Jonah 2 · Verse 1

Jonah 2:1

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,
Jonah 2:1, King James Version

Jonah 2:1 in other translations

BSBFrom inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the LORD his God,
WEBThen Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God, out of the fish’s belly.
ASVThen Jonah prayed unto Jehovah his God out of the fish’s belly.
YLTAnd Jonah prayeth unto Jehovah his God from the bowels of the fish.
DARBYAnd Jonah prayed unto Jehovah his God out of the fish's belly;
BBEThen Jonah made prayer to the Lord his God from the inside of the fish, and said,
WebsterThen Jonah prayed to the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

What does Jonah 2:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jon 2:1-10. Jonah's Prayer of Faith and Deliverance.

1. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

This chapter (except the first verse and the last, which make a part of the narrative) contains a beautiful prayer or hymn, formed of those devout thoughts which Jonah had in the belly of the great fish, with a thanksgiving for his miraculous deliverance. Verse 1 Then 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 spake to the fish, and caused it to vomit Jonah upon the dry land. All is miracle.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jonah 2:1-9
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 amiss for prayer. Men may shut us from communion with one another, but not from communion with God. To whom he prayed; to the Lord his God. This encourages even backsliders to return. What his prayer was. This seems to relate his experience and reflections, then and afterwards, rather than to be the form or substance of his prayer. Jonah reflects on the earnestness of his prayer, and God's readiness to hear and answer. If we would get good by our troubles, we must notice the hand of God in them. He had wickedly fled from the presence of the Lord, who might justly take his Holy Spirit from him, never to visit him more. Those only are miserable, whom God will no longer own and favour. But though he was perplexed, yet not in despair. Jonah reflects on the favour of God to him, when he sought to God, and trusted in him in his distress. He warns others, and tells them to keep close to God. Those who forsake their own duty, forsake their own mercy; those who run away from the work of their place and day, run away from the comfort of it. As far as a believer copies those who observe lying vanities, he forsakes his own mercy, and lives below his privileges. But Jonah's experience encourages others, in all ages, to trust in God, as the God of salvation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Jonah 2:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֣לvai.yit.pa.Leland he prayedH6419
יוֹנָ֔הyo.NahJonahH3124
אֶל\־'el-toH413
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהָ֑יו'e.lo.HavGod hisH430
מִמְּעֵ֖יmi.me.'Eifrom [the] inward parts ofH4578
הַדָּגָֽה\׃ha.da.Gahthe fishH1710

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jonah 2:1

  • Lamentations 3:53-56

    They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

  • Psalms 91:15

    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  • Psalms 130:1-2

    A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

  • Job 13:15

    Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

  • Isaiah 26:16

    Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

  • Psalms 50:15

    And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

  • James 5:13

    Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:11-13

    Wherefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God.

  • Acts 16:24-25

    Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

  • Hosea 5:15-6:3

    I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The prayer of Jonah.
10 He is delivered out of the belly of the fish.

prayed.
2Ch 33:11-13; Ps 50:15; 91:15; Isa 26:16; Ho 5:15; 6:1-3; Jas 5:13
out.
Job 13:15; Ps 130:1,2; La 3:53-56; Ac 16:24,25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jonah 2:1

    Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

  • Jonah 2:2

    And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

Read all of Jonah 2

Jonah 2:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		MAS Jehová había prevenido un gran pez que tragase á Jonás: y estuvo Jonás en el vientre del pez tres días y tres noches.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’ Éternel prépara un grand poisson pour engloutir Jonas; et Jonas fut dans les entrailles du poisson trois jours et trois nuits.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Jehova bestellte einen großen Fisch, um Jona zu verschlingen; und Jona war im Bauche des Fisches drei Tage und drei Nächte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et præparavit Dominus piscem grandem ut deglutiret Jonam: et erat Jonas in ventre piscis tribus diebus et tribus noctibus.