Jonah 1:11

KJV

¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} they unto him, What shall we do {H6213} unto thee, that the sea {H3220} may be calm {H8367} unto us? for the sea {H3220} wrought {H1980}, and was tempestuous {H5590}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They asked him, "What should we do to you, so that the sea will be calm for us?" - for the sea was getting rougher all the time.

Berean Standard Bible

Now the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, “What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?”

American Standard Version

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jonah 1:11, the panicked mariners, facing a life-threatening storm sent by God due to Jonah's disobedience, desperately inquire of Jonah what action they must take to appease his God and calm the tempestuous sea. This pivotal moment underscores the dire consequences of defying the Divine will and highlights the pagan sailors' dawning recognition of the Lord's supreme authority over creation, even as they seek a pragmatic solution to their immediate peril.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of [Jonah chapter 1](/jonah/1 "Jonah Chapter 1 - Jonah's Disobedience and the Storm"). Having fled from God's command to preach in Nineveh ([Jonah 1:1-3](/jonah/1-1-3 "Jonah 1:1-3 - God's Command and Jonah's Flight")), Jonah is aboard a ship caught in a divinely sent storm. The mariners, initially unaware of the cause, have exhausted their own efforts to save the ship ([Jonah 1:4-5](/jonah/1-4-5 "Jonah 1:4-5 - The Storm and the Mariners' Desperation")). Through casting lots, Jonah is identified as the culprit ([Jonah 1:7](/jonah/1-7 "Jonah 1:7 - Jonah Identified by Lot")), and he confesses his identity as a worshipper of the Lord, the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land ([Jonah 1:9](/jonah/1-9 "Jonah 1:9 - Jonah's Confession")). The mariners are now gripped by great fear, understanding that this is no ordinary storm but a direct manifestation of divine wrath, prompting their desperate plea for instruction from Jonah.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the ancient Mediterranean Sea, a vital but often perilous trade route. Mariners of this era were highly superstitious and polytheistic, believing in various gods associated with natural phenomena. Their initial actions—crying out to their own gods and casting cargo overboard—reflect typical responses to a severe storm. However, Jonah's confession introduces them to a monotheistic God of cosmic power, distinct from their pantheon. Their question in [Jonah 1:11](/jonah/1-11 "Jonah 1:11 - Mariners' Desperate Plea") reveals a cultural understanding that divine displeasure requires propitiation, likely through sacrifice or a specific ritual, to restore order and safety. Their fear is not merely of the storm, but of the unknown, powerful God who controls it.

* **Key Themes:** [Jonah 1:11](/jonah/1-11 "Jonah 1:11 - Mariners' Desperate Plea") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Jonah. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation, as evidenced by His ability to command the storm and the sea's response. Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Disobedience**, showing how Jonah's flight from God's will brings peril not only upon himself but also upon innocent bystanders, illustrating the ripple effect of sin. Thirdly, the mariners' question reveals the theme of **Human Desperation and Inquiry**, as they seek a practical solution to appease a God they are just beginning to understand. This foreshadows their later, profound response of fear and worship of the Lord after the storm subsides, as seen in [Jonah 1:16](/jonah/1-16 "Jonah 1:16 - Mariners' Fear of the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **sea (Hebrew, _yâm'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "to roar," aptly describes the tumultuous, noisy surf of the storm-tossed waters. Its repetition in the verse emphasizes the overwhelming force of the natural element that has become an agent of divine judgment.
* **wrought (Hebrew, _hâlak'_):** Literally meaning "to walk" or "to go," in this context, it conveys the idea of the sea continually moving, intensifying, or becoming increasingly agitated. It paints a picture of the storm's relentless and escalating fury, a vivid personification of its active, hostile progression.
* **tempestuous (Hebrew, _çâʻar'_):** This term signifies a violent, swirling, or tossing motion, akin to being caught in a whirlwind. It further emphasizes the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of the storm, highlighting the extreme danger faced by the mariners and the ship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said they unto him,"**: This opening clause marks a direct, urgent address from the mariners to Jonah. Their previous actions (casting lots, questioning Jonah) have led them to this point of direct inquiry, acknowledging Jonah as the key to understanding and resolving their predicament.
* **"What shall we do unto thee,"**: This is a desperate, pragmatic question. The mariners, having learned that Jonah is the cause of the storm due to his God, are now seeking a specific action or sacrifice to placate this powerful deity. Their focus is on what *they* must do *to Jonah* to appease the divine wrath.
* **"that the sea may be calm unto us?"**: This clause states the desired outcome of their proposed action: the cessation of the storm and the restoration of peace. It underscores their profound fear and their immediate need for survival, linking the storm's fury directly to Jonah's presence and his God's displeasure.
* **"for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous."**: This concluding clause provides the urgent justification for their question. It vividly describes the ongoing, escalating violence of the storm, emphasizing the dire straits the ship and its crew are in. The sea is not merely rough; it is actively working against them, growing in its destructive power.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us?" This question is not posed in ignorance but out of profound desperation, highlighting the mariners' fear and their recognition of Jonah's unique connection to the powerful God causing their distress. The phrase "the sea wrought, and was tempestuous" utilizes **Personification**, attributing active, almost malevolent, agency to the sea. The Hebrew word for "wrought" (hâlak, "to walk") further enhances this, suggesting the sea is actively "going" or "advancing" in its fury. The **Repetition** of "the sea" (yâm) serves to emphasize the overwhelming and relentless nature of the storm, keeping the focal point on the immediate, life-threatening danger. Finally, there is an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the mariners, despite their pagan background, are now seeking a solution from the very prophet who is fleeing the God they now acknowledge as supreme, setting the stage for Jonah's self-sacrificial proposal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and the severe consequences of human disobedience. The mariners' desperate plea for a solution underscores a universal human instinct to seek appeasement when confronted with overwhelming divine power, even if that power is from a previously unknown deity. Their question, "What shall we do unto thee?", implicitly acknowledges that Jonah, as the disobedient prophet, is the conduit through which God's wrath is being expressed, and therefore, he must also be the means by which it is appeased. This sets the stage for Jonah's sacrificial proposal in the subsequent verses, foreshadowing a greater act of propitiation.

* [Psalm 107:23-30](/psalms/107-23-30 "Psalm 107:23-30 - God Controls the Storm")
* [Matthew 8:23-27](/matthew/8-23-27 "Matthew 8:23-27 - Jesus Calms the Storm")
* [Acts 27:18-20](/acts/27-18-20 "Acts 27:18-20 - Paul's Shipwreck")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jonah 1:11 serves as a profound mirror for our own lives, urging us to consider the "storms" we face and their potential origins. Just as Jonah's disobedience brought chaos upon himself and those around him, our own choices to disregard God's will can introduce turmoil and distress into our lives and the lives of others. The mariners' desperate question, "What shall we do?", becomes a vital self-assessment point for us: when faced with the consequences of our spiritual choices, do we genuinely seek to identify the root cause and ask what steps are necessary to reconcile with God? This verse reminds us that true peace and the calming of life's tempests often require a radical alignment with God's purposes, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths about our own rebellion or making difficult, sacrificial choices. It calls us to move beyond superficial solutions and to earnestly seek God's way out of the storm, trusting in His ultimate authority and mercy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be experiencing "tempestuous seas" due to my own disobedience or misalignment with God's will?**
* **What "sacrifices" or changes might God be calling me to make to bring peace and order back into my circumstances?**
* **How does my response to life's difficulties reflect my understanding of God's sovereignty and His desire for my obedience?**

### FAQ

**Why did the mariners ask Jonah what to do, rather than just throwing him overboard immediately?**

Answer: The mariners' initial reluctance to throw Jonah overboard, despite identifying him as the cause of the storm, stems from a deep-seated respect for human life and a profound awe of the powerful God Jonah served. Having learned that Jonah's God was the "God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land" ([Jonah 1:9](/jonah/1-9 "Jonah 1:9 - Jonah's Confession")), they feared incurring even greater wrath by taking a life without direct divine instruction or clear justification. Their question in [Jonah 1:11](/jonah/1-11 "Jonah 1:11 - Mariners' Desperate Plea") reveals their desire to act in a way that would appease, rather than further offend, this mighty deity. They sought specific guidance from Jonah, the prophet of this God, on the appropriate course of action, demonstrating a remarkable spiritual sensitivity for pagan sailors.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jonah 1:11, with its desperate plea for a solution to appease divine wrath and calm the storm, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Jonah was identified as the cause of the storm and offered himself as a sacrifice to bring peace to the mariners, Jesus Christ, though innocent, became the ultimate "cause" of reconciliation, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice to appease God's righteous wrath against sin. The mariners' question, "What shall we do unto thee?", echoes humanity's cry for deliverance from the storm of sin and judgment. Christ's willing submission to the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")) and His subsequent resurrection ([Romans 4:25](/romans/4-25 "Romans 4:25 - Christ's Resurrection for Our Justification")) provide the definitive answer. Furthermore, while Jonah could only offer himself to calm a physical storm, Jesus, as the Son of God, demonstrated His inherent authority over all creation by simply speaking to the wind and waves, commanding them to "Peace! Be still!" ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). He is the true source of peace, not only over natural elements but, more significantly, over the spiritual tempest of sin and death, offering eternal calm to all who believe in Him ([John 14:27](/john/14-27 "John 14:27 - Jesus Gives Peace")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Micah 6:6

¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Micah 6:7

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?

2 Samuel 21:1

¶ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

2 Samuel 21:6

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

1 Samuel 6:2

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

1 Samuel 6:3

And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

2 Samuel 24:11

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,