Jonah 2:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jonah 2:1

Then - (“And”) Jonah prayed, i. e., when the three days and nights were passed, he uttered this devotion. The word “prayed” includes thanksgiving, not petition only. It is said of Hannah that she “prayed” 1 Samuel 2:1; but her canticle is all one thanksgiving without a single petition. In this thanksgiving Jonah says how his prayers had been heard, but prays no more. God had delivered him from the sea, and be thanks God, in the fish’s belly, as undisturbed as in a Church or an oratory, secure... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Jonah 2:1-2

Jonah 2:1-2. Then Jonah prayed Those devout thoughts and feelings which he had at that time, he afterward digested into the following prayer, and added a thanksgiving for his deliverance at the end of it. So several of David’s Psalms were probably composed after his trouble was over; but in a manner suitable to the thoughts he had at the time of his affliction; and with a grateful sense of God’s mercies for his deliverance out of it: see Psalms 54:0. and 120. And he heard me He thanks God... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Jonah 2:1-10

2:1-10 A PSALM OF THANKSGIVINGJonah regained consciousness inside the great fish. This almost unbelievable experience caused him to believe that it was God’s way of saving his life. From inside the fish he then thanked God for saving him from drowning. He seems to have remembered phrases from various psalms and prayers used in temple worship, and he brought these together to form his own prayer of thanksgiving.In the opening words of the psalm Jonah recalled his prayer of desperation as he... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Jonah 2:1

Then = And See note on Jonah 2:10 . the Lord. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 . God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 . belly = bowels. Compare Jonah 1:17 . Note the Figure of speech Exergasia ( App-6 ), as shown by the Alternation in Jonah 2:2 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Jonah 2:1

All ten verses of this brief chapter relate almost entirely to the prayer uttered by Jonah from inside the fish. Jonah was a close student of the Holy Scriptures, especially of the Psalms, as indicated by his use of much terminology found also in them. Destructive critics have exercised the most valiant and persistent efforts to make this common terminology between Jonah and the Psalms a basis of their insistence upon a post-exilic date; but, as we shall more pointedly observe in the notes,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Jonah 2:1

Jonah 2:1. Then Jonah prayed, &c.— The following prayer was conceived and formed, as to substance, in the belly of the fish, and probably afterwards digested and written in its present mode; a thanksgiving for his deliverance being added at the end of it. Houbigant very properly reads the verbs in the following verse in the present tense, because, says he, Jonah is said to pray when in the belly of the fish. By the belly of hell, is meant the lowest parts of the deep, or place which was to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Jonah 2:1

1. his God—"his" still, though Jonah had fled from Him. Faith enables Jonah now to feel this; just as the returning prodigal says of the Father, from whom he had wandered, "I will arise and go to my Father" (Luke 15:18). out of the fish's belly—Every place may serve as an oratory. No place is amiss for prayer. Others translate, "when (delivered) out of the fish's belly." English Version is better. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Jonah 2:1

This is the first mention of Jonah praying (cf. Jonah 4:2). In both this verse and Jonah 4:2 the usual Hebrew word hitpallel, "to pray," appears. In Jonah 1:5 and Jonah 3:8 the Hebrew word qara’, "to call," occurs. Until now Jonah had been fleeing from God and hiding from Him. Now in his great distress he finally sought the Lord. Being willing to die by drowning was one thing (Jonah 1:12), but death by gradual digestion was something Jonah had not anticipated. We do not know how long Jonah... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Jonah 2:1-10

His Prayer of ThanksgivingThis beautiful song of deliverance shows clearly the familiarity of the writer with earlier Psalms. It reflects very plainly the horror inspired by the sea in the minds of an inland people. It is not necessary, on the interpretation adopted, to argue whether or not it is suitable to Jonah’s position. Advocates of the national view of the book think it specially suitable to describe the sorrows of the people when drowning in the deep gulf of exile. If so, the references... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Jonah 2:1

II.JONAH’S PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE.(1) Then Jonah prayed.—This introduction, to what is in reality a psalm of thanksgiving, has its parallel in Hannah’s song (1 Samuel 2:1-10), which is introduced in the same way. Comp. also the Note appended by the psalm collector at the end of Psalms 72:0, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” read more

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