Bible Commentary

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay [that] that I have vowed. Salvation [is] of the LORD. 9. But I ] in contrast to my former self, and to the whole body of those of whom I then was one, will humbly claim and gratefully acknowledge my share … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:9”

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 8. observe lying vanities ] Comp. Psa 31:6, where the same Heb. word is rendered “regard.” By “lying vanities” we are to understand “all inventions with which men deceive themselves” (Calvin), all false, and therefore vain and disappointing objects of trust and confidence. Idols and false … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:8”

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 7. fainted ] Lit., covered itself; with reference to the film and darkness that comes over eye and mind in fainting and exhaustion. Comp. Psa 142:3; Psa 107:5, where the same Heb. word occurs. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:7”

I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars [was] about me forever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. 6. bottoms ] Lit., as in margin, “ cuttings off,” the mountains being poetically conceived of as stretching away their roots or ridges to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:6”

The waters compassed me about, [even] to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 5. compassed me about ] It would be better, perhaps, to render surrounded me, in order to show that this is a different word from that in Jon 2:3, and then in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:5”

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 4. Then I said, &c.] The first clause of this verse may, perhaps, be a reminiscence of the first clause of Psa 31:22 (Heb. 23), though there the words “in my haste” are added, and a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:4”

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. 3. hadst cast ] There is no pluperf. tense in the Heb. language. There is no need, however, here to depart from the more literal rendering … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:3”

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. 2. and said ] The prayer which follows falls naturally into three parts or divisions. In each of these the two elements of danger and deliverance, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:2”

Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 1. Then Jonah prayed ] What follows, Jon 2:2-9, is rather a thanksgiving than a prayer. The same, however, may be said of Hannah’s utterance (1Sa 2:1-10), which is introduced by the same word (“Hannah prayed ”). Comp. Act 16:25, where Alford … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 2:1”

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 17. had prepared ] Rather: assigned, or appointed. (LXX. .) The same word and tense are used of the gourd, the worm, and the East wind, ch. Jon 4:6-8. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jonah 1:17”