Jonah Chapter 2 — Jonah’s Prayer from the Deep
Jonah prays a song of distress and thanksgiving from inside the belly of a great fish, leading to his deliverance onto dry land.
1Then Jonah prayed to the LORD, his God, out of the fish’s belly.
2He said,
3For you threw me into the depths,
4I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight;
5The waters surrounded me,
6I went down to the bottoms of the mountains.
7“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD.
8Those who regard vain idols forsake their own mercy.
9But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving.
10Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited out Jonah on the dry land.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Jonah 2:2
“I cried by reason of my affliction to the LORD, and he answered me.”
This verse establishes the core theme of the chapter: Jonah's direct appeal to God in a moment of extreme crisis and God's response.
Jonah 2:9
“But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to the LORD.”
It marks Jonah’s shift from distress to commitment and his recognition that only God can provide deliverance.
Chapter Summary
Jonah Chapter 2 describes Jonah’s prayer to the Lord while he is inside the belly of a great fish. After being swallowed, Jonah cries out from the depths of the sea, describing his near-death experience as waters surrounded him and he felt banished from God’s sight. He reflects on his descent to the bottoms of the mountains and his soul fainting within him. Despite his dire circumstances, Jonah remembers the Lord and vows to sacrifice with a voice of thanksgiving, acknowledging that salvation comes from the Lord. He contrasts his devotion with those who follow vain idols and forsake mercy. The prayer serves as a pivot point in the narrative, moving Jonah from flight to a renewed commitment to God. The chapter concludes with the Lord speaking to the fish, which then vomits Jonah out onto dry land, marking the end of his three-day ordeal and providing him a second chance to follow the command to go to Nineveh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jonah prayed to the Lord from inside the belly of the great fish that had swallowed him. He remained in the fish for three days and three nights before being delivered safely back to dry land.
Jonah describes his feeling of being banished from God’s sight and the physical experience of being submerged in the depths of the sea. He speaks of the weeds wrapped around his head and his soul fainting within him before he remembered the Lord.
The chapter ends with God speaking to the fish, which then vomits Jonah onto dry land. This occurs after Jonah expresses his thanksgiving and acknowledges that salvation belongs to the Lord.
Study Note
The structure of Jonah's prayer closely mirrors the style of a Hebrew 'Psalm of Thanksgiving,' typically used to celebrate deliverance from death or danger.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.