Jonah 2:8
"They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. They that worship idols, who are nothing, mere vanity and lies, and deceive those that serve them, these forsake the God of their lives, and of their mercies; and so do all such who serve divers lusts and pleasures, and pursue the vanities of this life;

and also those who follow the dictates of carnal sense and reason, to the neglect of the will of God, and obedience to his commands; which was Jonah's case, and is, I think, chiefly intended. The Targum, Syriac version, and so Jarchi, and most interpreters, understand it of worshippers of idols in general; and Kimchi of the mariners of the ship Jonah had been in; who promised to relinquish their idols, but did not; and vowed to serve the Lord, and sacrifice to him, but did not perform what they promised. But I rather think Jonah reflects upon himself in particular, as well as leaves this as a general instruction to others; that should they do as he had done, give way to an evil heart of unbelief, and attend to the suggestions of a vain mind, and consult with flesh and blood, and be directed thereby, to the disregard of God and his will; they will find, as he had done to his cost, that they forsake that God that has been gracious and merciful to them, and who is all goodness and mercy, Psa 144:3 ; which to do is very ungrateful to him, and injurious to themselves; and now he being sensible of his folly, and influenced by the grace and goodness of God to him, resolves to do as follows:

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (12 words)

H5848 עָטַף
Definition:

A primitive root; to shroud, i.e. Clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish -- cover (over), fail, faint, feebler, hide self, be overwhelmed, swoon.Brown-Dr A primitive root; to shroud, i.e. Clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness) to languish -- cover (over), fail, faint, feebler, hide self, be overwhelmed, swoon.Brown-Dr

Possible Meanings:
  • be feeble (semantic_range)
  • be feeble (semantic_range)
  • when infants faint (semantic_range)
  • shewed feebleness (semantic_range)
H5921 עַל
Definition:

“The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the “The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From the opening verses, עַל marks God’s sovereignty above the chaotic deep, foreshadowing His orderly governance of the

Possible Meanings:
  • upon (semantic_range)
  • on account of (semantic_range)
  • to (semantic_range)
H5315 נֶפֶשׁ
Definition:

6(so evenGenesis 2:19;Numbers 31:28;1 Kings 19:2see AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 42SS)soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion(Ecclus 3:18; 4:1 (twice in verse); Ecclesias 6(so evenGenesis 2:19;Numbers 31:28;1 Kings 19:2see AlbrZAW xvi (1896), 42SS)soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion(Ecclus 3:18; 4:1 (twice in verse); Ecclesias

Possible Meanings:
  • take breath (semantic_range)
  • refresh oneself (semantic_range)
  • take breath (semantic_range)
  • refresh oneself (semantic_range)
H0853 אֵת
Definition:

33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34: 33,אֹתָ֑ךְ,אֹתָ֑כָהExodus 29:35, feminineאֹתָךְ;אֹתוֺetc.; 2 pluralאֶתְכֶם, once˜אוֺתְכֶםJoshua 23:15; 3masculine plural regularlyאֹתָם, rarelyאֶתְהֶםGenesis 32:1;Exodus 18:20;Numbers 21:3;Ezekiel 34:

Possible Meanings:
  • sign (semantic_range)
H3068 יְהוָֹה
Definition:

7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when 7;Leviticus 24:11יהוהwas regarded as anomen ineffabile(see Philode Vita Mosis iii. 519, 529), called by the Jewsהַשֵּׁםand by the Samaritansשׁימא. The pronunciationJehovahwas unknown until 1520, when

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H2142 זָכַר
Definition:

23+; 3 feminine singularזָָֽכְרָהLamentations 1:7,9; 2masculine singularוְזָכַרְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 5:15+; suffixזְכַרְתַּנִיGenesis 40:14compare1 Samuel 1:11,זְכַרְתָּםPsalm 88:6; 2feminine singularזָכַר 23+; 3 feminine singularזָָֽכְרָהLamentations 1:7,9; 2masculine singularוְזָכַרְתָּ֫Deuteronomy 5:15+; suffixזְכַרְתַּנִיGenesis 40:14compare1 Samuel 1:11,זְכַרְתָּםPsalm 88:6; 2feminine singularזָכַר

Possible Meanings:
  • male (semantic_range)
  • male (semantic_range)
  • male (semantic_range)
H0935 בּוֹא
Definition:

13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti 13+; 3 feminine singularבָּ֫אָהGenesis 15:17+; suffixבָּאַתְנוּPsalm 44:18; 2masculine singularבָּ֫אתָJoshua 13:1+,בָּ֫אתָה2 Samuel 3:7; 2feminine singularבָּאתְGenesis 16:8;Ruth 2:12,וּבָאתְconsecuti

Possible Meanings:
  • come in (semantic_range)
  • come (semantic_range)
  • go in (semantic_range)
  • go (semantic_range)
  • come in (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H8605 תְּפִלָּה
Definition:

15+, constructתְּמִּלַּתPsalm 80:5+; suffixתְּפלָּתִיPsalm 4:2+, etc.; pluralתְּפִלּוֺתPsalm 72:20; —1. a.prayer,1 Kings 8:382Chronicles 6:29;Isaiah 1:15;Psalm 35:13;Psalm 80:5+.b.pray a prayer,׳ת׳הִת 15+, constructתְּמִּלַּתPsalm 80:5+; suffixתְּפלָּתִיPsalm 4:2+, etc.; pluralתְּפִלּוֺתPsalm 72:20; —1. a.prayer,1 Kings 8:382Chronicles 6:29;Isaiah 1:15;Psalm 35:13;Psalm 80:5+.b.pray a prayer,׳ת׳הִת

Possible Meanings:
  • unsavouriness (semantic_range)
  • unseemliness (semantic_range)
H0413 אֶל
Definition:

22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE 22;1 Samuel 5:26;1 Samuel 15:22;1 Samuel 29:19), with suffixאֵלַי,אֵלֶיךָ,אֵלַיִךְ, etc.אֵלֵינוּ,אֲלֵיכֶם& (5 t.)אֲלֵכֶם,אֲלֵיהֶם&אֲלֵהֶם(both very often); onceאֵלֵימוֺPsalm 2:5,אֲלֵיהֶן, onceאֲלֵהֶןE

Possible Meanings:
  • these (semantic_range)
H1964 הֵיכָל
Definition:

7(onIsaiah 44:28compare Che Di)palace, temple(see also Late Hebrewid. temple, Aramaicהֵיכָלָא,הֵיכְלָא,,palace, temple, PalmyreneהכלאtempleVog16; compare Arabic(probably Aramaic loan-word according to 7(onIsaiah 44:28compare Che Di)palace, temple(see also Late Hebrewid. temple, Aramaicהֵיכָלָא,הֵיכְלָא,,palace, temple, PalmyreneהכלאtempleVog16; compare Arabic(probably Aramaic loan-word according to

H6944 קֹדֶשׁ
Definition:

11). His transcendence is so absolute that even seraphim veil their faces while crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Because His name itself is Holy (Isaiah 57:15), every othe 11). His transcendence is so absolute that even seraphim veil their faces while crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Because His name itself is Holy (Isaiah 57:15), every othe

Possible Meanings:
  • sacred (semantic_range)

Interlinear data not available for this verse yet.

---

Get the daily verse delivered free

Create Free Account

Automatic daily verse emails after signup

← Chapter 2 All Chapters