Jonah 1:4

KJV

¶ But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the LORD {H3068} sent out {H2904} a great {H1419} wind {H7307} into the sea {H3220}, and there was a mighty {H1419} tempest {H5591} in the sea {H3220}, so that the ship {H591} was like {H2803} to be broken {H7665}.

Complete Jewish Bible

However, ADONAI let loose over the sea a violent wind, which created such stormy conditions that the ship threatened to break to pieces.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

American Standard Version

But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jonah 1:4 dramatically narrates God's direct and powerful intervention in response to Jonah's disobedience. As the prophet attempts to flee from the Lord's command to go to Nineveh, God actively "sends out" a colossal wind, unleashing an overwhelming tempest upon the sea. This divine act immediately threatens to shatter the ship carrying Jonah, initiating a series of events designed to redirect His wayward servant and underscore His inescapable sovereignty over all creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks a critical turning point in the book of Jonah, immediately following Jonah's deliberate act of rebellion. [Jonah 1:1-2](/jonah/1-1-2 "Jonah 1:1-2 - God's Command to Jonah") establishes God's clear call to Jonah to preach in Nineveh, a city hostile to Israel. Instead of obeying, [Jonah 1:3](/jonah/1-3 "Jonah 1:3 - Jonah's Disobedience and Flight") describes Jonah's flight to Tarshish, explicitly stated as an attempt to "flee from the presence of the LORD." Jonah 1:4 is God's swift and direct response to this disobedience, demonstrating that His will cannot be evaded. It sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation between God's power and Jonah's rebellion, leading directly into the sailors' desperate actions and Jonah's eventual encounter with the great fish in [Jonah 1:5-17](/jonah/1-5-17 "Jonah 1:5-17 - The Storm, the Lots, and the Great Fish").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Mediterranean Sea, a vital trade route in the ancient world. Seafaring was perilous, and sailors, often polytheistic, were acutely aware of the power of the elements and attributed storms to the wrath of various deities. For the Israelite prophet Jonah, fleeing to Tarshish (likely in modern-day Spain) meant traveling to the known edge of the world, symbolically putting as much distance as possible between himself and Yahweh's perceived sphere of influence. This act of God sending a specific storm would have been understood by ancient audiences not as a random weather event, but as a direct, purposeful act of a deity, challenging both Jonah's perception of God's limits and the pagan sailors' understanding of their own gods. The narrative subtly contrasts the pagan sailors' desperate prayers to their own gods with the singular, overwhelming power of Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Jonah 1:4 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty**, emphasizing that God is not confined by geographical boundaries or human will; He actively governs all creation, including the natural elements, to accomplish His purposes. This resonates with themes found in [Psalm 139:7-12](/psalm/139-7-12 "Psalm 139:7-12 - God's Omnipresence") and [Amos 9:2-3](/amos/9-2-3 "Amos 9:2-3 - God's Inescapable Presence"). Secondly, it underscores the **Consequences of Disobedience**, demonstrating that rebellion against God's command has immediate and severe repercussions, not only for the disobedient individual but also, tragically, for innocent bystanders. Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **God's Relentless Pursuit and Corrective Love**. The storm is not merely punitive but redemptive, serving as God's instrument to bring Jonah back to obedience and fulfill His divine mission, a concept echoed in [Hebrews 12:6-11](/hebrews/12-6-11 "Hebrews 12:6-11 - God Disciplines Those He Loves").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the covenant name of God, Yahweh (H3068), emphasizing His self-existent, eternal, and personal nature. The use of this specific name here is crucial, signifying that the storm is not a random act of nature or a generic divine intervention, but a direct, intentional act by the sovereign God of Israel, the one with whom Jonah has a covenant relationship and from whom he is attempting to flee. It highlights God's personal involvement in Jonah's life and His unwavering commitment to His purposes.
* **sent out (Hebrew, _ṭûwl'_):** The Hebrew verb (H2904) means "to pitch over or reel," and transitively, "to cast down or out," or "to hurl." This word conveys a sense of deliberate, forceful action. God doesn't merely allow a storm to happen; He actively and powerfully "hurls" or "casts" the wind into the sea. This emphasizes the direct, intentional, and overwhelming nature of God's intervention, making it clear that the storm is a divinely orchestrated event, not a natural coincidence.
* **tempest (Hebrew, _çaʻar'_):** This word (H5591) denotes a "hurricane" or "whirlwind." Coupled with the adjective "mighty" (H1419, _gâdôwl_), it describes a storm of immense power and destructive force. The choice of this strong term, rather than a milder word for wind or storm, underscores the severity and life-threatening nature of the divine judgment unleashed upon the ship, vividly portraying the immediate danger faced by Jonah and the sailors.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea":** This opening clause immediately establishes the divine agency behind the unfolding crisis. The conjunction "But" signals a direct counter-action to Jonah's flight. The "LORD" (Yahweh) is the subject, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty. The verb "sent out" (H2904, _ṭûwl_) conveys a forceful, deliberate act of "hurling" or "casting," indicating that this was no natural occurrence but a direct, intentional dispatch of a "great wind" (H1419, _gâdôwl_, H7307, _rûwach_) into the very environment Jonah chose for his escape.
* **"and there was a mighty tempest in the sea":** This clause describes the immediate and overwhelming effect of God's action. The "great wind" rapidly escalates into a "mighty tempest" (H1419, _gâdôwl_, H5591, _çaʻar_), a hurricane-force storm. The repetition of "great" (H1419) emphasizes the extraordinary and terrifying power of the storm, making it clear that this was an unprecedented and divinely orchestrated event that far exceeded normal maritime hazards. The sea, Jonah's chosen escape route, now becomes the instrument of his divine confrontation.
* **"so that the ship was like to be broken":** This final clause vividly portrays the dire consequences of the tempest. The ship (H591, _ʼŏnîyâh_), the very vessel of Jonah's rebellion, is on the verge of destruction. The phrase "like to be broken" (H2803, _châshab_, "reckoned," "thought," "devised"; H7665, _shâbar_, "to burst," "break") indicates that the ship was not merely damaged but was literally on the verge of shattering into pieces. This highlights the extreme peril faced by everyone on board and underscores the severity of God's judgment and His determination to halt Jonah's flight.

#### Literary Devices
Jonah 1:4 is rich with literary devices that amplify its theological message. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the depiction of God "sending out" or "hurling" the wind, attributing human-like action to the divine to convey His active and personal involvement in creation. The use of **Hyperbole** is clear in the descriptions "great wind" and "mighty tempest," and the ship being "like to be broken," emphasizing the extraordinary and overwhelming nature of the storm, far beyond ordinary weather. This exaggeration serves to underscore the divine power at work. There is also a strong sense of **Irony** in Jonah's attempt to flee God by sea, only to find God's power manifest most terrifyingly in that very element. The storm itself acts as a form of **Divine Retribution**, directly responding to Jonah's disobedience. Furthermore, the verse employs **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the greater display of God's power over the sea and its creatures that will soon follow, specifically the "great fish" that swallows Jonah, demonstrating God's complete mastery over all creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jonah 1:4 profoundly illustrates the active and inescapable sovereignty of God over all creation, particularly over the natural elements. It reveals that God is not a distant deity but one who intimately interacts with His world and His people, even to the point of orchestrating natural phenomena to achieve His divine will. This storm is a powerful demonstration that no one can truly flee from the omnipresent God, and that His purposes will ultimately prevail. It underscores that God's corrective actions, though sometimes severe, are often rooted in a desire for His servants to return to obedience and fulfill their calling, ultimately for His glory and their good. The immediate and dramatic consequence of Jonah's disobedience also highlights the ripple effect of sin, showing how one person's rebellion can bring peril and suffering to others.

* [Psalm 107:23-30](/psalm/107-23-30 "Psalm 107:23-30 - God's Deliverance from Storms")
* [Amos 9:2-3](/amos/9-2-3 "Amos 9:2-3 - God's Inescapable Presence")
* [Proverbs 16:9](/proverbs/16-9 "Proverbs 16:9 - The Lord Directs Our Steps")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jonah 1:4 serves as a stark and powerful reminder that we cannot outrun God's call or escape His presence. Like Jonah, we may attempt to flee from uncomfortable truths, challenging assignments, or the path God has set for us, seeking refuge in what we perceive as safe distances or alternative destinations. However, this verse teaches us that God is sovereign over every aspect of our lives and the world around us. When we resist His will, He may intervene, sometimes through difficult or disruptive circumstances, to redirect our course. This intervention is not punitive in a vengeful sense, but rather a loving, corrective act designed to bring us back into alignment with His perfect plan. It prompts us to honestly examine our own lives: Are there areas where we are actively resisting God's leading? Are we causing unintended harm to others through our disobedience? Ultimately, God's pursuit, even through a "mighty tempest," is an invitation to surrender, trust, and return to the path of obedience, knowing that His ultimate desire is our restoration and flourishing within His divine purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be attempting to "flee from the presence of the LORD" or avoid His clear leading?**
* **How have difficult circumstances in your life served as God's "great wind" to redirect your path or bring you back into alignment with His will?**
* **What are the potential "ripple effects" of your disobedience, and how might your choices impact those around you?**
* **How does understanding God's active sovereignty over nature and human affairs encourage or challenge your trust in Him?**

### FAQ
**Was the storm in Jonah 1:4 a natural phenomenon or a miraculous event?**

Answer: While storms are natural occurrences, the biblical text strongly indicates that this particular "great wind" and "mighty tempest" were a direct, miraculous intervention by God. The phrase "the LORD sent out" (H2904, _ṭûwl_, meaning "to hurl" or "cast") emphasizes divine agency and purpose. It was not a random weather event but a divinely orchestrated act, specifically designed to confront Jonah's disobedience and halt his flight. This is further underscored by the immediate and extreme severity of the storm, which threatened to break the ship, and by the subsequent actions of the pagan sailors who recognized a supernatural force at work, as described in [Jonah 1:7-10](/jonah/1-7-10 "Jonah 1:7-10 - The Sailors Discover Jonah's Guilt").

**Why did God allow innocent sailors to suffer because of Jonah's disobedience?**

Answer: This question highlights a common theological dilemma regarding the consequences of sin. While God directly intervened to address Jonah's rebellion, the suffering of the innocent sailors underscores the pervasive and far-reaching impact of sin. Disobedience often has ripple effects that extend beyond the individual, affecting families, communities, and even those who are seemingly unconnected. The narrative uses the sailors' plight to heighten the drama and demonstrate the seriousness of Jonah's sin, but it also showcases God's compassion, as He eventually delivers them after Jonah is cast overboard ([Jonah 1:15-16](/jonah/1-15-16 "Jonah 1:15-16 - Jonah Cast Overboard and the Sailors' Sacrifice")). Furthermore, the sailors' experience ultimately leads them to fear the Lord and offer sacrifices, suggesting that God can use even difficult circumstances to draw people to Himself ([Jonah 1:16](/jonah/1-16 "Jonah 1:16 - The Sailors' Conversion")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jonah 1:4, with its vivid portrayal of God's absolute sovereignty over creation, powerfully foreshadows the authority of Jesus Christ. Just as the LORD "sent out" a great wind to control the sea, Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrated His divine power by rebuking the wind and calming a furious storm with a mere command, causing His disciples to marvel, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ([Mark 4:39-41](/mark/4-39-41 "Mark 4:39-41 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). This parallel reveals that the same divine authority that orchestrated the tempest against Jonah resides fully in Christ. Furthermore, God's relentless pursuit of Jonah, even through a life-threatening storm, points to the greater pursuit of humanity by God through Christ. While Jonah fled from his mission, Jesus willingly embraced His mission to seek and save the lost ([Luke 19:10](/luke/19-10 "Luke 19:10 - The Son of Man Came to Seek and to Save the Lost")), even enduring the "tempest" of God's wrath on the cross for our sake. The "sign of Jonah"—his three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish—is explicitly linked by Jesus to His own death and resurrection, identifying Himself as "something greater than Jonah" ([Matthew 12:40-41](/matthew/12-40-41 "Matthew 12:40-41 - The Sign of Jonah")). Thus, the storm in Jonah 1:4 is not merely an act of judgment but a testament to God's unwavering control, a control ultimately manifested and perfectly exercised in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who reigns supreme over all creation and all human rebellion.

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

Psalms 107:23

¶ They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

Psalms 107:31

Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his goodness, and [for] his wonderful works to the children of men!

Matthew 8:24

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Matthew 8:27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Psalms 135:7

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.

Amos 4:13

For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what [is] his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, [is] his name.

Exodus 10:19

And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.