No problem, Eric - I understand that internet discussion is not
conducive to patience ! You're quite right about Strongs Concordance, so
let me tell you how I actually came to find out the Hebrew word ...

A few years ago, I was puzzled about Jonah's words, so I asked the Lord
for an answer. I waited, it must have been a few days or weeks, and then
I read a religious Jew answer exactly the question that I asked - he
said that the Hebrew word translated "overthrown" that Jonah used also
meant "coverted" - in which case exactly the scripturally recorded words
of Jonah came to pass. I then click on my electronic bible, and was
delighted to find out that what he said was correct.

With regard to 2 Peter 1:20-21, the "private interpretation" cannot
refer to the reader, because as we know and also proved in this
discussion readers often interpret privately what they read. If you read
those verses, it is rather the the "private interpretation" invalidation
refers to the writer i.e. the prophet or scribe - they were not allowed
to record any of their private interpretations in scripture - in which
case some of Jonah's thoughts and words may have been his own
interpretation but whatever prophecy via Jonah that was recorded in
*scripture* was only allowed to be recorded because it was from God.

2Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the *scripture* is
of any private interpretation.
2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:
but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost

I don't really like too much internet debate, bearing in mind that
debate is not an activity that God would have us participate in
according to Romans 1:29 - as I see it rather than debate, a little
discussion, and then spiritual revelation, so these are my last words in
this discussion.

in Jesus' Name,
Lester