Jon 2:6 | TNotes | STEP | 2:6 Jonah’s metaphors ( roots of the mountains ; imprisoned in the earth ) reflect ancient concepts of the underworld, with the dead being deep within the earth (see also 2:2 ). At one point Jonah felt hopelessly doomed to death’s prison. • But: The transition is powerful. Jonah, though certain of his own death, was not beyond God’s gracious reach. • the jaws of death (literally the pit ): The Hebrew term normally denotes the habitat of the dead. Jonah’s language again makes it clear that at this point he considered himself as good as dead.

‏ Jonah 2:6

2:6 ^a Jonah’s metaphors (roots of the mountains; imprisoned in the earth) reflect ancient concepts of the underworld, with the dead being deep within the earth (see also 2:2 ^b). At one point Jonah felt hopelessly doomed to death’s prison.

• But: The transition is powerful. Jonah, though certain of his own death, was not beyond God’s gracious reach.

• the jaws of death (literally the pit): The Hebrew term normally denotes the habitat of the dead. Jonah’s language again makes it clear that at this point he considered himself as good as dead.