Jonah 2:8
What does Jonah 2:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 2:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 2:8 means
Jonah contrasts trust in Jehovah with devotion to “lying vanities”—worthless idols that promise help but cannot save. To cling to such emptiness is to abandon the very mercy one needs; it is to turn from the Giver and thus forfeit His steadfast kindness. Jonah’s words may recall the sailors’ earlier prayers to false gods and, more searchingly, expose his own prior flight as functional idolatry. Here he draws a clear line: salvation is not found in substitutes. The heart must let go of illusions to receive the mercy that is actually offered by the living God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They that regard lying vanities Forsake their own mercy.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They that regard lying vanities Forsake their own mercy.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The worshippers of false gods have given up their only hope.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Those observing lying vanities their own mercy forsake.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When my soul was in distress within me, I remembered the Lord: that my prayer may come to thee, unto the holy temple.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
Context
After describing his prayer’s acceptance, Jonah states a lesson learned from the depths. Verse 8 functions as a moral and theological contrast to the confession that follows. By denouncing idols and their emptiness, he prepares for the positive vow in verse 9 to sacrifice and fulfill promises to Jehovah. The flow moves from repentance and recognition of folly to renewed devotion, setting up the climactic confession that salvation belongs to Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Habakkuk 2:18
What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
- Jeremiah 10:14
Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
- 1 Samuel 12:21
and turn ye not aside; for then would ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.
- 2 Kings 17:15
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged them that they should not do like them.
- Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
- Psalms 31:6
I hate them that regard lying vanities; But I trust in Jehovah.
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