Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Jonah 2:2 and he said, "I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Jonah 2:2 and said, "I called out of my trouble and distress to the LORD, And He answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol I cried for help, And You heard my voice. [Ps 120:1; 130:1; 142:1; Lam 3:55-58] |
Subject: Did Jonah die in the belly of the fish? |
Bible Note: I have heard Dr. McGee say that research has proven that a man can live inside a large fish, whale I believe as they have a compartment in their stomach which contains enough oxygen for the person somehow to live. He said that Jonah's appearance was probably miraculous to the people of Ninevah and that helped his testimony to them. Being affected by the stomach acid of the stomach his appearance would be a testament to God's power. Although the bible doesn't say definatively if Jonah died there I have considered that God is able to raise men from the dead but I now have the opinion that Jonah did not die because he repented and the whale spit him out and Jonah continued the work the Lord had for him to do. Considering the passages that it is appointed for men once to die and then after that the judgement as well as the fact that one cannot repent after death and come back to life it would seem that these obvious passages would explain this difficult passage. I am sure Jonah had a lot of time to think in that dark smelly place for those three days. I think one fact of the story is that Jonah was to preach to a people that he actually hated. He did not want them to repent but wanted them to face judgement for the cruelty they imposed on their enemies in war. I think this is a great testament to those who think they have gone too far in sin and think there is no chance for them to be saved. Christ offers salvation to those who will repent and believe in Him. What a wonderful hope and healing for these types of people. It also sheds light on our attitudes and begs the question are there people Christ wants me to share the gospel with who I think should face judgment not redemption? Will I be obedient to proclaim the gospel to them? |