What does Jonah 2:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Again the writer glorified Yahweh by attributing control of this formidable sea creature to Him (cf. Jonah 1:17). The first and the second chapters both close on this note. The Hebrew text says, "The Lord spoke to the fish" (cf. Jonah 1:1). Unlike Jonah , the fish obeyed God and vomited the prodigal prophet onto dry land. Jonah had spoken to the Lord in confession ( Jonah 2:1-9), and now God responded by speaking to the fish in deliverance. Having gained a preview of Sheol ( Jonah 2:2) Jonah was now prepared to go to the Ninevites whose destiny was Sheol. [source][source]

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The Hebrew word for salvation is yeshua, here used in its intensive form. The Hebrew name Joshua means "Yahweh is salvation." The Greek name Jesus is the translation of Joshua. Thus we can see a close connection between what Jonah declared ("salvation is of the Lord") and what all Scripture declares, namely, that salvation is through Jesus Christ. [source][source]

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"This miracle has also a symbolical meaning for Israel. It shows that if the carnal nation, with its ungodly mind, should turn to the Lord even in the last extremity, it will be raised up again by a divine miracle from destruction to newness of life." ^[1] [source]

"When Israel turns to the Lord, when the veil is removed from the heart, when they cry out in truth to the Lord from the midst of their distresses, the Lord will restore them not only to their own land but also to the commission of witnessing to the Lord ^[2]." ^[3] [source]

We do not know where on the coast Jonah landed. Unfortunately several interpreters have made applications based on their speculations. [source][source]

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Context Summary

The great fish was probably a shark. He who sent the storm prepared the fish. Life is full of contrivances on the part of the great Lover of men. To plunge beneath the wave is to fall into His arms. More than once the body of a man has been found in the belly of a shark in the Mediterranean. Even those who hold that this story is an elaborate parable must admit that it is probably founded on such a fact. Our Lord's endorsement of this book and incident is very emphatic, Matthew 12:39-41.

The psalm which follows is very helpful to those who have brought themselves into the depths by their wrongdoing. God will hear such out of the depths of Sheol. When you think you are cast out of His sight forever, if you will look toward His holy temple, you will find that His love is gradually extricating you from the pit. To trust in your own efforts and expedients is to regard lying vanities and to forsake your own mercy. "Salvation is of the Lord." All nature waits upon His word. The big sharks and the tiny minnows are alike at the behest of God for the help of man. Only "look again" to God, and then be sure to pay your vows when delivered! [source]

Chapter Summary: Jonah 2

¹  The prayer of Jonah
¹⁰  He is delivered out of the belly of the fish