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Jonah 2

KJV · Chapter 2/4

1Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

2And 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.

3For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

4Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

6I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.

7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

10And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

From inside the fish, Jonah prays to God, acknowledging that he was thrown into the sea because of his own disobedience, yet trusting that God would rescue him; in the end, the fish vomits him onto dry land.

Explanation

This poetic prayer, full of psalm-like language, shows Jonah's inner transformation: from utter despair ('I am cast out of thy sight') to renewed confidence ('I will look again toward thy holy temple'). The phrase 'salvation is of the LORD' sums up the whole experience: even in our worst moment of failure and disobedience, salvation remains God's work, not a human achievement. The very obedience of the fish, which 'vomits' Jonah out exactly when and where God determines, stands in ironic contrast to the prophet's disobedience. The lesson for today: sincere repentance, even from rock bottom, always finds God's answer.

Chapters

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