English Standard Version
Jonah 2:5
5The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.
Context of Jonah 2:5
3For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. 4Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.' The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
Read all of Jonah 2Jonah 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
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries