Jonah 2:3

For 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.

For thou hadst cast {H7993} me into the deep {H4688}, in the midst {H3824} of the seas {H3220}; and the floods {H5104} compassed {H5437} me about: all thy billows {H4867} and thy waves {H1530} passed over {H5674} me.

For you threw me into the deep, into the heart of the seas; and the flood enveloped me; all your surging waves passed over me.

For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me; All thy waves and thy billows passed over me.

Commentary

Jonah 2:3 is a powerful line from the prophet Jonah's prayer of lament and confession, spoken from the belly of the great fish. This verse vividly describes the overwhelming despair and physical peril he experienced after being cast into the sea for his disobedience.

Context

Having been commanded by God to go to Nineveh and preach repentance, Jonah famously attempted to flee to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3). In response to his rebellion, God sent a mighty storm upon the sea (Jonah 1:4), threatening to break the ship. To save themselves, the mariners, at Jonah's own instruction, threw him overboard. Immediately, a great fish swallowed him, where he remained for three days and three nights. This verse is part of the prayer he offered to the Lord from within that miraculous, living prison, acknowledging God's direct involvement in his predicament.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Control: Jonah explicitly states, "For thou hadst cast me into the deep," acknowledging that his dire situation was not an accident but a direct act of God's will. The phrase "all thy billows and thy waves" further emphasizes that even the natural forces of the sea were under God's command, acting as instruments of His divine purpose. This highlights God's absolute power over creation, a theme echoed in other scriptures like Psalm 107:25.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The overwhelming waters represent the direct and severe consequences of Jonah's rebellion against God's clear command. His experience serves as a stark reminder that attempting to escape God's will can lead to profound and challenging circumstances.
  • Despair and Overwhelm: The imagery of being "in the midst of the seas" and "the floods compassed me about" conveys a profound sense of isolation, being utterly submerged and overwhelmed by forces beyond his control. It paints a picture of extreme distress and impending death, yet within this despair, Jonah turns to God.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's "deep" translates the Hebrew word m'tzulah (מְצוּלָה), which refers to the abyss, the depths of the sea. This term intensifies the feeling of being in an inescapable, life-threatening environment. The personal pronoun "thy" preceding "billows and thy waves" is crucial. It's not just that waves passed over him, but that God's waves and God's billows did so. This echoes the sentiment found in Psalm 42:7, where the psalmist similarly attributes overwhelming troubles to God's hand, indicating a common biblical metaphor for divine judgment or severe testing.

Practical Application

Jonah's cry from the depths reminds us that even in our darkest and most overwhelming moments, when we feel submerged by life's "floods" and "billows," God is sovereign. This verse encourages us to recognize God's hand even in difficult circumstances, understanding that He may use challenges as a means of discipline or redirection. It is a call to humility and confession, acknowledging His authority and turning to Him in our distress, much like Jonah did from the belly of the fish. Our circumstances, no matter how dire, are never outside of His control or His ultimate purpose for our lives.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 42:7 (12 votes)

    Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

  • Lamentations 3:54 (9 votes)

    Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.

  • Psalms 69:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ 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 (8 votes)

    I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

  • Psalms 88:5 (2 votes)

    Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

  • Psalms 88:8 (2 votes)

    Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.

  • Psalms 69:14 (2 votes)

    Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.