Jonah 2:10
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
And the LORD commanded
The phrase begins with "And the LORD," emphasizing the sovereignty and authority of God. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, which signifies His eternal presence and faithfulness. The word "commanded" comes from the Hebrew "tsavah," which means to give an order or charge. This highlights God's control over creation, as He speaks and nature obeys. It is a reminder of God's omnipotence and His ability to intervene in miraculous ways to fulfill His purposes.

the fish
The Hebrew word for "fish" is "dag," which refers to a large aquatic creature. In the context of Jonah, this fish is often depicted as a great sea creature, possibly a whale or a specially prepared fish by God. The fish serves as an instrument of God's mercy, preserving Jonah's life despite his disobedience. This highlights the theme of divine providence, where God uses even the natural world to accomplish His will and bring about repentance and redemption.

and it vomited
The word "vomited" is translated from the Hebrew "qiya," which means to disgorge or expel. This action signifies the end of Jonah's confinement and the beginning of his renewed mission. It is a vivid image of deliverance, symbolizing the purging of sin and the opportunity for a fresh start. The act of vomiting also underscores the idea that Jonah's time in the fish was not meant to be permanent but was a temporary measure for his correction and reflection.

Jonah
Jonah, whose name means "dove" in Hebrew, is a prophet called by God to deliver a message of repentance to Nineveh. His journey is marked by reluctance and rebellion, yet also by God's relentless pursuit and grace. Jonah's experience in the fish is a turning point, illustrating the transformative power of God's discipline and mercy. It serves as a reminder that God can use flawed individuals to accomplish His divine purposes.

onto dry land
The phrase "onto dry land" signifies Jonah's return to the realm of the living and the beginning of his second chance. The Hebrew word for "dry land" is "yabashah," which contrasts with the chaotic and threatening waters of the sea. This transition from sea to land symbolizes stability, safety, and the opportunity for obedience. It reflects the biblical theme of deliverance, where God brings His people from danger to security, from judgment to grace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The sovereign God who commands all creation, demonstrating His authority over nature and His mercy towards Jonah.

2. Jonah
A prophet of God who initially fled from God's command but was given a second chance after being swallowed by a great fish.

3. The Fish
A divinely appointed creature used by God to save Jonah from drowning and to transport him back to dry land.

4. Dry Land
The place where Jonah is delivered, symbolizing a new beginning and the opportunity to fulfill God's mission.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty
God is in control of all creation, and His plans cannot be thwarted. We can trust in His power and authority in our lives.

Second Chances
Just as Jonah was given a second chance, God offers us opportunities to repent and return to His path. We should embrace these moments with gratitude and obedience.

Divine Deliverance
God's deliverance often comes in unexpected ways. We should remain open to His methods and trust in His timing.

Obedience and Mission
Jonah's deliverance onto dry land was a call to action. We must be ready to act on God's instructions and fulfill our mission.

Repentance and Renewal
Jonah's experience in the fish was a time of reflection and repentance. We should use our trials as opportunities for spiritual renewal and growth.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jonah's experience in the fish illustrate God's sovereignty and control over creation?

2. In what ways does Jonah's account encourage us to embrace second chances in our own lives?

3. How can we recognize and respond to God's deliverance in unexpected situations?

4. What lessons can we learn from Jonah about obedience and fulfilling God's mission for us?

5. How can times of trial and reflection lead to spiritual renewal and a deeper relationship with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:1-2
The creation account highlights God's sovereignty over all creation, similar to His control over the fish in Jonah's account.

Matthew 12:40
Jesus references Jonah's three days in the fish as a foreshadowing of His own death and resurrection, emphasizing themes of deliverance and new beginnings.

Psalm 139:7-10
This passage speaks to God's omnipresence and His ability to reach us no matter where we are, much like He reached Jonah in the depths of the sea.
Triumph, ThanksgivingW.G. Blaikie Jonah 2:2-10
Deliverance Waiting on the Assured Hope of itJ.E. Henry Jonah 2:5-10
People
Jonah
Places
Joppa
Topics
Commanded, Dry, Fish, Jonah, Lord's, Mouth, Onto, Order, Spake, Spoke, Vomited, Vomiteth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jonah 2:10

     5602   vomit
     6738   rescue
     8404   commands, in OT
     9311   resurrection, of Christ

Library
Salvation of the Lord
By salvation here we do not merely understand the special salvation which Jonah received from death; for according to Dr. Gill, there is something so special in the original, in the word salvation having one more letter than it usually has, when it only refers to some temporary deliverance, that we can only understand it here as relating to the great work of the salvation of the soul which endureth for ever. That "salvation is of the Lord," I shall this morning try to show as best I can. First, I
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

The Fainting Soul Revived
WHEN man was first made, there was no fear of his forgetting God for it was his highest privilege and delight to have communion with his Maker. "The Lord God walked in the garden in the cool of the day," and Adam was privileged to hold fellowship with God, closer, perhaps, than even the angels had in heaven. But the spell of that sacred harmony was rudely broken by man's disobedience and his dreadful fall. Ever since our first parent tasted of the forbidden fruit, which brought death into our world,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

An Address to a Soul So Overwhelmed with a Sense of the Greatness of Its Sins, that it Dares not Apply Itself to Christ with Any
1-4. The case described at large.--5. As it frequently occurs.--6. Granting all that the dejected soul charges on itself.--7. The invitations and promises of Christ give hope.--8. The reader urged, under all his burdens and fears, to an humble application to him. Which is accordingly exemplified in the concluding Reflection and Prayer. 1. I have now done with those unhappy creatures who despise the Gospel, and with those who neglect it. With pleasure do I now turn myself to those who will hear me
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
"O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out" (Rom. 11:33). "Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9); but the Lord does not save all. Why not? He does save some; then if He saves some, why not others? Is it because they are too sinful and depraved? No; for the Apostle wrote, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief" (1
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Whether the Fire of Hell is Beneath the Earth?
Objection 1: It would seem that this fire is not beneath the earth. For it is said of the damned (Job 18:18), "And God shall remove him out of the globe [Douay: 'world']." Therefore the fire whereby the damned will be punished is not beneath the earth but outside the globe. Objection 2: Further, nothing violent or accidental can be everlasting. But this fire will be in hell for ever. Therefore it will be there, not by force but naturally. Now fire cannot be under the earth save by violence. Therefore
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Revelation of the Old Testament in Writing.
"Then I said, I will not speak any more in His Name. But His word was in my heart as a burning fire, shut up in my bones: and I was weary with forbearing, but I could not."--Jer. xx. 9. Altho the miracles performed for and in the midst of Israel created a glorious life-center in the midst of the heathen world, yet they did not constitute a Holy Scripture; for this can not be created except God speak to man, even to His people Israel. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

But Though Prayer is Properly Confined to Vows and Supplications...
But though prayer is properly confined to vows and supplications, yet so strong is the affinity between petition and thanksgiving, that both may be conveniently comprehended under one name. For the forms which Paul enumerates (1 Tim. 2:1) fall under the first member of this division. By prayer and supplication we pour out our desires before God, asking as well those things which tend to promote his glory and display his name, as the benefits which contribute to our advantage. By thanksgiving we duly
John Calvin—Of Prayer--A Perpetual Exercise of Faith

God's Sovereignty and Prayer
"If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us" (1 John 5:14). Throughout this book it has been our chief aim to exalt the Creator and abase the creature. The well-nigh universal tendency now, is to magnify man and dishonour and degrade God. On every hand it will be found that, when spiritual things are under discussion, the human side and element is pressed and stressed, and the Divine side, if not altogether ignored, is relegated to the background. This holds true of very much of the
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Pilgrim's Progress
FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME. THE SECOND PART. DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. WHEREIN IS SET FORTH THE MANNER OF THE SETTING OUT OF CHRISTIAN'S WIFE AND CHILDREN, THEIR DANGEROUS JOURNEY, AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE DESIRED COUNTRY. By JOHN BUNYAN. 'I have used similitudes.'--Hosea 12:10. London: Printed for Nathaniel Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, near the Church, 1684. THE AUTHOR'S WAY OF SENDING FORTH HIS SECOND PART OF THE PILGRIM. Go now, my little book, to every
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Jonah
The book of Jonah is, in some ways, the greatest in the Old Testament: there is no other which so bravely claims the whole world for the love of God, or presents its noble lessons with so winning or subtle an art. Jonah, a Hebrew prophet, is divinely commanded to preach to Nineveh, the capital of the great Assyrian empire of his day. To escape the unwelcome task of preaching to a heathen people, he takes ship for the distant west, only to be overtaken by a storm, and thrown into the sea, when, by
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Jonah 2:10 NIV
Jonah 2:10 NLT
Jonah 2:10 ESV
Jonah 2:10 NASB
Jonah 2:10 KJV

Jonah 2:10 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Jonah 2:9
Top of Page
Top of Page