Jonah 2:1-8

1 While Jonah was inside the fish, he prayed to the Lord his God and said,

2 "When I was in danger, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. I was about to die, so I cried to you, and you heard my voice.

3 You threw me into the sea, down, down into the deep sea. The water was all around me, and your powerful waves flowed over me.

4 I said, 'I was driven out of your presence, but I hope to see your Holy Temple again.'

5 The waters of the sea closed around my throat. The deep sea was all around me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 When I went down to where the mountains of the sea start to rise, I thought I was locked in this prison forever, but you saved me from the pit of death, Lord my God.

7 "When my life had almost gone, I remembered the Lord. I prayed to you, and you heard my prayers in your Holy Temple.

8 "People who worship useless idols give up their loyalty to you.

Jonah 2:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JONAH 2

This chapter contains the prayer of Jonah, when in the fish's belly; the time when he prayed, the person he prayed unto, and the place where, are suggested in Jon 2:1; and the latter described as a place of great straitness and distress, and even as hell itself, Jon 2:2; The condition he was in, when cast into the sea, and when in the belly of the fish, which is observed, the more to heighten the greatness of the deliverance, Jon 2:3-6. The different frame of mind he was in, sometimes almost in despair, and ready to faint; and presently exercising faith and hope, remembering the goodness of the Lord, and resolving to look again to him, Jon 2:4,7. The gracious regards of God to him, in receiving, hearing, and answering his prayer, and bringing up his life from corruption, Jon 2:2,6,7. His resolution, let others do what they would, to praise the Lord, and give him the glory of his salvation, Jon 2:8,9; and the chapter is concluded with the order for his deliverance, and the manner of it, Jon 2:10.