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Verse Takeaways
1
A Portrait of Despair
Commentators explain that Jonah's words are not just poetry but a vivid, literal description of near-death. The water reaching 'to the soul,' the encircling deep, and the seaweed wrapped like a 'winding sheet' (as multiple scholars note) paint a picture of absolute, life-threatening despair. It illustrates a moment of total helplessness, where human escape is impossible.
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Book Overview
Jonah
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Commentaries
6
Albert Barnes
On Jonah 2:5
18th Century
Theologian
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul - Words which to others were figures of distress (Psalms 69:2; see the …
Charles Ellicott
On Jonah 2:5
19th Century
Bishop
The waters.— See reference in margin.
The weeds were wrapped about my head.— This graphic touch is quite or…
Charles Spurgeon
On Jonah 2:5
19th Century
Preacher
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:—
They seemed to get right into his spirit; his heart became waterlogged: The w…
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John Calvin
On Jonah 2:5–6
16th Century
Theologian
Here, Jonah relates in many words how many things had happened to him, which were designed to overwhelm his mind with terror, drive him far from Go…
John Gill
On Jonah 2:5
17th Century
Pastor
The waters compassed me about, [even] to the soul. Either when he was first cast into the sea, which almost suffocated hi…
Matthew Henry
On Jonah 2:1–9
17th Century
Minister
Observe when Jonah prayed. He prayed when he was in trouble, under the signs of God's displeasure against him for sin. When we are in affliction, w…