Jonah

Jonah 2:2–9

2saying:

“In my distress I called to the LORD,

and He answered me.

From the belly of Sheol I called for help,

and You heard my voice.

3For You cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the current swirled about me;

all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

4At this, I said,

‘I have been banished from Your sight;

yet I will look once more

toward Your holy temple.’

5The waters engulfed me

to take my life;

the watery depths closed around me;

the seaweed wrapped around my head.

6To the roots of the mountains I descended;

the earth beneath me barred me in forever!

But You raised my life from the pit,

O LORD my God!

7As my life was fading away,

I remembered the LORD.

My prayer went up to You,

to Your holy temple.

8Those who cling to worthless idols

forsake His loving devotion.a

9But I, with the voice of thanksgiving,

will sacrifice to You.

I will fulfill what I have vowed.

Salvation is from the LORD!”

Footnotes

  • a 2:8 Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

Read all of Jonah 2

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Jonah 2:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
sayingוַיֹּ֗אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
In my distressמִצָּ֥רָהmiṣ·ṣā·rāhPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singularH6869 id.
I calledקָ֠רָאתִיqā·rā·ṯîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and He answered meוַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִיway·ya·‘ă·nê·nîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH6030 answer, respond
From the bellyמִבֶּ֧טֶןmib·be·ṭenPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH990 belly, body, womb
of Sheolשְׁא֛וֹלšə·’ō·wlNoun - common singularH7585 underworld
I called for helpשִׁוַּ֖עְתִּיšiw·wa‘·tîVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularH7768 cry out for help
You heardשָׁמַ֥עְתָּšā·ma‘·tāVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularH8085 hear
my voiceקוֹלִֽי׃qō·w·lîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH6963 sound, voice

Jonah 2:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
For You cast meוַתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤נִיwat·taš·lî·ḵê·nîConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular; first person common singularH7993 throw, fling, cast
into the deepמְצוּלָה֙mə·ṣū·lāhNoun - feminine singularH4688 depth, deep
into the heartבִּלְבַ֣בbil·ḇaḇPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
of the seasיַמִּ֔יםyam·mîmNoun - masculine pluralH3220 sea
and the currentוְנָהָ֖רwə·nā·hārConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH5104 stream, river
swirled about meיְסֹבְבֵ֑נִיyə·sō·ḇə·ḇê·nîVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH5437 turn about, go around, surround
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Your breakersמִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָmiš·bā·re·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH4867 breaker
and wavesוְגַלֶּ֖יךָwə·ḡal·le·ḵāConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH1530 heap, wave, billow
sweptעָבָֽרוּ׃‘ā·ḇā·rūVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralH5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
over meעָלַ֥י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height

Jonah 2:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
At thisוַאֲנִ֣יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
Iוַאֲנִ֣יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
saidאָמַ֔רְתִּי’ā·mar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH559 utter, say
I have been banishedנִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּיniḡ·raš·tîVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singularH1644 drive out, cast out
fromמִנֶּ֣גֶדmin·ne·ḡeḏPreposition-mH5048 what is conspicuous or in front
Your sightעֵינֶ֑יךָ‘ê·ne·ḵāNoun - cdc; second person masculine singularH5869 eye
yetאַ֚ךְ’aḵAdverbH389 surely
I will lookלְהַבִּ֔יטlə·hab·bîṭPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5027 look
once moreאוֹסִ֣יף’ō·w·sîp̄Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularH3254 add
towardאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Your holyקָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃qāḏ·še·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
templeהֵיכַ֖לhê·ḵalNoun - masculine singular constructH1964 palace, temple

Jonah 2:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The watersמַ֙יִם֙ma·yimNoun - masculine pluralH4325 water, juice, urine
engulfed meאֲפָפ֤וּנִי’ă·p̄ā·p̄ū·nîVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural; first person common singularH661 surround, encompass
to takeעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
my lifeנֶ֔פֶשׁne·p̄ešNoun - feminine singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
the watery depthsתְּה֖וֹםtə·hō·wmNoun - common singularH8415 deep, sea, abyss
closed around meיְסֹבְבֵ֑נִיyə·sō·ḇə·ḇê·nîVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH5437 turn about, go around, surround
the seaweedס֖וּףsūp̄Noun - masculine singularH5488 reeds, rushes
wrappedחָב֥וּשׁḥā·ḇūšVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH2280 bind, bind on, bind up
around my headלְרֹאשִֽׁי׃lə·rō·šîPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH7218 head

Jonah 2:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
To the rootsלְקִצְבֵ֤יlə·qiṣ·ḇêPreposition-l; Noun - masculine plural constructH7095 cut, shape
of the mountainsהָרִים֙hā·rîmNoun - masculine pluralH2022 mountain, hill, hill-country
I descendedיָרַ֔דְתִּיyā·raḏ·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3381 come or go down, descend
the earthהָאָ֛רֶץhā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land
beneath meבַעֲדִ֖יḇa·‘ă·ḏîPreposition; first person common singularH1157 separation
barred me inבְּרִחֶ֥יהָbə·ri·ḥe·hāNoun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH1280 bar
foreverלְעוֹלָ֑םlə·‘ō·w·lāmPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH5769 long duration, antiquity, futurity
But You raisedוַתַּ֧עַלwat·ta·‘alConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularH5927 go up, ascend, climb
my lifeחַיַּ֖יḥay·yayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH2416 alive, living
from the pitמִשַּׁ֛חַתmiš·ša·ḥaṯPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singularH7845 pit
O LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
my Godאֱלֹהָֽי׃’ĕ·lō·hāyNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH430 God

Jonah 2:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
As my lifeנַפְשִׁ֔יnap̄·šîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
was fading awayבְּהִתְעַטֵּ֤ףbə·hiṯ·‘aṭ·ṭêp̄Preposition-b; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH5848 turn aside
I rememberedזָכָ֑רְתִּיzā·ḵā·rə·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH2142 remember
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
My prayerתְּפִלָּתִ֔יtə·p̄il·lā·ṯîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH8605 prayer
went upוַתָּב֤וֹאwat·tā·ḇō·wConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to Youאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙’ê·le·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singularH413 motion to
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Your holyקָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃qāḏ·še·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
templeהֵיכַ֖לhê·ḵalNoun - masculine singular constructH1964 palace, temple

Jonah 2:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Those who cling toמְשַׁמְּרִ֖יםmə·šam·mə·rîmVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralH8104 keep, watch, preserve
worthlessשָׁ֑וְאšāwNoun - masculine singularH7723 emptiness, vanity
idolsהַבְלֵי־haḇ·lê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1892 vapour, breath
forsakeיַעֲזֹֽבוּ׃ya·‘ă·zō·ḇūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5800 leave, forsake, loose
loving devotionחַסְדָּ֖םḥas·dāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH2617 goodness, kindness

Jonah 2:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But Iוַאֲנִ֗יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
with the voiceבְּק֤וֹלbə·qō·wlPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH6963 sound, voice
of thanksgivingתּוֹדָה֙tō·w·ḏāhNoun - feminine singularH8426 thanksgiving
will sacrificeאֶזְבְּחָה־’ez·bə·ḥāh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH2076 slaughter for sacrifice
to Youלָּ֔ךְlāḵPreposition; second person feminine singular
I will fulfillאֲשַׁלֵּ֑מָה’ă·šal·lê·māhVerb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularH7999 be complete, sound
whatאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
I have vowedנָדַ֖רְתִּיnā·ḏar·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH5087 vow
Salvationיְשׁוּעָ֖תָהyə·šū·‘ā·ṯāhNoun - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH3444 salvation
is from the LORDלַיהוָֽה׃סYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Jonah 2:2 Psalm 18:4–6 · Psalm 120:1 · Psalm 34:6 · Psalm 86:13 · Psalm 88:1–7 · Hebrews 5:7 · 1 Samuel 30:6 · Matthew 12:40 · Psalm 22:24 · Psalm 116:3 · Psalm 4:1

Jonah 2:3 Psalm 42:7 · Lamentations 3:54 · Psalm 69:1–2

Jonah 2:4 Psalm 31:22 · Psalm 5:7 · 2 Chronicles 6:38 · Isaiah 38:17 · Jeremiah 7:15 · Daniel 6:10 · 1 Kings 8:38–39

Jonah 2:5 Psalm 69:1–2 · Lamentations 3:54 · Psalm 40:2

Jonah 2:6 Psalm 30:3 · Psalm 16:10 · Isaiah 38:17 · Proverbs 8:25–29 · Psalm 143:7 · Deuteronomy 32:22 · Psalm 104:6 · Psalm 65:6 · Isaiah 40:12 · Job 38:4–11 · Psalm 30:9 · Habakkuk 3:6

Jonah 2:7 Psalm 18:6 · 2 Chronicles 30:27 · 1 Samuel 30:6 · Psalm 143:5 · Psalm 11:4 · Psalm 77:10–11 · Psalm 20:7 · Psalm 27:13 · Lamentations 3:21–26 · Psalm 65:4 · Psalm 42:11 · 2 Corinthians 1:9–10

Jonah 2:8 Psalm 31:6 · 2 Kings 17:15 · Jeremiah 2:13 · Jeremiah 10:8 · 1 Samuel 12:21 · Habakkuk 2:18–20 · Jeremiah 10:14–15 · Jeremiah 16:19

Jonah 2:9 Psalm 3:8 · Psalm 50:14 · Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 · Hebrews 13:15 · Psalm 50:23 · Hosea 14:2 · Psalm 68:20 · Psalm 116:17–18 · Psalm 37:39–40 · Isaiah 45:17 · Romans 12:1 · Genesis 35:3

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.