Jonah 2:9–10

Footnotes

1. 38 Heb “voice” or “sound.”
2. 39 The reads בְּקוֹל תּוֹדָה (béqol todah, “with a voice of thanksgiving”). Some of Jonah read “with the sound of hymns of thanksgiving” here in 2:9—the longer reading probably reflects an editorial gloss, explaining תּוֹדָה (“thanksgiving”) as “hymns of thanksgiving.” Heb “voice/sound of thanksgiving.” The genitive תּוֹדָה (todah, “thanksgiving”) specifies the kind of public statement that will accompany the sacrifice. The construct noun קוֹל (qol, “voice, sound”) functions as a metonymy of cause for effect, referring to the content of what the voice/sound produces: hymns of praise or declarative praise testimony.
3. 40 The verbs translated “I will sacrifice” and “I will pay” are Hebrew cohortatives, expressing Jonah’s resolve and firm intention.
4. 41 Heb “what I have vowed I will pay.” Jonah promises to offer a sacrifice and publicly announce why he is thankful. For similar pledges, see Pss 22:25–26; 50:14–15; 56:12; 69:29–33; 71:14–16, 22–24; 86:12–13; 116:12–19.
5. 42 Or “deliverance” (, ).
6. 43 Or “comes from the Lord.” For similar uses of the preposition lamed (לְ, lé) to convey a sort of ownership in which the owner does or may by right do something, see Lev 25:48; Deut 1:17; 1 Sam 17:47; Jer 32:7–8.
7. 44 Heb “spoke to.” The fish functions as a literary foil to highlight Jonah’s hesitancy to obey God up to this point. In contrast to Jonah who immediately fled when God commanded him, the fish immediately obeyed.