King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The waters compassed me about, [even] to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The water surrounded me, threatened my life; the deep closed over me, seaweed twined around my head.
Berean Standard Bible:
The waters engulfed me to take my life; the watery depths closed around me; the seaweed wrapped around my head.
American Standard Version:
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; The deep was round about me; The weeds were wrapped about my head.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The waters{H4325} compassed me about{H661}, even to the soul{H5315}: the depth{H8415} closed me round about{H5437}, the weeds{H5488} were wrapped about{H2280} my head{H7218}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 69:1
- ¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul.
Psalms 69:2
- I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
Lamentations 3:54
- Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.
Psalms 40:2
- He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
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Commentary for Jonah 2:5
Jonah 2:5 is a verse from the Old Testament book of Jonah, which is traditionally ascribed to the prophet Jonah himself. The book is set in the 8th century BCE and tells the story of Jonah's call by God to prophesy to the city of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its wickedness.
In this verse, Jonah describes his desperate situation after being thrown overboard from a ship during a storm sent by God. The sailors on the ship cast Jonah into the sea as a sacrifice to calm the storm, which Jonah himself suggested was caused by his disobedience to God's command. The verse vividly illustrates Jonah's near-death experience as he is submerged in the water, surrounded by the depths of the sea, and entangled by seaweed. The imagery of the waters reaching "even to the soul" suggests that Jonah felt the threat of death enveloping his very life essence.
The themes present in this verse include divine judgment and mercy, the peril of disobedience, and the power of prayer. Despite Jonah's initial attempt to flee from God's presence, his prayer from the belly of the great fish (where he is miraculously saved from drowning) reflects a turning point in his willingness to submit to God's will. The verse also highlights the depth of Jonah's despair and his feeling of being cut off from life and from God, which sets the stage for his eventual rescue and second chance to fulfill his prophetic mission.
Historically, the Assyrian Empire was a dominant power in the ancient Near East, and its reputation for cruelty made the prospect of preaching there a daunting task for any prophet. Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh can be understood against the backdrop of Assyria's military aggression and the threat it posed to Israel and other neighboring kingdoms. The book of Jonah, therefore, not only presents a narrative of individual salvation and obedience but also speaks to the broader themes of God's concern for all nations and the unexpected ways in which divine plans can unfold.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H661
There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָפַף
Transliteration: ʼâphaph
Pronunciation: aw-faf'
Description: a primitive root; to surround; compass. - Strong's Number: H5315
There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
Transliteration: nephesh
Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it. - Strong's Number: H8415
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּהוֹם
Transliteration: tᵉhôwm
Pronunciation: teh-home'
Description: or תְּהֹם; (usually feminine) from הוּם; an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean watersupply); deep (place), depth. - Strong's Number: H5437
There are 147 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָבַב
Transliteration: çâbab
Pronunciation: saw-bab'
Description: a primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively; bring, cast, fetch, lead, make, walk, [idiom] whirl, [idiom] round about, be about on every side, apply, avoid, beset (about), besiege, bring again, carry (about), change, cause to come about, [idiom] circuit, (fetch a) compass (about, round), drive, environ, [idiom] on every side, beset (close, come, compass, go, stand) round about, inclose, remove, return, set, sit down, turn (self) (about, aside, away, back). - Strong's Number: H5488
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סוּף
Transliteration: çûwph
Pronunciation: soof
Description: probably of Egyptian origin; a reed, especially the papyrus; flag, Red (sea), weed. Compare סוּף. - Strong's Number: H2280
There are 30 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָבַשׁ
Transliteration: châbash
Pronunciation: khaw-bash'
Description: a primitive root; to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule; bind (up), gird about, govern, healer, put, saddle, wrap about. - Strong's Number: H7218
There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹאשׁ
Transliteration: rôʼsh
Pronunciation: roshe
Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.