Jonah 2:1 kjv
Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
Jonah 2:1 nkjv
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish's belly.
Jonah 2:1 niv
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.
Jonah 2:1 esv
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,
Jonah 2:1 nlt
Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.
Jonah 2 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 18:6 | In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. He heard… | Prayer in distress heard by God. |
| Psa 120:1 | In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. | Calling to the LORD in distress. |
| Psa 130:1 | Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! | Crying from extreme despair. |
| Lam 3:55-57 | I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; You heard my… | Prayer from a very low, hopeless place. |
| Matt 12:40 | For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great | Jonah's experience foreshadows Christ's resurrection. |
| Psa 40:1-3 | I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock. | Deliverance from a dire situation. |
| Psa 69:1-2 | Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire… | Metaphorical "drowning" and deep trouble. |
| Jer 29:12-13 | Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. | God's promise to hear earnest prayer. |
| Psa 107:13 | Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. | Crying to the LORD for deliverance. |
| Hos 5:15 | I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me. | Seeking God in affliction. |
| 1 Sam 1:10 | She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. | Deep distress prompting fervent prayer. |
| Isa 38:2-3 | Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD… | Prayer for deliverance from sickness/death. |
| Hab 3:2 | O LORD, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. | Plea for mercy in judgment. |
| Gen 16:13 | So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing" | Recognizing God's personal connection and seeing them. |
| Exod 15:2 | The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. | Personal declaration of God as Deliverer. |
| Isa 12:2 | Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. | Confession of God as personal salvation. |
| 2 Sam 22:7 | In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. And from his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears. | Crying to God and being heard. |
| Phil 4:6 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | Universal call to prayer in all circumstances. |
| Psa 88:4-5 | I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man of no strength… consigned to the grave. | Feeling of being at the point of death. |
| Psa 18:2 | The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. | Acknowledging God as "my God" in saving capacity. |
| Ps 77:1 | I cried aloud to God, aloud to God, that he might hear me. | Desperate, loud prayer to God for hearing. |
| Dan 6:10 | When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house… he got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. | Prayer as a regular, deliberate act even in danger. |
Jonah 2 verses
Jonah 2 1 Meaning
Jonah 2:1 records a pivotal moment where Jonah turns to the LORD in profound distress. Having been swallowed by a great fish following his disobedience, this verse describes his active engagement in prayer to "the LORD his God" from the unprecedented and desperate location within the fish's belly. It signifies a crucial shift from Jonah's rebellion and flight to seeking divine intervention, acknowledging God's sovereignty even in such extreme circumstances.
Jonah 2 1 Context
Jonah 2:1 is the immediate response to God's intervention described in Jonah 1:17 (Hebrew 2:1), where "the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah." Having fled from God's command to go to Nineveh, Jonah experienced a severe storm, was cast overboard by the sailors at his own insistence, and then miraculously saved from drowning by being swallowed. This verse marks the very beginning of Jonah's prayer of repentance and lament from inside what could be considered his "living grave." It signifies a crucial shift in Jonah's spiritual journey, moving from defiance and sleep in chapter 1 to humble (albeit distressed) supplication in chapter 2. Historically, this account fits within a period of prophetic activity in Israel, emphasizing God's universal sovereignty and mercy even to Gentiles, a theme Jonah initially resists.
Jonah 2 1 Word analysis
- Then (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - wa-yitpallēl): The conjunction "Then" (וְ wa) indicates a direct sequence of events. The verb "prayed" is yitpallēl, a Hitpael form of the root פלל (pālal), which signifies an intensive, reflexive, or reciprocal action. It means "to pray," but also implies "to intercede for oneself," "to judge oneself," or "to engage in self-reflection and supplication." This active form suggests a conscious, deliberate turning of Jonah to God in his distress, a profound contrast to his prior fleeing and apathy. It denotes an inner wrestling.
- Jonah (יוֹנָה - Yonah): The prophet's name means "dove," which is ironic given his fierce resistance to God's call and his anger towards God's mercy in subsequent chapters. It points to his initial identity as God's messenger, which he had abandoned.
- prayed (וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל - wa-yitpallēl): This term, as elaborated above, indicates a deeply personal and fervent form of communication with God. It's not a perfunctory act but a cry from the soul. His previous actions were about avoiding God; now, he actively seeks Him.
- to the LORD (אֶל-יְהוָה - ʾel-YHWH): "To the LORD" (YHWH, the personal covenant name of God) emphasizes that Jonah is addressing the specific God of Israel, the one he was commissioned by and from whom he fled. This acknowledges His covenant authority and power.
- his God (אֱלֹהָיו - ʾĕlōhāw): "His God" (ʾelohāw) uses the general term for God (Elohim) with a possessive suffix, "his." This is crucial. Despite Jonah's rebellion, he still recognizes YHWH as his personal God, signifying the enduring covenant relationship from God's side, and a renewed (though desperate) acknowledgment from Jonah's. It reveals a deep-seated spiritual reality that he still belongs to the Lord.
- from the belly (מִמְּעֵי - mi-mmĕ‘ê): Lit. "from the inward parts," "from the bowels." This phrase emphasizes the internal, dark, and unpleasant confines. It represents a place of extreme distress, suffering, and near-death, symbolically a tomb or Sheol (as referenced in Jonah 2:2). This is the deepest pit conceivable.
- of the fish (הַדָּגָה - ha-ddāgāh): Refers to the "great fish" that God specifically "appointed" (Jonah 1:17). This highlights the miraculous and unique nature of Jonah's prison. It underscores God's control over creation, even over such extraordinary means, to bring His purposes to pass and to humble His wayward prophet. This place is designed by God as a direct consequence and means of turning Jonah.
Jonah 2 1 Bonus section
The seemingly immediate act of prayer from Jonah upon entering the fish suggests that even in severe judgment, God's intent is redemptive. The "fish" itself functions as a vessel of both divine judgment and divine mercy. While it serves as punishment for Jonah's rebellion, it also providentially saves him from drowning, acting as a means of correction and preservation until he acknowledges God's supremacy. The concept of praying "from the depths" (as articulated in Psalm 130) becomes tangible here. Furthermore, the Hitpael stem of the Hebrew verb "prayed" hints at an element of introspection and self-judgment inherent in Jonah's supplication, indicating he wasn't merely begging but engaging in a deeper, possibly humbling, communion with God about his plight. This moment validates the biblical principle that genuine turning to God is possible from any depth of despair or consequence.
Jonah 2 1 Commentary
Jonah 2:1 is the verse that pivots the narrative, revealing Jonah's profound turnaround—at least externally—from flight to supplication. Trapped in an utterly inescapable and horrifying "belly of the fish," Jonah's options dwindle to one: crying out to the only true God. The emphasis on him praying to "the LORD his God" is significant; it underscores that despite his attempts to escape His presence, the covenant bond remained unbroken. This is not a formal, religious ritual but a desperate, life-or-death plea born out of extreme desperation and conviction of his impending demise. The phrase "from the belly of the fish" graphically illustrates the depths of his distress, a dark, confined space representing his descent into metaphorical Sheol, yet it is precisely from this abyss that God's grace enables a prayer for deliverance. This prayer foreshadows resurrection and God's sovereign power to save from even the most impossible circumstances.
- Practical example: Just as Jonah, we too can find ourselves in "fish bellies"—situations of intense isolation, fear, or consequences of our own choices. This verse reminds us that even from the lowest point, God is accessible, and His nature is to hear those who call upon Him with a repentant (or desperate) heart, inviting us to pray no matter how dire our circumstances seem.