Studying Jonah 2
Below is the Studying Jonah Bible Study for Jonah 2.
Our desire is to help people learn how to study God’s Word and discover its intended meaning - understanding its message the way the original audience would have heard it. And that’s exactly what you can expect in this Bible Study on the book of Jonah. Throughout the study, we’ll be using questions from the CHARA Bible Study Guide, which will show you how to get the most out of studying the book of Jonah, by discovering what questions to ask and how to stay focused on the original intended meaning of the text. You’ll notice these CHARA questions are BOLDED and NUMBERED throughout this Bible Study, so you can easily see where and how this study method can help you discover more of the Bible for yourself.
Also, don’t miss the video that accompanies this Bible Study (below) as the Chara Project team talks about what we can learn from studying Jonah 2 (also available as a podcast!).
God called Jonah to speak and his refusal nearly cost him his life. Thrown overboard during a terrible storm, did Jonah know the Lord sent the fish to rescue him? Imagine you were Jonah - running from the Lord only to find yourself in the belly of a fish deep in the Mediterranean Sea - what would you do for three days and three nights as you waited at death’s door? Many of us would do exactly what we find Jonah doing in chapter two!
READ: JONAH 2
1. AUTHOR - Style: What literary style did the author use and how should that affect the way you read this passage?
Up to this point Jonah has been a man of few words, as we’re told his story through narrative writing style. In chapter two, we see a break from the story of what happened to Jonah, and we hear from Jonah. As he prays to God, a new genre is introduced - poetry. Poetry is a unique literary style in the Bible, because rather than communicating God’s words to man, poetry expresses man's words to God.
How appropriate for Jonah to express his experience inside the fish using poetry. Poetry speaks to the mind through the heart in a powerful way, something that prose cannot match. A straightforward retelling of Jonah’s experience inside the fish wouldn’t come close to the imagery Jonah paints using poetry.
Imagine how these words of Jonah, recorded here in chapter two, have spoken to God’s people throughout history - through prayer and song used in public worship, just as many of the poetic Psalms in the Bible were used in the ancient world. Also, consider how they speak to you today. Although none of us have experienced exactly what Jonah went through, we may find that we can relate to the vivid imagery and symbolism of his words in our lives today.
How might Jonah have told of his experience inside the fish had he not used poetry?
How does the use of poetry impact the way you hear and relate to Jonah’s experience?
2. AUTHOR - Patterns: What is highlighted through the use of repetition and other patterns such as parallelism?
Jonah chapter two can be broken into three sections - Jonah 2:2-4, 5-7, and 8-9. The first two sections have interwoven themes repeated in both parts - distress, rescue, and repentance (turning back to the Lord). In the final section of Jonah’s poetic experience (Jonah 2:8-9), Jonah makes a vow to the Lord that sets the stage for the next chapter.
Take a look at the first two sections (Jonah 2:2-4 and 2:5-7) and see if you can spot parallel themes of distress, repentance and rescue in both parts (although not necessarily in that order).
We’ll use these themes to guide the next section of our study of Jonah 2, beginning with distress.
DISTRESS
3. RESEARCH - Translations: Does another Bible translation add perspective or clarity on what the original language was trying to communicate?
How did Jonah describe his distress in Jonah 2:3 and 2:5? Consider checking out a few different Bible translations to gain perspective on how the water impacted Jonah.
Repetition is used in a handful of Bible translations in Jonah 2:3 and 2:5, highlighting and making Jonah’s experience almost palpable even to the reader - the waters “overcame” (CSB) and “engulfed” (NET) Jonah.
4. HISTORY - Where does the narrative take place?
How did Jonah describe where he was in the following verses? (Hint: Once again, check out different Bible translations for a fuller understanding of the severity of the situation).
Jonah 2:2
Jonah 2:6
Jonah likely drew on familiar imagery from Mount Carmel, which extended to unseen depths in the Mediterranean Sea, when he wrote, “I descended to the [very] roots of the mountains” (Jonah 2:6a, AMP). By adding, “The earth with its bars closed behind me [bolting me in] forever, Yet You have brought up my life from the pit (death), O Lord my God” (Jonah 2:6b, AMP), it’s quite possible that at the time Jonah truly believed he was dead, or at the very least dying.
According to Jewish tradition in the Talmud (a collection of Jewish sacred teachings), a soul would hover over a body for three days, meaning a person wasn’t considered truly dead until three days in the grave. Jonah spent three days in a watery grave inside the fish, which he referred to as “Sheol” (CSB, ESV), the “realm of the dead” (NIV), or “the belly of hell” (KJV).
5. RESEARCH - Observations & Questions: What observations or questions do you have? What stands out to you when you read the passage?
Jonah knew that God was behind the storm, the casting of the lots that singled him out, and although it was technically the sailors who threw him overboard, Jonah knew how really he ended up in the stormy sea.
Who does Jonah recognize was behind him being thrown into the sea (Jonah 2:3)?
6. APPLY - Reflect: What specific questions do you have upon further reflection of the passage?
Not every storm in our lives is brought on by God. It’s not fair to blame Him for every bad thing that happens to us. That being said, the Lord can speak loudly through the circumstances in our lives. And perhaps that’s often how and when we best hear Him.
In Jonah’s case, he knew the storm and the giant fish that swallowed him were designed to get his attention and bring about his repentance. Like Jonah, it’s often after the fact, that we can look back at the storms in our life and see God’s hand.
Figuratively speaking, has there been a time in your life that you felt overcome, surrounded, or engulfed by the weight of something?
If so, how did you respond? What has been your attitude toward the Lord during the storms in your life?
Can you look back and see God’s hand during those difficult times?
REPENTANCE
7. AUTHOR - Person: How did the author’s experiences influence what they communicated?
In the face of calamity, so far Jonah has run, hid and seemingly given up when he asked to be thrown overboard. But now, overcome and engulfed by the water that surrounded him, there was only one thing left for Jonah to do.
What do you see Jonah doing for the first time in Jonah 2:1, 2:2, and 2:7?
What did it take for Jonah to finally pray to the Lord?
8. CONTEXT - Bible: Does the text quote or allude to another passage in the Bible and what understanding does that give?
One might wonder what took Jonah so long to turn to God for help, but this isn’t the only place we find this in scripture (or in our own lives)! Read the first part of the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-20 (we’ll get to the rest of the parable later).
List all that took place before the younger son turned back to his father.
9. RESEARCH - Observations & Questions: What observations or questions do you have? What stands out to you when you reread the passage?
One detail that is often overlooked in the retelling of the story of the prodigal son, is that there was a severe famine (Luke 15:14). Notice the younger son didn’t return home when he ran out of money, he turned back to his father when he was “dying of hunger!” (Luke 15:17).
What similarities do you see between the prodigal son and Jonah?
10. APPLY - Reflect: What specific questions do you have upon further reflection of the passage?
Can you relate to the prodigal son and to Jonah?
How unfortunate it is that we so often take God for granted when life is going well, and it’s not until calamity strikes that we cry out for help. The good news is that even though we may distance ourselves from God, He’s never far from us!
RESCUE
11. APPLY - Ask: What do you learn about God - His character, attributes, or desires?
The Lord’s presence, the very thing Jonah tried to escape in chapter one, he now sought by looking toward the Lord’s “holy temple” (Jonah 2:4, 7), where God’s presence was in the Old Testament.
How did the Lord respond to Jonah’s cry for help in Jonah 2:2? What about Jonah 2:6?
Jonah felt as if he had been “banished from your sight,” Jonah 2:4 (NIV, CSB), yet he learned that wasn’t possible. Even in utter darkness, even in the depths of Sheol. God was there. God heard Jonah. The Lord answered Jonah and He rescued him.
12. CONTEXT - Does the text quote or allude to another passage in the Bible and what understanding does that give?
What Jonah learned about God is reflected by David in some of his Psalms (cross references point to Psalms 18:6, 31:22, and 139:7-12).
Look up Psalm 139:7-12. How does Jonah’s experience align with David’s?
13. APPLY - Express: What fears or concerns do you have about applying what you’ve learned?
Perhaps there have been times, like Jonah, when you’ve tried to avoid God’s presence. And other times when you’ve found great comfort or relief in His closeness.
What is your reaction to Psalm 139:7-12?
If you’ve ever felt unworthy to talk to God, or that God wouldn’t listen to your prayers, how does Jonah’s story comfort or challenge you?
Jonah was selfish, angry and proud - not to mention rebellious. Which is why so many of us can relate to him. Jonah didn’t deserve the Lord’s mercy. And we don’t either. Yet God’s mercy is on display in Jonah’s story (and ours).
The mercy and salvation that Jonah experienced gave him the resolve to trust the Lord, which is what we see in the final section of chapter 2 (Jonah 2:8-9).
14. CONTEXT - Immediate: How are connective words used to develop a complete thought (e.g. therefore, and, but, however)?
What connective word does Jonah 2:9 begin with (in most Bible translations)?
What does Jonah contrast in Jonah 2:8 and 2:9 (as indicated by the word connecting these two thoughts)?
At the end of his poetic expression, Jonah vows to trust and obey God. His allegiance is to the Lord, not to worthless idols, not like the people to whom he’s being sent (more on this in the next chapter)!
15. APPLY - Ask: What do you learn about God - His character, attributes, or desires?
We’ve already learned that even though Jonah once shunned God’s presence, that didn’t mean that God left Jonah. But is it the same with God’s love?
What do you learn about experiencing God’s love in Jonah 2:8? (Hint: check out the NIV and NLT translations)?
You can reject God and you can reject God’s love, but that doesn't mean He'll stop loving you. God’s love is as constant as His presence. Jonah’s story is a reminder that God loves us far more than any of us deserve. It’s when we experience His love that transforms us, just like it did for Jonah.
16. APPLY - Pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn and how should I apply this to my life?”
We’re not sure if there’s an official exit plan to get oneself out of the belly of a fish, or if there is a better way than being vomited out. Regardless, Jonah ended up back on dry land (Jonah 2:10) a changed man.
In Jonah 2:9, Jonah pledged a sacrifice to the Lord with a
“voice of ______________________” (Hint: see ESV, CSB, NASB, or KJV translation).
Can you recognize a time in your life that you’ve been rescued by God? What was your response?
What is your biggest takeaway from Jonah 2?
God can do impossible things, even bring people back from the dead—spiritually or physically. We see this so clearly in Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2, when a hardened heart turns repentant. Jonah cried out to God in his great distress and experienced the Lord’s deliverance in the most unusual and unmistakable way. But, the story isn’t over. God still wanted His message delivered to Nineveh and even though chapter two ends with Jonah praising and making a vow to the Lord, as the story continues we’ll see that God still had work to do in Jonah’s heart.
Join the Chara Project team as they talk about what we can learn from studying Jonah 2 (also available as a podcast!).
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Podcast: How to Study Jonah
An Overview of Studying the Book of Jonah