Jonah 2:9
What does Jonah 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 2:9 means
Jonah pledges to offer sacrifices with thanksgiving and to keep the vows he made in crisis. Gratitude naturally follows grace received, and vows express renewed obedience. His final line—“Salvation is of Jehovah”—is the chapter’s summit. Deliverance is not luck, human effort, or the sea relenting; it is God’s sovereign, gracious act. This confession is the heartbeat of biblical faith and the lesson Jonah must carry to Nineveh. For Christians, these words resonate with the gospel: rescue from death and sin belongs to the Lord alone, accomplished fully by Him, to which our proper response is thankful worship and faithful obedience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But I will make an offering to you with the voice of praise; I will give effect to my oaths. Salvation is the Lord's.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I--with a voice of thanksgiving--I sacrifice to Thee, That which I have vowed I complete, Salvation <FI>is<Fi> of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They that in vain observe vanities, forsake their own mercy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of Jehovah.
Context
Having renounced idols in verse 8, Jonah turns positively to worship and promise. The declaration that salvation belongs to Jehovah crowns his prayer. This prepares for verse 10, where God acts in creation to complete Jonah’s deliverance. The flow is coherent: acknowledgment of helplessness, renunciation of false hopes, confession of God’s exclusive saving power, and then concrete salvation. It also readies the narrative for Jonah’s renewed commission in the next chapter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 107:22
And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.
- Job 22:27
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows.
- Jeremiah 33:11
the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say, Give thanks to Jehovah of hosts, for Jehovah is good, for his lovingkindness endureth for ever; and of them that bring sacrifices of thanksgiving into the house of Jehovah. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return as at the first, saith Jehovah.
- Deuteronomy 23:18
Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
- Isaiah 45:17
But Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be put to shame nor confounded world without end.
- Psalms 37:39
But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah: He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
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