fish releases him onto dry land. God sends Jonah to Nineveh again, and this time he goes. He warns that the city will be overthrown in forty days. The people believe God, turn from their evil ways, and call out to him. God sees their response and does not bring the disaster he had announced.
Jonah is angry that Nineveh is spared. Outside the city, God provides a plant to shade him. A worm damages it, and it withers. God questions Jonah about his concern for the plant and asks whether he should not have compassion on Nineveh, with its people and animals. The book ends with God’s question; it does not tell us Jonah’s eventual answer.
This is a shortened summary in our own words. Read the complete passage for the full account and the separate story article for a longer family reading and activities.
A story-order coloring activity
Read one part of the story, then choose the matching picture. Color the sea, ship, robes, city, and plant with crayons or colored pencils. Lay the finished pages in order and invite your child to retell the story.
- Where did God tell Jonah to go?
- What did Jonah do instead?
- Where was Jonah when he prayed?
- What did the people of Nineveh do when they heard the warning?
- Why was Jonah upset about the plant?
- What does God’s final question help us think about?
Download and print
Each scene has an individual A4 portrait PDF. The complete PDF contains all eight designs in story order. The ZIP includes those eight individual PDFs and the same complete pack. Use the lightweight WebP images as screen previews and the PDFs for printing.
Select A4 portrait in your print settings. For US Letter, choose Fit to page and check the preview.
Notes for parents and teachers
The Bible says a great fish, without naming a species. These designs use an imagined large fish. The fourth design is a symbolic cutaway showing Jonah praying inside it, rather than a biological diagram. Faces, clothing, ship details, city buildings, and poses are artistic choices.
The sea scenes are kept gentle for children. The third picture introduces the fish without showing Jonah being thrown from the ship or graphic swallowing. The fifth shows him safely on shore after the fish releases him.
The final design combines the shelter, withered plant, worm, and distant city to introduce the last part of the account. Read the passage to explain the sequence. We have not added an ending in which Jonah says he has learned the lesson, because the Bible does not describe his response.
Helpful questions
How many coloring designs are included?
There are eight distinct designs, selected to follow the storyline without repeating scenes.
Can I print one scene at a time?
Yes. Each page has an individual PDF, and the complete pack contains all eight.
Is this Jonah and the whale?
The story is often called Jonah and the whale, but the book of Jonah describes a great fish. These pages use the title Jonah and the Big Fish.
Where is the reading article?
Read Jonah and the Big Fish Bible Story for Kids, which links back to this collection.
A few helpful answers
Can I download just one coloring page?
Yes. Each design has its own download link. The ZIP lets you save the collection at once.
Which file formats are included?
This collection contains 8 PDFs. Each download button shows the file type.
Which paper size should I use?
The original PDFs use A4. Choose the paper size in your printer and check “Fit to page” and the print preview.
