Jonah 2:3

3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst^[a] of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jonah 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

Jonah 2:3

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas,
&c.] Though the mariners did this, yet Jonah ascribes it to the Lord; he knew it was he, whom he had sinned against and offended; that he was he that sent the storm after him into the sea; that determined the lot to fall upon him; that it was not only by his permission, but according to his will, that he should be east into it, and overcame the reluctance of the men to it, and so worked upon them that they did it; and therefore Jonah imputes it to him, and not to them; nor does he complain of it, or murmur at it; or censure it as an unrighteous action, or as hard, cruel, and severe; but rather mentions it to set off the greatness of his deliverance: and by this it appears, that it was far from shore when Jonah was cast into the sea, it was the great deep; and which also is confirmed by the large fish which swallowed him, which could, not swim but in deep waters; and because of the multitude of the waters, called "seas", and "in the heart" ^F3 of them, as it may be rendered; and agreeably Christ the antitype of Jonah lay in the heart of the earth, ( Matthew 12:40 ) ; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows and thy waves passed
over me;
which was his case as soon as cast into the sea, before the fish had swallowed him, as well as after: this was literally true of Jonah, what David says figuratively concerning his afflictions, and from whom the prophet seems to borrow the expressions, ( Psalms 42:7 ) ; and indeed he might use them also in a metaphorical sense, with a view to the afflictions of body, and sorrows of death, that compassed him; and to the billows and waves of divine wrath, which in his apprehension lay upon him, and rolled over him.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F3 (bblk) "in corde", V. L. Cocceius; "in cor", Montanus, Drusius.

Jonah 2:3 In-Context

1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

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.

4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

Footnotes

• [a]. midst: Heb. heart