Jonah 2:6
What does Jonah 2:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 2:6 means
Jonah says he went down to the roots of the mountains, to the very foundations of the earth, where it felt as if prison bars closed on him forever. That is the language of finality and death. Yet the turning point erupts: Jehovah his God brought up his life from the pit. All credit for rescue belongs to God. This descent-and-ascent pattern foreshadows a greater deliverance: Jesus later pointed to Jonah’s time in the fish as a sign of His own death and resurrection. Here, Jonah’s personal salvation becomes a living parable of God’s power to raise life from the grave’s brink.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed upon me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed upon me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I went down to the bases of the mountains; as for the earth, her walls were about me for ever: but you have taken up my life from the underworld, O Lord my God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862To the cuttings of mountains I have come down, The earth, her bars <FI>are<Fi> behind me to the age. And Thou bringest up from the pit my life, O Jehovah my God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The waters compassed me about even to the soul: the deep hath closed me round about, the sea hath covered my head.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The bars of the earth [closed] upon me for ever: But thou hast brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah myGod.
Context
This verse completes the downward arc begun in verses 3–5 and then reverses it. The imagery of “bars” and “pit” underscores that Jonah could not free himself. The clause “Yet hast thou brought up my life” introduces the decisive act of mercy. Next, verse 7 will identify the inner moment of turning—remembering Jehovah and praying—which aligns with the outward deliverance God provided. The structure tightens: peril, prayer, and powerful rescue.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 33:28
He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.
- Habakkuk 3:10
The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high.
- Psalms 104:6
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a vesture; The waters stood above the mountains.
- Psalms 55:23
But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee.
- Psalms 30:9
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
- Psalms 143:7
Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I become like them that go down into the pit.
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