New English Translation
Jonah 2:1
1Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish
Jonah 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,
- New International Version (NIV)From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly.
Context of Jonah 2:1
Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish 2and said, “I called out to the Lord from my distress, and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried out for help, and you heard my prayer. 3You threw me into the deep waters, into the middle of the sea; the ocean current engulfed me; all the mighty waves you sent swept over me.
Read all of Jonah 2Jonah 2:1 word by word
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל יוֹנָ֔ה אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו מִמְּעֵ֖י הַדָּגָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jonah 2:1
- 2 Chronicles 33:11So the Lord brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They seized Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon.
- Psalms 50:15Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”
- Psalms 91:15When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.
- Isaiah 26:16O Lord, in distress they looked for you; they uttered incantations because of your discipline.
- Hosea 5:15Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.
- Hosea 6:1“Come on! Let’s return to the Lord! He himself has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us! He has injured us, but he will bandage our wounds!
- James 5:13Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.
- Job 13:15Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!
- Psalms 130:1From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord.
- Lamentations 3:53They shut me up in a pit and threw stones at me.
- Acts 16:24Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Commentaries on Jonah 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Then Jonah prayed - out of the fish's belly - This verse makes the first of the second chapter in the Hebrew text. It may be asked, "How could Jonah either pray or breathe in the stomach of the fish?" Very easily, if God so willed it. And let the reader keep this constantly in view; the whole is a miracle, from Jonah's being swallowed by the fish till he was cast ashore by the same animal. It was God that had prepared the great fish. It was the Lord that…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Then - (“And”) Jonah prayed, i. e., when the three days and nights were passed, he uttered this devotion. The word “prayed” includes thanksgiving, not petition only. It is said of Hannah that she “prayed” 1 Samuel 2:1; but her canticle is all one thanksgiving without a single petition. In this thanksgiving Jonah says how his prayers had been heard, but prays no more. God had delivered him from the sea, and be thanks God, in the fish‘s belly, as…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The prayer of Jonah. (1-9) He is delivered from the fish. (10) Verses 1-9 Observe when Jonah prayed. When he was in trouble, under the tokens of God's displeasure against him for sin: when we are in affliction we must pray. Being kept alive by miracle, he prayed. A sense of God's good-will to us, notwithstanding our offences, opens the lips in prayer, which were closed with the dread of wrath. Also, where he prayed; in the belly of the fish. No place is…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. 1-101. his God--"his" still, though Jonah had fled from Him. Faith enables Jonah now to feel this; just as the returning prodigal says of the Father, from whom he had wandered, "I will arise and go to my Father" (Lu 15:18). out of the fish's belly--Every place may serve as an oratory. No place is amiss for prayer. Others translate, "when (delivered) out of the fish's belly." English Version is better.Read the comment
Topics related to Jonah 2:1
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
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