Jonah 2:10

¶ And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry [land].

And the LORD {H3068} spake {H559} unto the fish {H1709}, and it vomited out {H6958} Jonah {H3124} upon the dry {H3004} land.

Then ADONAI spoke to the fish, and it vomited Yonah out onto dry land.

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

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

Context

This verse marks the dramatic culmination of Jonah's three-day and three-night ordeal within the belly of the great fish. Having fled from God's command to preach to Nineveh, Jonah was swallowed by a divinely appointed sea creature after being thrown overboard during a violent storm. From this desperate confinement, Jonah offered a fervent prayer of repentance and thanksgiving, recorded in Jonah 2:1-9. Verse 10 describes God's direct response to that prayer, bringing about Jonah's miraculous deliverance.

Key Themes

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty: The phrase "the LORD spake unto the fish" powerfully demonstrates God's ultimate authority over all creation, including the most formidable natural elements. The fish, a creature of instinct, instantly obeys a divine command, highlighting that nothing is beyond God's control.
  • Divine Deliverance and Mercy: Despite Jonah's initial disobedience and rebellion, God extends mercy and provides a way of escape. This verse is a testament to God's willingness to rescue and restore even those who have strayed far from His path.
  • The Efficacy of Prayer: Jonah's deliverance immediately follows his heartfelt prayer from the depths of his despair. This underscores the Bible's teaching that God hears and answers the cries of His people, even in seemingly impossible situations.
  • Second Chances and Redemption: God's act of delivering Jonah from the fish prepares him for a second opportunity to fulfill his prophetic mission. It illustrates God's patience and His desire for individuals to return to His will, offering a path to redemption after failure. This event is also famously referenced by Jesus as the "sign of the prophet Jonas" concerning His own resurrection.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "spake unto the fish" uses the Hebrew word wayyō'mer (וַיֹּאמֶר), meaning "and he said" or "and he spoke." This emphasizes a direct, authoritative verbal command from God. The word for "fish" is dag (דָּג), a general term for a large fish or sea creature, not necessarily a whale, indicating a divinely prepared vessel for Jonah's temporary habitation.

Practical Application

Jonah 2:10 offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

  • God is in control: No circumstance is too dire, no problem too big, for God to intervene. He has authority over every aspect of life, visible and invisible.
  • God offers second chances: Even when we fail or intentionally disobey, God's mercy is vast. He is always ready to receive us back and give us another opportunity to walk in His ways.
  • Prayer is powerful: Our earnest prayers, even from the lowest points of our lives, are heard by God and can prompt His miraculous intervention.
  • Deliverance comes in His time: Just as Jonah was delivered at God's command, we can trust that God will bring deliverance and resolution to our struggles according to His perfect timing and plan.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 33:9

    For he spake, and it was [done]; he commanded, and it stood fast.

  • Matthew 8:26

    And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

  • Matthew 8:27

    But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

  • Isaiah 50:2

    Wherefore, when I came, [was there] no man? when I called, [was there] none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because [there is] no water, and dieth for thirst.

  • Matthew 8:8

    The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

  • Matthew 8:9

    For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it].

  • Jonah 1:17

    Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
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