Jonah 2:5

Jonah 2:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
• New International Version (NIV)The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head
• New King James Version (NKJV)The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.

Context of Jonah 2:5

3For You cast me into the deep, Into the [deep] heart of the seas, And the currents surrounded and engulfed me; All Your breakers and billowing waves passed over me. 4Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6I descended to the [very] roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars closed behind me [bolting me in] forever, Yet You have brought up my life from the pit (death), O Lord my God. 7When my soul was fainting within me, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple.

Jonah 2:5 word by word

אֲפָפ֤וּנִי מַ֙יִם֙ עַד־נֶ֔פֶשׁ תְּה֖וֹם יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי ס֖וּף חָב֥וּשׁ לְרֹאשִֽׁי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• compassed me aboutאָפַף'âphaph · to surroundH661
• to the soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• the depthתְּהוֹםtehôm tehôm · abyssH8415
• closed me round aboutסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
• the weedsסוּףsûph · reedH5488
• were wrapped aboutחָבַשׁchâbash · to saddle/tieH2280
• my headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for Jonah 2:5

• Psalms 40:2He brought me up out of a horrible pit [of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock, steadying my footsteps and establishing my path.
• Psalms 69:1Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck].
• Lamentations 3:54The waters ran down on my head; I said, “I am cut off (destroyed)!”

Commentaries on Jonah 2:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5The waters compassed me about even to the soul - So as to seem to deprive me of life. I had no hope left. The weeds were wrapped about my head - This may be understood literally also. He found himself in the fish's stomach, together with sea weeds, and such like marine substances, which the fish had taken for its aliment.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The waters compassed me about even to the soul - Words which to others were figures of distress (Psalm 69:2. See the introduction to Jonah), “the waters have come even to the soul,” were to Jonah realities. Sunk in the deep seas, the water strove to penetrate at every opening. To draw breath, which sustains life, to him would have been death. There was but a breath between him and death. “The deep encompassed me,” encircling, meeting him wherever he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-9Jonah realized that the Lord had kindly saved him by sending the fish. He then created a prayer similar to a psalm. The prayer's careful structure follows the pattern of a personal song of thanks. This suggests Jonah may have written it after the event, as he remembered his feelings and worries.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. even to the soul--that is, threatening to extinguish the animal life. weeds--He felt as if the seaweeds through which he was dragged were wrapped about his head.Read the comment

Topics related to Jonah 2:5

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Faith
• Flag
• Repentance

In the dictionaries

• Bar
• Close
• Depth
• Flag
• Headdress
• Hell
• Vomit
• Abyss
• Jonah, the Book of
• Weeds

Commentaries on Jonah 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings