John Calvin Commentary Jonah 2:3

"For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me; All thy waves and thy billows passed over me." — Jonah 2:3 (ASV)

In this verse his difficulties are set forth, for Jonah, to elaborate, refers to his condition. It was a great thing that he cried to God from the belly of the fish; but it was far more difficult for him to lift his mind in prayer when he knew or thought God was angry with him. For if he had been thrown into extreme hardships, he might still have called upon God; but as it came to his mind that all the evil he suffered was inflicted by God because he tried to shun His call, how was it possible for him to penetrate to heaven when such an obstacle stood in his way? Thus, we see the design of these words: But thou hadst cast me into the gulf, into the heart of the sea; the flood surrounded me, all thy billows and waves passed over me.

In short, Jonah shows here what dreadful temptations presented themselves to him while he was endeavoring to offer prayers. It first came to his mind that God was his most inveterate enemy. For Jonah did not then think of the sailors and others who had cast him into the sea; his mind was fixed on God. This is why he says, Thou, Lord, hadst cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea; and then, Thy billows, Thy waves.

He does not here consider the nature of the sea; but, as I have already said, he focuses all his thoughts on God and acknowledges that he was dealing with Him. It is as though he said, “You Lord, in pursuing me, drive me away; but to You I come. You show by dreadful proofs that You are offended with me, yet I seek You. These terrors are so far from driving me away from You that now, subdued, as it were, by Your goads, I come willingly to You, for nowhere else is there for me any hope of deliverance.” Thus, we now see the significance of the contrast, when Jonah sets the terrible punishment he endured in opposition to his prayer.