Jonah Chapter 2

JONAH was the most ancient of all the prophets whose writings have come down to us. He is supposed to have prophesied in the latter end of Jehu’s or the beginning of Jehoahaz’s reign

The author of the book is Jonah. His name (הָונֹי Yonah) means “dove.” Yahshua Messiah mentions Jonah, and the account of this book, as true history (Mat 12:39-41).

In this study we will complete Chapter 2. 

We finished up in our last study here in Chapter 2 verse 2. We see that the sailors took Jonah and threw him overboard into the ragging sea. Once his body hit the waters we read that the sea ceased from her raging. However Yahweh isn’t done with Jonah yet. Yahweh in verse 17 now ‘prepares’ or in the Hebrew ‘appoints’ a great fish to swallow Jonah up. And we see that Jonah is 3 day and 3 nights in the belly of this great fish. Now here in Chapter 2, we see Jonah praying to Yahweh, seeking forgiveness for the affliction that he caused by disobeying Yahweh.

3   hadst cast = Did cast me.

 in the midst = In the heart. 

floods = Tides of water. 

billows and thy waves passed over me = I am submerged. 

5   compassed me about = Surrounded me. 

even to the soul = Even for my life. Soul is the Hebrew word 'Nephesh' and means life. It is like our present day saying: "The ship went down with 300 souls on board." 

depth = An abyss. 

closed me round about = surrounded me. 

weeds = Seaweed.

6   bottoms = Roots. 

earth with her bars = 'Shoel,' a land without return, (under) world. Jonah now dead and separated from his body, was spiritually in a place of holding. 

was = Substitute the word 'were.' You will notice that Jonah has written this all in the past tense, all the verbs (action words) are in the past tense, not the present ie: "didist, fainted, cried. . ." Jonah remembered his rapid thoughts as he was dying and wrote them down later after being resurrected. 

about me = Around me. 

 for ever = Eternally, or so Jonah thought at the time. 

yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption = Brought me back to life. What this is saying is that Jonahs life would be restored to his body, in other words, Jonahs body would not (at this time) die and decomposes.

8    observe = regard, or heed. 

lying = empty. 

forsake their own mercy = do not heed their chastisement. 

forsake = not to heed. Hebrew. 'azab. Compare Gen. 2:24. 

mercy. = Hebrew. hesed. A homonym, with two meanings: 

(1) lovingkindness, as in Gen. 24:12. 2Sam. 7:15. 1Chron. 19:2. 2Chron. 6:14. Psa. 103:4, 8, 11, 17, &c.; 

(2) correction, or chastisement (Lev. 20:17, a wicked thing bringing down punishment). Job 37:13 (mercy = chastisement, synonymous with "correction" in preceding clause (margin rod)). Prov. 25:10 (put to shame: i.e. by correction)

10    Once again in the Hebrew manuscripts we see the Hebrew word ‘eth’, signifying that Yahweh/Yahshua Messiah hand to playing an important role into the salvation of Jonah.

Jonah is resurrected alive onto the dry land, and in the next chapter we see that he goes about doing as Yahweh had told him to, thus through Jonah's warning, Nineveh repented of its sins. In this we have another 'type' of a Messiah in Jonah. Just as Jonah died and was in the innards of the fish, being resurrected three days later.

Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!

Have any questions? Feel free to email me; keitner2024@outlook.com