Jonah 2:3
New International Version
You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.

New Living Translation
You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves.

English Standard Version
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

Berean Standard Bible
For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For You cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the floods surrounded me; All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

New American Standard Bible
“For You threw me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current flowed around me. All Your breakers and waves passed over me.

NASB 1995
“For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me.

NASB 1977
“For Thou hadst cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Thy breakers and billows passed over me.

Legacy Standard Bible
For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current surrounded me. All Your breakers and waves passed over me.

Amplified Bible
“For You cast me into the deep, Into the [deep] heart of the seas, And the currents surrounded and engulfed me; All Your breakers and billowing waves passed over me.

Christian Standard Bible
When you threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, the current overcame me. All your breakers and your billows swept over me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas, and the current overcame me. All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
You threw me down to the bottom of the sea. The water was churning all around; I was completely covered by your mighty waves.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You threw me into the deep, into the depths of the sea, and water surrounded me. All the whitecaps on your waves have swept over me.

Good News Translation
You threw me down into the depths, to the very bottom of the sea, where the waters were all around me, and all your mighty waves rolled over me.

International Standard Version
You cast me into the deep— into the heart of the sea. Flood waters engulfed me. All your breakers and your waves swirled over me.

Majority Standard Bible
For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me.

NET Bible
You threw me into the deep waters, into the middle of the sea; the ocean current engulfed me; all the mighty waves you sent swept over me.

New Heart English Bible
For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your breakers and waves passed over me.

Webster's Bible Translation
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods encompassed me: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

World English Bible
For you threw me into the depths, in the heart of the seas. The flood was all around me. All your waves and your billows passed over me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When You cast me [into] the deep, "" Into the heart of the seas, "" Then the flood surrounds me, "" All Your breakers and Your billows have passed over me.

Young's Literal Translation
When Thou dost cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, Then the flood doth compass me, All Thy breakers and Thy billows have passed over me.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou wilt cast me into the depth, into the heart of the seas; and the river will surround me: all thy breakers and thy waves passed over me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou hast cast me forth into the deep in the heart of the sea, and a flood hath compassed me: all thy billows, and thy waves have passed over me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you have thrown me into the deep, in the heart of the sea, and a flood has encircled me. All your whirlpools and your waves have passed over me.

New American Bible
You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the flood enveloped me; All your breakers and your billows passed over me.

New Revised Standard Version
You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the sea; and the flood compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves have passed over me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you cast me into the depths into the heart of the sea and the floods surrounded me; all your storms and your waves passed over me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou didst cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and the floods compassed me: all thy billows and thy waves have passed upon me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonah's Prayer
2saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. 3For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. 4At this, I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’…

Cross References
Psalm 42:7
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

Psalm 88:6-7
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. / Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah

Lamentations 3:54
The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.

Psalm 69:1-2
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

Psalm 18:4-6
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. / In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 130:1
A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!

Psalm 31:22
In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from Your sight!” But You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help.

Job 38:8-11
Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, / when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, / when I fixed its boundaries and set in place its bars and doors, ...

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Psalm 77:16
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Luke 11:30
For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

Matthew 8:24-27
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” / “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. ...

Mark 4:37-41
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. / But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. ...

Acts 27:41-44
But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was being broken up by the pounding of the waves. / The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners so none of them could swim to freedom. / But the centurion, wanting to spare Paul’s life, thwarted their plan. He commanded those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ...


Treasury of Scripture

For you had cast me into the deep, in the middle of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all your billows and your waves passed over me.

thou.

Jonah 1:12-16
And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you…

Psalm 69:1,2,14,15
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul…

Psalm 88:5-8
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand…

midst.

Psalm 42:7
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Jump to Previous
Billows Breakers Cast Compass Compassed Current Deep Depth Depths Encompassed Engulfed Flood Floods Hadst Heart Hurled Midst Passed River Rolling Round Sea Seas Swept Swirled Threw Waters Waves
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Billows Breakers Cast Compass Compassed Current Deep Depth Depths Encompassed Engulfed Flood Floods Hadst Heart Hurled Midst Passed River Rolling Round Sea Seas Swept Swirled Threw Waters Waves
Jonah 2
1. The prayer of Jonah.
10. He is delivered out of the belly of the fish.














For You cast me into the deep
This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty and control over the events in Jonah's life. Jonah recognizes that it was not merely the sailors who threw him overboard, but ultimately God who orchestrated these circumstances. This reflects the biblical theme of God's providence, as seen in Genesis 50:20, where Joseph acknowledges God's hand in his trials. The "deep" symbolizes chaos and danger, often associated with the unknown and the realm of death, as seen in Psalm 69:2.

into the heart of the seas
The "heart of the seas" emphasizes the depth and centrality of Jonah's predicament. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the sea was often viewed as a place of chaos and disorder, a domain of fearsome deities. This phrase underscores Jonah's isolation and vulnerability, akin to the Israelites' fear of the sea, as seen in Exodus 14:21-22 during the crossing of the Red Sea. It also prefigures Christ's descent into the grave, as referenced in Matthew 12:40, where Jesus compares His burial to Jonah's time in the fish.

and the current swirled about me
The swirling current represents the overwhelming nature of Jonah's situation. It conveys a sense of being engulfed and helpless, similar to the imagery in Psalm 42:7, where the psalmist describes being overwhelmed by God's waves. This phrase highlights the intensity of Jonah's distress and the inescapable nature of divine judgment, yet it also points to the possibility of deliverance through God's intervention.

all Your breakers and waves swept over me
This imagery of breakers and waves suggests relentless and powerful forces beyond Jonah's control. The use of "Your" indicates that these forces are under God's command, reinforcing the theme of divine sovereignty. This is reminiscent of the psalmist's cry in Psalm 88:7, where God's waves are seen as a form of discipline. The waves can also be seen as a type of baptism, symbolizing death and resurrection, prefiguring Christ's own death and resurrection, as He calms the storm in Mark 4:39, demonstrating His authority over creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jonah
A prophet of God who was called to deliver a message to Nineveh but initially fled from God's command.

2. God
The sovereign Lord who commands the seas and orchestrates events for His purposes.

3. The Deep/Heart of the Seas
Represents the overwhelming circumstances Jonah finds himself in, symbolizing distress and separation from God.

4. The Current/Breakers/Waves
Natural elements used by God to discipline Jonah and bring him to repentance.

5. The Fish
Though not mentioned in this specific verse, it is the vessel of Jonah's deliverance and a key part of the surrounding account.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Discipline
God uses circumstances, even those that seem overwhelming, to bring us back to Him. Jonah's experience in the sea was not just punishment but a means to redirect his path.

The Depths as a Place of Reflection
Times of distress can lead to deeper reflection and repentance. Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish shows a turning back to God in the midst of his trials.

Recognizing God's Hand in Our Circumstances
Jonah acknowledges that it was God who cast him into the sea, recognizing divine purpose even in his dire situation. We too should seek to see God's hand in our lives, even when it is difficult.

The Power of Prayer in Desperation
Jonah's prayer from the depths is a powerful reminder that God hears us, no matter how far we feel from Him. Prayer is a vital connection to God in times of need.

Hope in God's Deliverance
Despite the overwhelming nature of the waves, Jonah's account is ultimately one of deliverance. We can trust in God's ability to rescue us from our own "depths."(3) Hadst cast.--Rather, didst cast. (See Psalm 88:6.)

Floods.--Literally, river, used here of the ocean currents. (Comp. Psalm 24:2.)

All thy billows and thy waves.--More exactly, all thy breakers and billows. (See Psalm 42:7, where the same expression is used figuratively for great danger and distress.)

Verse 3. - He describes his danger and distress. Thou hadst cast; rather, thou didst cast, the sailors being the agents of the Divine will. Septuagint, ἀπέῥῬιψας. The deep; βάθη, "depths" (Septuagint); Exodus 15:8. In the midst; literally, in the heart; Septuagint, καρδίας θαλάσσης: galore, in corde maris. This defines more closely the previous expression. The floods; literally, the river. This may mean the current (as in Psalm 24:2), which in the Mediterranean Sea sets from west to east, and, impinging on the Syrian coast, turns north; or it may have reference to the notion, familiar to us in Homer. which regarded the ocean as a river. All thy billows and thy waves; πάντες οἱ μετεωρισμοί σου καὶ τὰ κύματά σου "all thy swellings and waves" (Septuagint); omnes gurgites tui, et fluctus tui (Vulgate). The former are "breakers," the latter "rolling billows." The clause is from Psalm 42:7, Jonah transferring what is there said metaphorically to his own literal experience, at the same time acknowledging God's hand in the punishment by speaking of "thy billows" (comp. Psalm 88:6, 7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For You cast me
וַתַּשְׁלִיכֵ֤נִי (wat·taš·lî·ḵê·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

into the deep,
מְצוּלָה֙ (mə·ṣū·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4688: A deep place

into the heart
בִּלְבַ֣ב (bil·ḇaḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

of the seas,
יַמִּ֔ים (yam·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

and the current
וְנָהָ֖ר (wə·nā·hār)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

swirled about me.
יְסֹבְבֵ֑נִי (yə·sō·ḇə·ḇê·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Your breakers
מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָ (miš·bā·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4867: A breaker (of the sea)

and waves
וְגַלֶּ֖יךָ (wə·ḡal·le·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1530: Something rolled, a heap of stone, dung, a spring of water

swept
עָבָֽרוּ׃ (‘ā·ḇā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

over me.
עָלַ֥י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Prophets: Jonah 2:3 For you threw me into the depths (Jon. Jh)
Jonah 2:2
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