Jonah 1:5

KJV

Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the mariners {H4419} were afraid {H3372}, and cried {H2199} every man {H376} unto his god {H430}, and cast forth {H2904} the wares {H3627} that were in the ship {H591} into the sea {H3220}, to lighten {H7043} it of them. But Jonah {H3124} was gone down {H3381} into the sides {H3411} of the ship {H5600}; and he lay {H7901}, and was fast asleep {H7290}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The sailors were frightened, and each cried out to his god. They threw the cargo overboard to make the ship easier for them to control. Meanwhile, Yonah had gone down below into the hold, where he lay, fast asleep.

Berean Standard Bible

The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

American Standard Version

Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jonah 1:5 starkly contrasts the desperate, life-saving actions of the pagan mariners with the profound spiritual apathy of the prophet Jonah amidst a divinely orchestrated storm. While the sailors frantically jettison their valuable cargo and cry out to their respective deities in a desperate bid for survival, Jonah remains deeply asleep in the ship's innermost hold, oblivious to the chaos his disobedience has unleashed and the imminent peril facing all aboard.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows [Jonah 1:4](/jonah/1-4 "Jonah 1:4 - God Sends a Great Wind"), which explicitly states that "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." Jonah 1:5, therefore, details the direct, immediate human response to this divine intervention. The narrative flow highlights the escalating crisis on the ship, setting the stage for the captain's discovery of Jonah and the subsequent casting of lots. The juxtaposition of the mariners' frantic efforts with Jonah's deep sleep is a central dramatic and thematic element, underscoring the prophet's spiritual condition in light of his flight from God's command in [Jonah 1:3](/jonah/1-3 "Jonah 1:3 - Jonah Flees to Tarshish").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient seafaring was inherently perilous, and severe storms were frequently interpreted as signs of divine displeasure or judgment. Mariners of this era, often from diverse nations, typically held polytheistic beliefs, attributing natural phenomena to various gods. Their response—crying "every man unto his god"—was a common practice reflecting their worldview, seeking intervention from whichever deity might be responsible for the tempest. The act of "casting forth the wares" (cargo) was a practical, desperate measure to lighten the ship and prevent it from capsizing or breaking apart, demonstrating their commitment to survival over material wealth. The ship itself was likely a merchant vessel, carrying valuable goods, making the jettisoning of cargo a significant sacrifice.
* **Key Themes:** [Jonah 1:5](/jonah/1-5 "Jonah 1:5 - Mariners' Fear and Jonah's Sleep") powerfully introduces and develops several key themes central to the book of Jonah. The most prominent is the **contrast between pagan piety and prophetic apathy**, as the polytheistic mariners actively engage in prayer and sacrificial action, while the prophet of the one true God is spiritually disengaged and asleep. This highlights the theme of **divine sovereignty and pursuit**, as God's storm is not random but a targeted intervention to reclaim His disobedient prophet, demonstrating that His will cannot be evaded, a truth evident throughout the book, particularly in [Jonah 1:4](/jonah/1-4 "Jonah 1:4 - The Lord's Intervention"). The mariners' **fear and desperate measures** underscore the universal human response to existential threat, driving them to both religious supplication and practical sacrifice. Finally, Jonah's **profound sleep** symbolizes his spiritual insensitivity and deliberate evasion of God's call to Nineveh, a state of profound detachment from the crisis his disobedience has caused, setting up the dramatic confrontation that follows in [Jonah 1:6](/jonah/1-6 "Jonah 1:6 - The Shipmaster Confronts Jonah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **afraid (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** This primitive root signifies to fear, dread, or be terrified, but also morally, to revere or stand in awe. In this context, it clearly denotes the mariners' intense terror in the face of the life-threatening storm, a fear that drives them to desperate actions.
* **cried (Hebrew, _zâʻaq'_):** A primitive root meaning to shriek from anguish or danger, to call out, or assemble publicly. Here, it vividly portrays the mariners' vocal, urgent pleas to their gods, born out of extreme distress and a desperate hope for deliverance.
* **wares (Hebrew, _kᵉlîy'_):** From a root meaning "to prepare," this word broadly refers to any apparatus, implement, utensil, vessel, or goods. In Jonah 1:5, it specifically designates the ship's cargo, emphasizing the valuable nature of what the mariners were willing to sacrifice to save their lives.
* **fast asleep (Hebrew, _râdam'_):** A primitive root meaning to stun or stupefy, implying a deep, heavy, or even supernatural sleep. This word emphasizes the profound unconsciousness of Jonah, suggesting more than mere physical exhaustion but a state of spiritual stupor or deliberate escape from his conscience and the unfolding crisis.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the mariners were afraid":** The immediate and visceral reaction of the professional seamen to the severity of the storm, indicating that the tempest was beyond ordinary and truly life-threatening. Their fear highlights the divine origin and power of the storm.
* **"and cried every man unto his god":** This phrase reveals the polytheistic worldview of the mariners, who, in their desperation, appealed to their diverse pantheon of deities, seeking intervention from any god who might have power over the sea and the storm. It contrasts sharply with Jonah's knowledge of the one true God.
* **"and cast forth the wares that [were] in the ship into the sea, to lighten [it] of them":** A practical and desperate measure taken by the mariners. "Wares" refers to the ship's cargo, which was thrown overboard to reduce the ship's weight and prevent it from sinking or being broken apart by the violent waves. This demonstrates their willingness to sacrifice material wealth for survival.
* **"But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship":** This introduces a striking contrast. While the mariners are on deck fighting for their lives, Jonah has descended into the deepest, most secluded part of the vessel, the "sides" or "innermost recesses" of the ship. This physical descent symbolizes his spiritual and moral retreat from God's presence and command.
* **"and he lay, and was fast asleep":** This final clause emphasizes Jonah's profound state of unconsciousness and spiritual apathy. His deep sleep amidst such chaos is highly ironic and serves as a powerful symbol of his rebellion and detachment from the consequences of his disobedience.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Contrast**, setting the frantic, desperate actions of the pagan mariners against the profound, almost unnatural, slumber of the prophet Jonah. This creates powerful **Irony**, as the polytheistic sailors are actively engaged in prayer and sacrifice, while the monotheistic prophet of Yahweh is spiritually oblivious. Jonah's "fast asleep" state functions as **Symbolism**, representing not just physical exhaustion but a deep spiritual stupor, a deliberate attempt to escape God's call and the turmoil of his own conscience. The storm itself, initiated by God in the preceding verse, serves as a form of **Divine Intervention**, highlighting God's relentless pursuit of His disobedient prophet and His sovereign control over creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jonah 1:5 powerfully illustrates the universal human tendency to seek help in crisis, even among those who do not know the one true God. The mariners' cries to "every man unto his god" highlight the inherent human need for the divine and the diverse, often futile, ways humanity attempts to appease or control perceived supernatural forces. The profound irony lies in their active, albeit misguided, spiritual engagement contrasted with Jonah's deep spiritual slumber, revealing that outward religious affiliation does not guarantee spiritual vitality or obedience. This scene underscores God's persistent pursuit of His people, even when they are disobedient, demonstrating that His plans will not be thwarted by human rebellion. It also foreshadows the future revelation that true deliverance comes not from human effort or pagan deities, but from the sovereign Lord who controls the winds and the waves.

* [Psalm 107:28-29](/psalms/107-28-29 "God Stills the Storm")
* [Psalm 44:23](/psalms/44-23 "Awake, O Lord!")
* [Proverbs 28:13](/proverbs/28-13 "Confessing Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jonah 1:5 serves as a profound mirror for self-examination, challenging believers to consider their own spiritual state in the midst of life's storms. Are we like the mariners, frantically seeking solutions in every direction, or are we, like Jonah, spiritually asleep to the divine hand at work in our circumstances, perhaps even oblivious to the consequences of our own disobedience? This verse calls us to a radical self-awareness, prompting us to ask if our current spiritual posture is one of active engagement with God, even in distress, or one of complacent detachment. It reminds us that true peace in the storm comes not from escaping the crisis, but from being rightly related to the God who commands the storm. When the world around us is in chaos, crying out to various "gods" of wealth, power, or self-reliance, the believer's privilege is to cry out to the one true God, who is both sovereign over the tempest and intimately concerned with our spiritual awakening. This passage urges us to remain vigilant, to confess our spiritual slumber, and to re-engage with God's will, even when it leads us into uncomfortable or challenging territory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually "asleep" or disengaged, much like Jonah in the storm?**
* **When facing personal or global crises, to what "gods" or solutions do I instinctively turn before crying out to the Lord?**
* **How does my response to adversity compare to that of the mariners (desperate action, crying out) versus Jonah (deep sleep, apathy)? What does this reveal about my faith?**
* **What might God be trying to awaken me to, even through difficult or chaotic circumstances?**

### FAQ

**Why was Jonah able to sleep so deeply amidst such a violent storm?**

Answer: Jonah's deep sleep, described by the Hebrew word _râdam_ (H7290), suggests more than mere physical exhaustion. It implies a profound, almost supernatural stupor, similar to the deep sleep God caused to fall upon Adam in [Genesis 2:21](/genesis/2-21 "God Creates Eve"). This depth of sleep is highly symbolic, representing Jonah's deliberate attempt to escape the presence of God and the turmoil of his own conscience. It signifies a spiritual insensitivity and a profound detachment from the crisis that his disobedience had initiated, an ironic contrast to the terrified and active mariners. It highlights the spiritual blindness that can accompany rebellion against God's will.

**What is the significance of the mariners crying "every man unto his god"?**

Answer: This phrase highlights the polytheistic worldview prevalent in the ancient Near East. The mariners, likely from various nations, each appealed to their own specific deity or pantheon, believing that different gods controlled different aspects of nature or human destiny. Their desperate cries underscore the universal human impulse to seek divine intervention in times of extreme peril. The significance lies in the stark contrast this provides to Jonah, the prophet of the one true God, Yahweh. While these pagan sailors are actively engaged in fervent prayer, the prophet of the living God is found in a state of deep spiritual apathy, asleep in the ship's hold. This irony emphasizes Jonah's profound spiritual rebellion and the surprising spiritual sensitivity of those who did not know Yahweh.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jonah 1:5, with its vivid portrayal of a ship in a storm and a sleeping figure, finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. While Jonah's sleep was born of disobedience and spiritual apathy, Jesus's sleep in the boat during a tempest in [Mark 4:38](/mark/4-38 "Jesus Asleep in the Storm") was one of perfect peace and sovereign authority. Jonah's deep slumber required pagan sailors to awaken him to the crisis, but Jesus, when awakened, effortlessly commanded the wind and waves, demonstrating His divine power over creation, a power that even the mariners in Jonah's day desperately sought from their various gods. Furthermore, the mariners' act of casting out the wares to lighten the ship foreshadows the ultimate "lightening" that Christ provides. He is the one who took on the full weight of humanity's sin and rebellion, casting it into the depths of the sea through His sacrifice on the cross, as prophesied in [Micah 7:19](/micah/7-19 "God's Compassion and Forgiveness"). Unlike Jonah, who was the cause of the storm due to his sin, Jesus, through His perfect obedience and atoning death, brings true peace and calm to the storms of our lives, ultimately bearing the burden of our sin to lighten our spiritual load (cf. [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). The mariners' crying out to their gods, while futile, points to the universal human need for a rescuer, a need perfectly met in Christ, the only one who can truly save from the ultimate storm of divine judgment.

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

Acts 27:18

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next [day] they lightened the ship;

Acts 27:19

And the third [day] we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

1 Kings 18:26

And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

Isaiah 45:20

¶ Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save.

1 Samuel 24:3

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

Jeremiah 2:28

But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

Judges 16:19

And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.