Loading Scripture...
Jonah 2 ESV Audio Bible
Select Translation
Listen to Jonah 2 with verse-by-verse audio highlighting.
Read Jonah 2 in modern English — World English Bible (10 verses)
The player above streams this page’s licensed translation, and its text loads in the interactive reader. For reading and comparison, here is the same chapter in the public-domain World English Bible (WEB):
1 Then Jonah prayed to Yahweh, his God, out of the fish’s belly.
2 He said, “I called because of my affliction to Yahweh. He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried. You heard my voice.
3 For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to the soul. The deep was around me. The weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains. The earth barred me in forever: yet have you brought up my life from the pit, Yahweh my God.
7 “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Yahweh. My prayer came in to you, into your holy temple.
8 Those who regard lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
9 But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to Yahweh.”
10 Yahweh spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land.
Study tools for Jonah 2
Cross-references, Hebrew word study, and what the Early Church wrote about Jonah 2. Tap any section to expand — or right-click any verse for the full interactive study panel.
Jonah 2 study resources: word-by-word Hebrew interlinear with Strong's numbers, 23 cross-references, 5 Early-Church citations.
Cross-references in Jonah 2 (23)
- v.2 Psalms 18:4-6
- v.2 Psalms 120:1
- v.9 Psalms 3:8
- v.1 Lamentations 3:53-56
- v.9 Psalms 50:14
- v.2 Psalms 34:6
- v.7 Psalms 18:6
- v.1 Psalms 130:1-2
- v.1 Psalms 91:15
- v.4 Psalms 31:22
- v.8 Psalms 31:6
- v.8 2 Kings 17:15
- v.8 Jeremiah 2:13
- v.9 Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
- v.9 Hebrews 13:15
- v.1 Job 13:15
- v.2 Psalms 86:13
- v.3 Psalms 42:7
- v.5 Psalms 69:1-2
- v.9 Psalms 50:23
- v.10 Matthew 8:26-27
- v.3 Lamentations 3:54
- v.8 1 Samuel 12:21
Hebrew interlinear — Jonah 2:1–10 (97 words)
1
- וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֣לwayyitpallēlpalal: to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, prayH6419
- יוֹנָ֔הyônâYonah: Jonah, an IsraeliteH3124
- אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- יְהוָ֖הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- אֱלֹהָ֑יוʾĕlōhāywelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
- מִמְּעֵ֖יmimmĕʿême`ah: used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathyH4578
- הַדָּגָֽה׃haddāgâdagah: fishH1710
2
- וַיֹּ֗אמֶרwayyōʾmeramar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
- קָ֠רָאתִיqārāʾtîqara': to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)H7121
- מִצָּ֥רָהmiṣṣārâtsarah: tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rivalH6869
- לִ֛יlî
- אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- יְהוָ֖הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- וַֽיַּעֲנֵ֑נִיwayyaʿănēnî`anah: (properly) to eye; (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attentionH6030
- מִבֶּ֧טֶןmibbeṭenbeten: the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anythingH990
- שְׁא֛וֹלšĕʾôlsh'owl: Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmatesH7585
- שִׁוַּ֖עְתִּיšiwwaʿtîshava`: (properly) to be free; but used only causatively and reflexively, to halloo (for help, i.e. freedom from some...H7768
- שָׁמַ֥עְתָּšāmaʿtāshama`: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcH8085
- קוֹלִֽי׃qôlîqowl: a voice or soundH6963
3
- וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤נִיwattašlîkēnîshalak: to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)H7993
- מְצוּלָה֙mĕṣûlāhmtsowlah: a deep place (of water or mud)H4688
- בִּלְבַ֣בbilbablebab: the heart (as the most interior organ); used also like H3820H3824
- יַמִּ֔יםyammîmyam: a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of waterH3220
- וְנָהָ֖רwĕnāhārnahar: a stream (including the sea; expec. the Nile, Euphrates, etc.)H5104
- יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִיyĕsōbĕbēnîcabab: to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively (as follows)H5437
- כָּלkālkol: (properly) the whole; (hence) all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)H3605
- מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָmišbārêkāmishbar: a breaker (of the sea)H4867
- וְגַלֶּ֖יךָwĕgallêkāgal: something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)H1530
- עָלַ֥יʿālay`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
- עָבָֽרוּ׃ʿābārû`abar: to cross overH5674
4
- וַאֲנִ֣יwaʾănîaniy: IH589
- אָמַ֔רְתִּיʾāmartîamar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
- נִגְרַ֖שְׁתִּיnigraštîgarash: to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorceH1644
- מִנֶּ֣גֶדminnegedneged: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mateH5048
- עֵינֶ֑יךָʿênêkā`ayin: an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)H5869
- אַ֚ךְʾakak: a particle of affirmation, surely; hence (by limitation) onlyH389
- אוֹסִ֣יףʾôsîpyacaph: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)H3254
- לְהַבִּ֔יטlĕhabbîṭnabat: to scan, i.e. look intently at; (by implication) to regard with pleasure, favor or careH5027
- אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- הֵיכַ֖לhêkalheykal: a large public building, such as a palace or templeH1964
- קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃qodšekāqodesh: a sacred place or thing; (abstract, rarely) sanctityH6944
5
- אֲפָפ֤וּנִיʾăpāpûnîaphaph: to surroundH661
- מַ֙יִם֙mayimmayim: water; (figuratively) juiceH4325
- עַדʿad`ad: (properly) a (peremptory) terminusH5704
- נֶ֔פֶשׁnepešnephesh: (properly) a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitalityH5315
- תְּה֖וֹםtĕhômthowm: an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water-supply)H8415
- יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִיyĕsōbĕbēnîcabab: to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively (as follows)H5437
- ס֖וּףsûpcuwph: a reed, especially the papyrusH5488
- חָב֥וּשׁḥābûšchabash: to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle)H2280
- לְרֹאשִֽׁי׃lĕrōʾšîro'sh: the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank...H7218
6
- לְקִצְבֵ֤יlĕqiṣbêqetseb: shape (as if cut out); base (as if there cut off)H7095
- הָרִים֙hārîmhar: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)H2022
- יָרַ֔דְתִּיyāradtîyarad: to descend; (literally) to go downwardsH3381
- הָאָ֛רֶץhāʾāreṣerets: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)H776
- בְּרִחֶ֥יהָbĕriḥêhābriyach: a boltH1280
- בַעֲדִ֖יbaʿădîb`ad: in up to or over against; (generally) at, beside, among, behind, for, etcH1157
- לְעוֹלָ֑םlĕʿôlām`owlam: (properly) concealed, i.e. the vanishing pointH5769
- וַתַּ֧עַלwattaʿal`alah: to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount)H5927
- מִשַּׁ֛חַתmiššaḥatshachath: a pit (especially as a trap); (figuratively) destructionH7845
- חַיַּ֖יḥayyaychay: alive; (hence) raw (flesh)H2416
- יְהוָ֥הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- אֱלֹהָֽי׃ʾĕlōhāyelohiym: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the...H430
7
- בְּהִתְעַטֵּ֤ףbĕhitʿaṭṭēp`ataph: to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.)H5848
- עָלַי֙ʿālay`al: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of...H5921
- נַפְשִׁ֔יnapšînephesh: (properly) a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitalityH5315
- אֶתʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
- יְהוָ֖הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- זָכָ֑רְתִּיzākārĕttîzakar: (properly) to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to rememberH2142
- וַתָּב֤וֹאwattābôʾbow': to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)H935
- אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ʾēlêkāel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- תְּפִלָּתִ֔יtĕpillātîtphillah: intercession, supplication; (by implication) a hymnH8605
- אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- הֵיכַ֖לhêkalheykal: a large public building, such as a palace or templeH1964
- קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃qodšekāqodesh: a sacred place or thing; (abstract, rarely) sanctityH6944
8
- מְשַׁמְּרִ֖יםmĕšammĕrîmshamar: (properly) to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guardH8104
- הַבְלֵיhablêhebel: emptiness or vanity; (figuratively) something transitory and unsatisfactoryH1892
- שָׁ֑וְאšāwĕʾshav': evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile)H7723
- חַסְדָּ֖םḥasdāmcheced: kindness; (by implication, towards God) pietyH2617
- יַעֲזֹֽבוּ׃yaʿăzōbû`azab: to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etcH5800
9
- וַאֲנִ֗יwaʾănîaniy: IH589
- בְּק֤וֹלbĕqôlqowl: a voice or soundH6963
- תּוֹדָה֙tôdāhtowdah: (properly) an extension of the hand; (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adorationH8426
- אֶזְבְּחָהʾezbĕḥâzabach: to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice)H2076
- לָּ֔ךְlāk
- אֲשֶׁ֥רʾăšeraher: who, which, what, that; (as adverb) when, where, howH834
- נָדַ֖רְתִּיnādartînadar: to promise (pos., to do or give something to God)H5087
- אֲשַׁלֵּ֑מָהʾăšallēmâshalam: to be safe (in mind, body or estate); (figuratively) to be completedH7999
- יְשׁוּעָ֖תָהyĕšûʿātâyshuw`ah: something saved, i.e. (abstractly) deliveranceH3444
- לַיהוָֽה׃layhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
10
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶרwayyōʾmeramar: to say (used with great latitude)H559
- יְהוָ֖הyĕhwâYhovah: (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodH3068
- לַדָּ֑גladdāgdag: a fish (as prolific); or perhaps rather from H1672 (as timid)H1709
- וַיָּקֵ֥אwayyāqēʾqow': to vomitH6958
- אֶתʾeteth: (properly) self; (generally) used to point out the object of a verb (or preposition) more definitelyH853
- יוֹנָ֖הyônâYonah: Jonah, an IsraeliteH3124
- אֶלʾelel: (properly) denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or amongH413
- הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃hayyabbāšâyabbashah: dry groundH3004
Strong's words in Jonah 2 (6)
- Strong's H3068 — יְהוָ֖ה (yĕhwâ)
- Yhovah (yeh-ho-vaw') n/p. 1. (the) self-Existent or Eternal 2. Jehovah, Jewish national name of God [from H1961] KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Root(s): H1961 Compare: H3050, H3069. Appears 6 times in Jonah 2.
- Strong's H559 — וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (wayyōʾmer)
- amar (aw-mar') v. 1. to say (used with great latitude) [a primitive root] KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.. Appears 3 times in Jonah 2.
- Strong's H1964 — הֵיכַ֖ל (hêkal)
- heykal (hay-kawl') n-m. 1. a large public building, such as a palace or temple [probably from H3201 (in the sense of capacity)] KJV: palace, temple. Root(s): H3201. Appears 2 times in Jonah 2.
- Strong's H3124 — יוֹנָ֔ה (yônâ)
- Yonah (yo-naw') n/p. 1. Jonah, an Israelite [the same as H3123] KJV: Jonah. Root(s): H3123. Appears 2 times in Jonah 2.
- Strong's H430 — אֱלֹהָ֑יו (ʾĕlōhāyw)
- elohiym (el-o-heem') n-m. 1. gods in the ordinary sense 2. but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God 3. occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates 4. and sometimes as a superlative [plural of H433] KJV: angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty. Root(s): H433. Appears 2 times in Jonah 2.
- Strong's H5315 — נֶ֔פֶשׁ (nepeš)
- nephesh (neh'-fesh) n-f. 1. (properly) a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality 2. used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) [from H5314] KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire, X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it. Root(s): H5314. Appears 2 times in Jonah 2.
“let him consider that Jonah, when he had been cast into the deep, and swallowed down into the whale's belly, was by the command of God again thrown out safe upon the land. Neither the nature of any created thing, therefore, nor the weakness of the flesh, can prevail against th...”
What the Early Church wrote about Jonah 2 (4)
-
“let them consider that Jonah, when he had been cast into the deep and swallowed down into the whale’s belly, was by the command of God again thrown out safe upon the land.”
-
“If they did, how could Jonah’s prayer from the depths of the whale’s belly have made its way to Heaven, up through the organs of such a great beast from the very bottom of the sea, up through such a vast amount of water?”
-
“Jonah was swallowed by the monster of the deep, in whose belly whole ships were devoured, and after three days he was vomited out again safe and sound.”
-
“As, then, Jonah spent three days and as many nights in the whale's belly, and was delivered up sound again, so shall we all, who have passed through the three stages of our present life on earth -- I mean the beginning, the middle, and the end, of which all this present time c...”