3
ἐβόησα ἐν θλίψει μου πρὸς κύριον τὸν θεόν μου καὶ εἰσήκουσέν μου ἐκ κοιλίας ᾅδου κραυγῆς μου ἤκουσας φωνῆς μου
I cried out in my affliction to the Lord my God, and he heard me; from the belly of Hades, from my cry, you heard my voice.
The canticle opens without Jonah's narrative setting in the fish, so the cry itself stands first. Affliction, Hades, and heard prayer are joined in a compressed thanksgiving-lament formula.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐβόησαI cried outVAI AAI1S · βοάωmain verb (psalm incipit)→ constative aorist (single intense cry in extremity)βοάω: 'cry aloud, shout'; a strong verb of distress-prayer in the Psalter (Ps 3:5; 21:6; 87:14 LXX). The aorist recalls the cry from within the fish as an accomplished past event.
ἐνinP · ἐνpreposition + dative (circumstantial: sphere of affliction)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐν: preposition with the dative, expressing location, sphere, or circumstance.
θλίψειmy afflictionN3I DSF · θλῖψιςdative of sphere (in/during affliction)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueθλίψις: 'pressure, affliction, distress'; a key Psalter word (e.g. Ps 4:2; 9:10 LXX), picking up the vocabulary of the lament tradition. NT: Rom 5:3; 2 Cor 1:4 etc.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession (modifying θλίψει)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
πρὸςtoP · πρόςpreposition + accusative (direction of address)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionπρός: preposition whose sense here is directional, “to, toward,” marking address or orientation.
κύριονthe LORDN2 ASM · κύριοςaccusative object of πρός (addressee)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκύριος: YHWH.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: masculine accusative singular article marking the direct object or an accusative noun phrase.
θεόνGodN2 ASM · θεόςapposition to κύριον→ descent, distress, and divine rescueθεός: God; the common Greek term for deity, here in apposition to κύριον and referring to Israel's God.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession (modifying θεόν)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction (result)→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
εἰσήκουσένhe heardVAI AAI3S · ἀκούω + εἰςmain verb (divine response)→ constative aorist (effective hearing — God answered)εἰσακούω: 'hear and respond, heed'; a compound with εἰς emphasizing effective, answered prayer, not mere perception. Common in LXX Psalter (Ps 3:5; 4:2; 6:10). Stronger than the simple ἀκούω.
μουmeRP GS · ἐγώgenitive object of εἰσακούω (the one heard)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
ἐκfromP · ἐκpreposition + genitive (place of origin of cry)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐκ: preposition with the genitive, denoting movement or origin “out of, from.”
κοιλίαςbellyN1A GSF · κοιλίαgenitive of place from which→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκοιλία: see 2:1–2. Here κοιλία ᾅδου ('belly of Hades') renders שְׁאוֹל — Sheol, the realm of the dead. Jonah identifies the fish with the underworld. Parallel to Ps 17:6 LXX (ὠδῖνες ᾅδου, 'birth-pangs of Hades'). A famous LXX theological interpretive choice.
ᾅδουof HadesN1M GSM · ᾅδηςgenitive of the whole (belly belonging to Hades)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueᾅδης: 'Hades, the underworld'; LXX standard rendering of שְׁאוֹל. The phrase κοιλία ᾅδου became a fixed LXX theological image for death's domain. Acts 2:27, 31 quotes the related Ps 15:10 LXX.
κραυγῆςof my cryN1 GSF · κραυγήgenitive of source (the cry that prompted divine hearing)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκραυγή: 'outcry, urgent shout'; a strong word for prayer in extremis. Heb 5:7 uses κραυγή for Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession (modifying κραυγῆς)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
ἤκουσαςyou heardVAI AAI2S · ἀκούωmain verb (direct address to God)→ constative aoristἀκούω: 'hear'; the shift here to second-person address (ἤκουσας, 'you heard') is the typical Psalter transition from report about God to direct address — it enacts intimacy and praise.
φωνῆςvoiceN1 GSF · φωνήgenitive element qualifying a related head term→ descent, distress, and divine rescueφωνή: lexical item rendered 'voice' here and interpreted according to its local syntactic and prophetic role in this chapter.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession (modifying φωνήν)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
4
ἀπέρριψάς με εἰς βάθη καρδίας θαλάσσης καὶ ποταμοί με ἐκύκλωσαν πάντες οἱ μετεωρισμοί σου καὶ τὰ κύματά σου ἐπ' ἐμὲ διῆλθον
You cast me into the depths of the heart of the sea, and rivers surrounded me; all your surges and your waves passed over me.
The sea is described from within as surrounding, passing over, and enclosing. The descent is not accidental in the telling but receives its force from God himself as the one who cast the prophet there.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἀπέρριψάςyou castVAI AAI2S · ῥίπτω + ἀποmain verb (direct address, divine action recalled)→ constative aorist (single decisive act of casting)ἀπορρίπτω: 'throw away, cast off'; a strong verb with a sense of violent ejection. The sailors cast Jonah into the sea (1:15), but here Jonah interprets that act as God's own action — theological re-reading of providence.
μεmeRP AS · ἐγώaccusative direct object→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person accusative pronoun, “me,” the direct object affected by the action.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition + accusative (direction/goal)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionεἰς: preposition with the accusative, indicating movement toward, into, or up to a goal.
βάθηthe depthsN3E APN · βάθοςaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueβάθος: 'depth'; plural βάθη intensifies the profundity. Also in Ps 68:3, 15 LXX (εἰς βάθη ὕδατος). Paul uses βάθος of God's riches (Rom 11:33) and of the deep things of God (1 Cor 2:10).
καρδίαςof the heartN1A GSF · καρδίαgenitive of description (innermost part of the sea)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκαρδία: 'heart, center'; used spatially here for the very middle of the sea — a Hebraism (לֵב הַיָּם, Exod 15:8; Ps 46:3 LXX: ἐν καρδίᾳ θαλάσσης). Unusual spatial use flagging a Hebraism.
θαλάσσηςof the seaN1S GSF · θάλασσαgenitive of the whole (the sea whose heart this is)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueθάλασσα: 'sea'; the great chaotic deep, imagery inherited from ANE creation mythology.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
ποταμοίriversN2 NPM · ποταμόςsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueποταμός: 'river'; in a sea context 'currents' or 'floods.' A Hebraism for the surge of waters (נְהָרוֹת, cf. Ps 23:2; Jon 2:4 MT נָהָר). The imagery of encircling floods is a Psalter lament-type.
μεmeRP AS · ἐγώaccusative direct object→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person accusative pronoun, “me,” the direct object affected by the action.
ἐκύκλωσανsurroundVAI AAI3P · κυκλόωfinite verb advancing the main action or assertion of the clause→ constative aorist of fortificationκυκλόω: verbal form expressing action, state, speech, movement, or relation according to its tense-form and clause role.
πάντεςallA3 NPM · πᾶςattributive adjective (modifying μετεωρισμοί)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionπᾶς: adjective meaning “all, every,” here gathering the totality of the waves and billows.
οἱtheRA NPM · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: plural article; here used with the following noun phrase according to its local syntactic role.
μετεωρισμοίsurging wavesN2 NPM · μετεωρισμόςsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueμετεωρισμός: 'wave-swell, billow'; from μετεωρίζω ('lift up, raise high'). Rare word, found in Ps 41:8 LXX (πάντες οἱ μετεωρισμοί σου), which is directly echoed here — a deliberate allusion to the Psalter.
σουyourRP GS · σύgenitive of possession (waves belonging to God)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueThe possessive 'your' (σου) is significant: the waves are God's — the sea belongs to him, and its violence against Jonah is divine in origin.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
τὰtheRA NPN · ὁarticle→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὁ: neuter accusative plural article marking the following noun phrase.
κύματάbillowsN3M NPN · κῦμαsubject nominative (paired with μετεωρισμοί)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκῦμα: 'wave'; a standard sea-term. The doublet μετεωρισμοί/κύματα parallels MT שְׁבָרֶיךָ וְגַלֶּיךָ ('your breakers and your waves') — poetic synonyms in the Psalter.
σουyourRP GS · σύgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person genitive pronoun, “your/of you,” marking possession or relation.
ἐπ'overP · ἐπίpreposition + accusative (motion over/upon)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐπί: preposition here elided before a vowel; with the accusative it marks motion or extension over something.
ἐμὲmeRP AS · ἐγώaccusative object of ἐπί (the one overwhelmed)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: emphatic first-person accusative pronoun, “me,” marking Jonah himself as the object affected.
διῆλθονpass throughVBI AAI3P · ἔρχομαι + διαfinite verb advancing the main action or assertion of the clause→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἔρχομαι + δια: verbal form glossed here in its compound or contextual sense.
5
κἀγὼ εἶπα ἀπῶσμαι ἐξ ὀφθαλμῶν σου ἆρα προσθήσω τοῦ ἐπιβλέψαι πρὸς ναὸν τὸν ἅγιόν σου
And I said, I am driven away from your eyes; shall I indeed continue to look toward your holy temple?
Exclusion from God's sight is spoken honestly, yet the line immediately strains back toward the holy temple. The canticle holds despair and hope in the same breath.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
κἀγὼand IC+RPNS · καί̈ἐγώcrasis (καὶ ἐγώ); subject pronoun with connective→ coordinationCrasis of καί + ἐγώ; the emphatic pronoun foregrounds Jonah's own response to the drowning.
εἶπαsaidVAI AAI1S · εἶπονmain verb (introduces interior monologue)→ constative aoristλέγω: introduces the inner speech — a Psalter feature in which the psalmist quotes his own desperate thoughts.
ἀπῶσμαιI am driven awayV2 XMI1S · ὠθέω + ἀποmain verb (state of exclusion)→ intensive perfect (permanent state: 'I stand cast away')ἀπωθέω: 'thrust away, repel'; the perfect passive conveys Jonah's experienced state of being utterly excluded from God's presence. The same root is used in Ps 87:15 LXX (ἀπωσάμενος ψυχήν μου, 'you have rejected my soul').
ἐξfromP · ἐκpreposition introducing its complement phrase→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐκ (ἐξ): 'from.'
ὀφθαλμῶνthe sight / eyesN2 GPM · ὀφθαλμόςgenitive of separation (the eyes from which Jonah is removed)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὀφθαλμός: 'eye'; ἀπὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου = 'from before your eyes' = outside divine notice. A Hebraism: מִנֶּגֶד עֵינֶיךָ (MT Jonah 2:5). Exclusion from God's sight was tantamount to death.
σουyourRP GS · σύgenitive of possession (God's eyes)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person genitive pronoun, “your/of you,” marking possession or relation.
ἆραindeedX · ἆραadverbial or particle element shaping the clause or phrase→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἆρα: function word shaping the local clause or phrase relation in this oracle.
προσθήσωI shall add / shall yetVF FAI1S · τίθημι + προςmain verb (auxiliary idiomatic use: 'shall again')→ predictive futureπροστίθημι: 'add'; in a Hebraistic idiom προσθήσω + infinitive = 'I will do [something] again/additionally' (cf. Gen 4:2 LXX). A Hebraism: יָסַף + infinitive. Here: 'I will again look toward your temple.'
τοῦtoRA GSN · ὁarticle (introducing articular infinitive of purpose/content)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: masculine/neuter genitive singular article marking a genitival relation, often possession or subordination.
ἐπιβλέψαιto lookVA AAN · βλέπω + ἐπιarticular infinitive (content of προσθήσω)→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιβλέπω: 'look toward, gaze upon'; a directional compound (ἐπί + βλέπω). The upward/forward gaze toward the temple (ναός) in prayer is the posture of the faithful in exile (cf. 1 Kgs 8:29–30; Dan 6:11).
πρὸςtowardP · πρόςpreposition + accusative (direction of gaze)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionπρός: preposition whose sense here is directional, “to, toward,” marking address or orientation.
ναὸνtempleN2 ASM · ναόςaccusative object of πρός (destination of gaze)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueναός: 'temple, inner sanctuary'; here the Jerusalem temple as the locus of divine presence. The exiled or endangered Israelite orients prayer toward the temple (cf. Ps 5:8; Dan 6:11). Jonah, from inside the fish, vows this orientation.
τὸνtheRA ASM · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: masculine accusative singular article marking the direct object or an accusative noun phrase.
ἅγιόνholyA1A ASM · ἅγιοςattributive adjective (modifying ναόν)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἅγιος: 'holy'; the standard epithet of the temple and everything set apart for God. ναὸν τὸν ἅγιόν σου = 'your holy temple' — a Psalter formula (Ps 5:8; 137:2 LXX).
σουyourRP GS · σύgenitive of possession (God's temple)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person genitive pronoun, “your/of you,” marking possession or relation.
6
περιεχύθη μοι ὕδωρ ἕως ψυχῆς μου ἄβυσσος ἐκύκλωσέν με ἐσχάτη ἔδυ ἡ κεφαλή μου εἰς σχισμὰς ὀρέων
Water was poured around me up to my soul; the uttermost abyss encircled me; my head went down into the clefts of the mountains.
The drowning imagery intensifies until abyss, mountains, and soul all converge in one lowest point. This is the canticle's downward extreme.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
περιεχύθηwas poured aroundVCI API3S · χέω + περιmain verb (asyndeton)→ constative aoristπεριχέω: 'pour around'; the passive paints the flood engulfing the speaker — rendering the Hebrew אֲפָפוּנִי ('they encompassed me'); cf. Ps 17:5 LXX.
μοιto meRP DS · ἐγώpronominal form referring to the participant(s) already in view→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: 'I'; a regular lexical item in this chapter's genealogical, cultic, or martial discourse.
ὕδωρwaterN3 NSN · ὕδωρsubject of Περιεχύθη→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὕδωρ: the chaos-waters of the deep; with ἄβυσσος below, the vocabulary of the primeval flood.
ἕωςup toP · ἕωςimproper preposition + genitive→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἕως: Hebraistic for עַד; 'up to the soul' = to the point of life itself; verbatim in Ps 68:2 LXX (εἰσήλθοσαν ὕδατα ἕως ψυχῆς μου).
ψυχῆςthe soulN1 GSF · ψυχήobject of ἕως→ descent, distress, and divine rescueψυχή = נֶפֶשׁ 'life'; the waters reach the very life — drowning imagery, not psychology.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώpronominal form referring to the participant(s) already in view→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: pronominal form marking reference, determination, or relation within the clause.
ἄβυσσοςabyssN2 NSF · ἄβυσσοςsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἄβυσσος: 'abyss, bottomless deep'; the primordial deep of Gen 1:2 LXX (ἐπάνω τῆς ἀβύσσου). In the Psalter it denotes both the cosmic sea-depths and the realm of the dead (Ps 35:7; 70:20; 106:26 LXX). NT: Rev 9:1–2 etc. A key LXX theological term.
ἐκύκλωσένsurroundedVAI AAI3S · κυκλόωmain verb→ constative aorist (the abyss encircled in one moment)κυκλόω: 'surround, encircle'; picks up the root from περιεκύκλωσαν (v.4) — the encircling image intensifying.
μεmeRP AS · ἐγώaccusative direct object→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person accusative pronoun, “me,” the direct object affected by the action.
ἐσχάτηuttermostA1 NSFS · ἔσχατοςpredicate adjective or attributive (the abyss that is uttermost)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἔσχατος: 'last, uttermost, extreme'; ἄβυσσος ἐσχάτη = 'the uttermost abyss,' the very deepest depth — superlative spatial image.
ἔδυwent downVBI AAI3S · δύωmain verb→ constative aorist (point of sinking)δύω: 'sink, set, go under'; used of the sun setting. Here the vivid image of Jonah's head sinking to the mountain-bases on the sea floor — the ancient cosmological picture of mountains rooted at the bottom of the sea.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: feminine nominative singular article marking the subject noun phrase.
κεφαλήheadN1 NSF · κεφαλήsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκεφαλή: 'head'; here spatial — the head going down to the clefts of the mountains. In some LXX manuscripts κεφαλή also means 'summit' (of the mountains), a play on the word: as his head descended, it reached the very summits/roots of the mountains at the sea-floor.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition + accusative (direction)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionεἰς: preposition with the accusative, indicating movement toward, into, or up to a goal.
σχισμὰςthe cleftsN1 APF · σχισμήaccusative object of εἰς (destination)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσχισμή: 'cleft, crack, fissure'; from σχίζω ('split'). The clefts of the mountains at the ocean floor — the ancient cosmological seabed.
ὀρέωνof mountainsN3E GPN · ὄροςgenitive of the whole (mountains whose clefts these are)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὄρος: 'mountain'; plural genitive. The mountains' roots reaching into the underworld are a fixed ANE and OT cosmological image (Deut 32:22; Job 38:6).
7
κατέβην εἰς γῆν ἧς οἱ μοχλοὶ αὐτῆς κάτοχοι αἰώνιοι καὶ ἀναβήτω ἐκ φθορᾶς ἡ ζωή μου κύριε ὁ θεός μου
I went down into the earth, whose bars are everlasting holders, and let my life come up out of corruption, O Lord my God.
From the barred earth below comes the turning plea that life rise out of corruption. The prayer bends upward precisely at the point of deepest descent.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
κατέβηνI descendedVZI AAI1S · βαίνω + καταmain verb (continuing descent narrative)→ constative aorist (the full descent to the underworld)καταβαίνω: 'go down, descend'; the standard word for descent into Sheol (cf. Ps 87:5 LXX, Num 16:33). The prefix κατά intensifies the downward direction.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition + accusative (destination)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionεἰς: preposition with the accusative, indicating movement toward, into, or up to a goal.
γῆνthe earthN1 ASF · γῆaccusative object of εἰς→ descent, distress, and divine rescueγῆ: 'earth'; here the underworld — 'the earth' as Sheol (cf. Ps 21:30 LXX, 62:10 LXX). A cosmic geography in which the underworld is underneath the earth.
ἧςwhoseRR GSF · ὅςgenitive relative pronoun (modifying γῆν)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὅς: genitive feminine relative pronoun, linking the clause back to its antecedent with possessive nuance.
οἱtheRA NPM · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: plural article; here used with the following noun phrase according to its local syntactic role.
μοχλοὶbarsN2 NPM · μοχλόςsubject nominative (in relative clause)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueμοχλός: 'bar, bolt (of a gate)'; the bars or bolts that lock the gates of Sheol — death as a prison from which there is no exit. Cf. Isa 38:10 LXX (πύλαι ᾅδου). NT echo: Matt 16:18 (πύλαι ᾅδου).
αὐτῆςits / herRD GSF · αὐτόςgenitive of possession (the earth's/Sheol's bars)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionαὐτός: third-person genitive feminine form, “her/its,” marking possession.
κάτοχοιholdsA1B NPM · κάτοχοςpredicate nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκάτοχος: 'that which holds fast, a hold, prison'; from κατέχω ('hold down'). The bars are 'eternal holds' — permanent confinement. A rare word intensifying the hopelessness of the underworld.
αἰώνιοιeternalA1B NPM · αἰώνιοςpredicate adjective (modifying κάτοχοι)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueαἰώνιος: 'eternal, age-long'; the bars of Sheol are permanent — once shut, never opened without divine intervention. The contrast with Jonah's rescue heightens the miracle.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction (adversative turn: 'yet')→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
ἀναβήτωlet ariseVZ AAD3S · βαίνω + ἀναmain verb (jussive petition: 'let ... arise')→ constative aorist imperative (single decisive rescue requested)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up, ascend, arise'; the opposite of κατέβην above — the psalm's structural turn from descent to rescue. The aorist imperative functions as an urgent petition.
ἐκfromP · ἐκpreposition governing the following phrase→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐκ: 'from'
φθορᾶςcorruptionN1A GSF · φθοράgenitive nominal element defining relation, possession, source, or quality→ descent, distress, and divine rescueφθορά: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this chapter.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle marking the following noun phrase→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: the Greek article, marking substantives and signaling their case, number, and gender within the phrase.
ζωήlifeN1 NSF · ζωήsubject naming the remnant existence now questioned→ descent, distress, and divine rescueζωή: life, living existence.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
κύριεO LORDN2 VSM · κύριοςvocative of address→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκύριος: vocative κύριε = direct address to YHWH; the first direct divine address in the psalm after referring to God in the third person. Marks the petition's urgency.
ὁtheRA NSM · ὁarticle (with vocative noun)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: masculine nominative singular article; here introducing the following noun phrase.
θεόςGodN2 NSM · θεόςvocative of address (apposition to κύριε)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueθεός: 'God'; the double vocative κύριε ὁ θεός μου echoes numerous Psalm titles and addresses (e.g. Ps 7:2; 17:3 LXX).
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession (God who is mine)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
8
ἐν τῷ ἐκλείπειν τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπ' ἐμοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἐμνήσθην καὶ ἔλθοι πρὸς σὲ ἡ προσευχή μου εἰς ναὸν ἅγιόν σου
When my soul was failing away from me, I remembered the Lord, and let my prayer come to you into your holy temple.
Remembrance of the Lord becomes the hinge of rescue. Even as life fails, prayer is directed toward the holy temple and so refuses final separation.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἐνwhenP · ἐνpreposition + dative (temporal: ἐν τῷ + infinitive)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἐν τῷ + inf.: a Hebraistic temporal idiom (LXX calque of בְּ + infinitive construct): 'when/as my soul was fainting.' Common in LXX but rare in classical Greek.
τῷtheRA DSN · ὁarticle (with articular infinitive)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: dative singular article marking the following noun phrase, often with preposition or dative relation.
ἐκλείπεινto faint / to failV1 PAN · λείπω + ἐκarticular infinitive (subject of temporal clause)→ descriptive present infinitive (ongoing process of fainting)ἐκλείπω: 'fail, faint, give out'; used of the sun eclipsing (Luke 23:45), of strength failing (Ps 37:11 LXX), of breath leaving. Here: the soul losing its grip on life.
τὴνtheRA ASF · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: feminine accusative singular article marking the direct object or accusative phrase.
ψυχήνsoulN1 ASF · ψυχήaccusative subject of infinitive (ἐκλείπειν)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueψυχή: 'soul, life-breath'; translating נֶפֶשׁ. Here ψυχή departs from Jonah like breath leaving the body — the near-death experience. The soul's 'fainting' (ἐκλείπειν) marks the threshold between life and death.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
ἀπ'fromP · ἀπόpreposition governing a following complement phrase→ relation marked by the governing prepositionἀπό: preposition introducing its complement and marking relation such as place, direction, source, or reference.
ἐμοῦIRP GS · ἐγώgen pronominal form referring back or forward within the clause→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: lexical item used here in its local narrative, judicial, royal, or cultic sense.
τοῦtheRA GSM · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: masculine/neuter genitive singular article marking a genitival relation, often possession or subordination.
κυρίουof the LORDN2 GSM · κύριοςgenitive object of ἐμνήσθην (the one remembered)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκύριος: YHWH; μιμνήσκομαι + genitive = 'remember (someone).' Recalling the LORD at the moment of soul-fainting is the turning point of the psalm — an act of faith at the nadir.
ἐμνήσθηνI rememberedVSI API1S · μιμνήσκωmain verb (the hinge of the psalm: crisis → memory → hope)→ constative aorist (single decisive act of remembrance)μιμνήσκομαι: 'remember, call to mind'; deponent passive. The act of remembering God in extremity is a lament-psalm theme (Ps 41:7; 76:4 LXX). Here it is the pivot from descent to rescue.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction (consequence/wish)→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
ἔλθοιmay ... comeVB AAO3S · ἔρχομαιmain verb (optative of wish/vow)→ constative aorist optative (a single wished event: prayer arriving at the temple)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; the aorist optative ἔλθοι expresses a wish or vow: 'may my prayer come.' In a thanksgiving psalm, the vow made in crisis is recounted as evidence of faith maintained. The optative is a classical form surviving in LXX psalmic Greek.
πρὸςtoP · πρόςpreposition + accusative (direction toward God)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionπρός: preposition whose sense here is directional, “to, toward,” marking address or orientation.
σὲyouRP AS · σύaccusative object of πρός (addressee: God)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person accusative pronoun, “you,” here addressing God directly.
ἡtheRA NSF · ὁarticle→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: feminine nominative singular article marking the subject noun phrase.
προσευχήprayerN1 NSF · προσευχήsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueπροσευχή: 'prayer'; from προσεύχομαι (v.2). The prayer made inside the fish is the very prayer now recorded in the psalm.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: first-person genitive pronoun, “my/of me,” marking possession or personal relation.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition + accusative (destination: temple)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionεἰς: preposition with the accusative, indicating movement toward, into, or up to a goal.
ναὸνthe templeN2 ASM · ναόςaccusative object of εἰς→ descent, distress, and divine rescueναός: see v.5. The prayer goes 'into the holy temple' — the Jerusalem sanctuary as the channel of divine presence. Picks up the temple-orientation vowed in v.5.
ἅγιόνholyA1A ASM · ἅγιοςattributive adjective→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἅγιος: see v.5. The phrase ναὸν ἅγιόν σου echoes v.5 (ναὸν τὸν ἅγιόν σου), forming a thematic bracket around the nadir of vv.5b–7a.
σουyourRP GS · σύgenitive of possession→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person genitive pronoun, “your/of you,” marking possession or relation.
9
φυλασσόμενοι μάταια καὶ ψευδῆ ἔλεος αὐτῶν ἐγκατέλιπον
Those who guard empty and false things forsook their mercy.
A sharp wisdom contrast interrupts the drowning narrative: those who cling to empty falsehoods abandon the very mercy available to them. Jonah's prayer is defined against that futile devotion.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
φυλασσόμενοιthose who guard / observeV1 · πμπνπμ φυλάσσωsubstantival participle (subject of ἐγκατέλιπον)→ customary/gnomic present (ongoing practice of idol-devotion)φυλάσσω: 'guard, observe, keep'; in a negative sense 'cling to, observe religiously.' The middle voice emphasizes self-interested clinging. LXX uses φυλάσσω both for keeping God's law and (negatively) for observing worthless rites.
μάταιαempty vanitiesA1A APN · μάταιοςaccusative direct object (of participial verb φυλασσόμενοι)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueμάταιος: 'empty, futile, vain'; plural neuter = 'vanities.' In the LXX Psalter and Deuteronomy μάταια and μάτην regularly denote idols (Jer 2:5; Ps 30:7 LXX: ἐφύλαξα τὰ μάταια καὶ ψευδῆ — a near-verbatim parallel). A strong polemic against idol-worship.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
ψευδῆlies / false thingsA3H APN · ψευδήςaccusative direct object (paired with μάταια)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueψευδής: 'false, lying'; plural = 'falsehoods, lying things.' The doublet μάταια καὶ ψευδῆ is a Psalter polemic against idols as 'empty lies' (cf. Ps 30:7 LXX). The two adjectives form a hendiadys: 'empty, lying vanities.'
ἔλεοςmercy / steadfast loveN3E ASN · ἔλεοςaccusative direct object (of ἐγκατέλιπον)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἔλεος: the standard LXX rendering of חֶסֶד — 'steadfast love, covenant loyalty, mercy.' The neuter form (τὸ ἔλεος) or masculine (ὁ ἔλεος) varies in the LXX; here accusative. To 'forsake their mercy' = to abandon the covenant love that belongs to them as members of the covenant community. A profound theological claim: idol-worshipers throw away their own share in God's חֶסֶד.
αὐτῶνtheirRD GPM · αὐτόςgenitive of possession (the mercy that is theirs to have)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionαὐτός: third-person genitive plural form, “their/of them,” marking possession or relation.
ἐγκατέλιπονforsookVBI AAI3P · λείπω + ἐν + καταmain verb→ gnomic aorist (stating a timeless truth in the form of a past act)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'abandon, forsake, leave behind'; a strong compound — to leave in the lurch. Used of God forsaking his servant (Ps 21:2 LXX) and of apostasy (Heb 13:5). Here those who abandon the LORD abandon their own covenant mercy.
10
ἐγὼ δὲ μετὰ φωνῆς αἰνέσεως καὶ ἐξομολογήσεως θύσω σοι ὅσα ηὐξάμην ἀποδώσω σοι εἰς σωτηρίαν μου τῷ κυρίῳ προσευχὴ Αζαριου
But I with a voice of praise and thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; whatever I vowed I will repay to you; salvation is mine in the Lord. Prayer of Azariah.
The canticle closes in vowed sacrifice, thanksgiving, and repayment of promises. Its theological summit is the confession that salvation belongs to the Lord, after which the Azarian heading advances the Odes sequence.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἐγὼIRP NS · ἐγώemphatic subject pronoun (contrastive: 'but as for me')→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: the emphatic pronoun, standing in sharp contrast to οἱ φυλασσόμενοι (v.8). The first-person emphasis marks the vow as personal and exclusive.
δὲbutX · δέpostpositive adversative particle (contrast with v.8)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueδέ: mild adversative, marking the contrast. Together with ἐγώ it forms the classical ἐγὼ δέ ('but as for me') contrast.
μετὰwithP · μετάpreposition + genitive (manner/accompaniment)→ relation marked by the governing prepositionμετά: preposition with the genitive meaning “with,” marking accompaniment or association.
φωνῆςa voiceN1 GSF · φωνήgenitive of manner (the voice of praise with which Jonah will sacrifice)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueφωνή: 'voice'; μετὰ φωνῆς = 'with a voice,' a Psalter formula for audible praise (Ps 26:7; 42:4 LXX).
αἰνέσεωςof praiseN3I GSF · αἴνεσιςgenitive of description (characterizing the voice)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueαἴνεσις: 'praise'; from αἰνέω. In the Psalter αἴνεσις is the technical word for the praise offered to God in the cult (Ps 21:26; 34:28 LXX). The φωνὴ αἰνέσεως ('voice of praise') is a cultic thanksgiving formula.
καὶandC · καίcoordinating conjunction→ coordinationκαί: coordinating conjunction, linking clauses or cola in the chapter's characteristically paratactic style.
ἐξομολογήσεωςof thanksgiving / confessionN3I GSF · ἐξομολόγησιςgenitive of description (paired with αἰνέσεως)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐξομολόγησις: 'thanksgiving, confession, acknowledgment'; from ἐξομολογέω, which in LXX renders הוֹדָה ('give thanks') rather than 'confess sin.' In the Psalter ἐξομολογέομαι is the standard word for cultic thanksgiving (Ps 6:6; 29:5 LXX). Here the paired αἴνεσις καὶ ἐξομολόγησις = full celebratory praise and thanks.
θύσωI will sacrificeVF FAI1S · θύωmain verb (vow of sacrifice)→ predictive future (a definite vow about a future cultic act)θύω: 'sacrifice, offer'; the primary word for offering sacrifice in both classical Greek and LXX. The vow θύσω σοι ('I will sacrifice to you') is the classic todah ('thanksgiving offering') vow of the individual thanksgiving psalm.
σοιto youRP DS · σύdative of indirect object (recipient of sacrifice)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person dative pronoun, “to you,” marking the recipient of vow or sacrifice.
ὅσαwhateverA1 APN · ὅσοςaccusative relative pronoun (object of ἀποδώσω: 'whatever I vowed')→ descent, distress, and divine rescueὅσος: 'as many as, whatever (things)'; introduces a relative clause of extent. The neuter plural is vague on purpose: all vows, whatever they were.
ηὐξάμηνI have vowedVAI AMI1S · εὔχομαιmain verb (relative clause: vows already made in the crisis)→ constative aorist (the vow as a completed speech-act)εὔχομαι: 'pray, vow'; in LXX εὔχομαι renders נָדַר ('vow') as well as פָּלַל ('pray'). Here the vow-nuance: 'what I have vowed.' Cf. Ps 21:26 LXX (τὰς εὐχάς μου ἀποδώσω).
ἀποδώσωI will repay / I will payVF FAI1S · δίδωμι + ἀποmain verb (vow of fulfillment)→ predictive future (commitment to pay the vow made in crisis)ἀποδίδωμι: 'give back, repay, fulfill'; the technical term for fulfilling a vow (Ps 49:14; 115:8 LXX: τὰς εὐχάς μου τῷ κυρίῳ ἀποδώσω). The two futures θύσω and ἀποδώσω form the double vow.
σοιto youRP DS · σύdative of indirect object (recipient: God)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσύ: second-person dative pronoun, “to you,” marking the recipient of vow or sacrifice.
εἰςintoP · εἰςpreposition governing the following phrase→ relation marked by the governing prepositionεἰς: preposition introducing its complement phrase; glossed 'into/to' in this context.
σωτηρίανsalvationN1A ASF · σωτηρίαaccusative substantive functioning as object or complement→ descent, distress, and divine rescueσωτηρία: noun used for the clause's participant, object, place, office, or abstract idea as context requires.
μουmyRP GS · ἐγώpronominal form referring to the participant(s) already in view→ descent, distress, and divine rescueἐγώ: pronominal form marking reference, determination, or relation within the clause.
τῷto theRA DSM · ὁarticle (with κυρίῳ in dative of possession/direction)→ participial force supplying attendant circumstance or descriptionὁ: dative singular article marking the following noun phrase, often with preposition or dative relation.
κυρίῳLORDN2 DSM · κύριοςdative of possession (salvation belongs to the LORD)→ descent, distress, and divine rescueκύριος: YHWH. The dative τῷ κυρίῳ expresses ownership: 'salvation is the LORD's.' This confession is the theological summit of the psalm, echoing Ps 3:9 LXX and the Exodus confession (Exod 15:2).
προσευχὴprayerN1 NSF · προσευχήsubject nominative→ descent, distress, and divine rescueπροσευχή: "prayer"; the closing priestly prayer ascends from Jerusalem to God's holy dwelling in heaven.
ΑζαριουAzarianN1T GSM · Αζαριαςnominal element within the genealogical notice→ descent, distress, and divine rescueΑζαριαν: nominal term in the genealogical register; glossed here as "Azarian".