Jonah 1:16

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

Then the men {H582} feared {H3372} the LORD {H3068} exceedingly {H1419}{H3374}, and offered {H2076} a sacrifice {H2077} unto the LORD {H3068}, and made {H5087} vows {H5088}.

Seized with great fear of ADONAI, they offered a sacrifice to ADONAI and made vows.

Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him.

Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows.

Commentary

Jonah 1:16 captures the profound and immediate spiritual transformation of the Gentile sailors who witnessed God's power firsthand. After enduring a terrifying storm and casting Jonah into the sea, they saw the tempest instantly calm, confirming the prophet's words about the God of Israel.

Context

This verse directly follows the dramatic events of Jonah 1:15, where Jonah, at his own request, was thrown overboard to appease the raging storm that threatened the ship. The moment he entered the water, the sea became calm. This miraculous cessation of the storm, after days of terror and futile efforts to save themselves, served as an undeniable demonstration of the sovereignty of the LORD, the God of Jonah, over creation. Their initial fear of the storm was replaced by a deeper, more profound fear of the God who controlled it.

Key Themes

  • The Fear of the LORD: The phrase "feared the LORD exceedingly" signifies more than mere terror. The Hebrew word yare, translated as "feared," conveys a sense of profound awe, reverence, and submission. It indicates a recognition of God's immense power, holiness, and authority. This is a transformative fear, leading to worship, unlike the panic they experienced earlier. It reflects a shift from pagan superstition to a genuine acknowledgment of the one true God, a concept often seen as the "beginning of wisdom" in biblical thought.
  • Divine Revelation and Conversion: These sailors, likely polytheistic, experienced a direct, undeniable encounter with YHWH. Their actions—offering a sacrifice and making vows—are clear indicators of a genuine conversion experience. They moved from worshipping various deities to acknowledging and worshipping the God of Israel. This highlights God's universal reach, showing His willingness to reveal Himself to those outside the covenant nation of Israel, foreshadowing a broader salvation.
  • Worship and Commitment: Their response was not merely intellectual assent but active, tangible worship. Offering a sacrifice was a customary act of devotion and appeasement in the ancient world, here directed towards the LORD. Making "vows" suggests a deeper, ongoing commitment, promising future obedience, service, or offerings to the LORD. This indicates a lasting change in their spiritual allegiance, moving beyond a one-time act of desperation.

Linguistic Insight

The intensity of their fear is highlighted by the Hebrew adverb me'od, meaning "exceedingly" or "very much," which modifies the verb yare. This emphasizes the overwhelming nature of their awe and reverence in the face of divine power, distinguishing it from a simple human fright.

Practical Application

Jonah 1:16 serves as a powerful reminder that encounters with God's undeniable power can lead to profound spiritual transformation. Just as the Gentile sailors moved from fear of the elements to a reverent fear and worship of the Creator, we too are called to recognize God's sovereignty over all things (Psalm 107:29) and respond with genuine worship and lifelong commitment. This verse also underscores God's grace, which extends to all people, drawing them to Himself through powerful displays of His nature and control.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 8:20 (4 votes)

    ¶ And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

  • Psalms 50:14 (4 votes)

    Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:

  • Psalms 116:14 (4 votes)

    I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

  • Daniel 6:26 (4 votes)

    I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he [is] the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion [shall be even] unto the end.

  • Psalms 107:22 (4 votes)

    And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

  • Mark 4:31 (4 votes)

    [It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

  • Jonah 1:10 (3 votes)

    Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.