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.
Original Language Analysis
וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤נִי
For thou hadst cast
H7993
וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤נִי
For thou hadst cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
1 of 11
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
יַמִּ֔ים
of the seas
H3220
יַמִּ֔ים
of the seas
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
4 of 11
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וְנָהָ֖ר
and the floods
H5104
וְנָהָ֖ר
and the floods
Strong's:
H5104
Word #:
5 of 11
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי
compassed
H5437
יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי
compassed
Strong's:
H5437
Word #:
6 of 11
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וְגַלֶּ֖יךָ
and thy waves
H1530
וְגַלֶּ֖יךָ
and thy waves
Strong's:
H1530
Word #:
9 of 11
something rolled, i.e., a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)
Historical Context
Ancient Israelites feared the sea, viewing it as chaotic, dangerous, and associated with death. Unlike Phoenicians who were master sailors, most Hebrews avoided maritime travel. Jonah's descent into the sea's depths would have been understood as entering the realm of death itself. The prayer's language borrows heavily from Israel's worship tradition (Psalms), showing that even in extremity, Scripture shaped Jonah's cries to God.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God's sovereignty in difficult circumstances ("thou hadst cast me") change our response to trials?
- What does Jonah's use of Scripture in prayer teach about letting God's Word shape our communication with Him?
- How does God's discipline of His children differ from His judgment of the unrepentant?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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. Jonah describes his drowning experience with vivid poetic imagery drawn from Psalms. "Thou hadst cast me" (vatashlikheni metzulah, וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵנִי מְצוּלָה) attributes the action directly to God, though technically the sailors threw him (1:15). Jonah recognizes divine sovereignty behind human agency—God ordained his descent into the sea through the sailors' hands.
"Into the deep, in the midst of the seas" (metzulah bilevav yamim, מְצוּלָה בִּלְבַב יַמִּים) uses metzulah (מְצוּלָה), meaning the depths, abyss, or deep waters. The phrase "heart of the seas" (levav yamim) appears in Exodus 15:8 and Ezekiel 27:4, 25-27, depicting the deepest, most dangerous parts of the ocean. Jonah sank far beneath the surface, beyond human rescue.
"The floods compassed me about" (venahar yesobeveni, וְנָהָר יְסֹבְבֵנִי) uses nahar (נָהָר), meaning river, stream, or current. The verb sabav (סָבַב) means to surround or encircle—the currents surrounded him on every side. "All thy billows and thy waves passed over me" (kol-mishbareka vegalleka alay avaru, כָּל־מִשְׁבָּרֶיךָ וְגַלֶּיךָ עָלַי עָבָרוּ) directly quotes Psalm 42:7. The possessive "thy" recognizes God's ownership of the ocean's fury—these aren't random natural forces but instruments of divine discipline.
This verse demonstrates that God disciplines His rebellious children through difficult circumstances (Hebrews 12:5-11). Jonah fled God's presence, so God pursued him into the depths. Yet even this judgment contained mercy—the fish was already prepared (1:17). God's discipline aims at restoration, not destruction.