Jonah 1:5

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Jonah 1:5 vividly contrasts the desperate actions of pagan mariners with the surprising spiritual apathy of the prophet Jonah during a life-threatening storm. As the tempest rages, the sailors frantically work to save their lives and their vessel, while Jonah remains deeply asleep, oblivious to the chaos his disobedience has unleashed.

Context

The preceding verse, Jonah 1:4, establishes that "the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea," causing a mighty tempest. This verse details the immediate, human reaction to that divine intervention. Ancient seafaring was incredibly perilous, and severe storms were often interpreted as signs of divine displeasure. The mariners, likely from various nations given their diverse gods, resort to both fervent religious supplication and drastic practical measures for survival, casting their valuable cargo overboard to lighten the ship.

Key Themes

  • Fear and Desperation: The mariners' overwhelming fear drives them to frantic action – crying out to their respective deities and jettisoning cargo to prevent the ship from sinking. This highlights the universal human response to existential threat.
  • Polytheism vs. Monotheism: The verse sharply contrasts the mariners' "every man unto his god" (a plurality of pagan deities) with Jonah's (and Israel's) knowledge of the one true God, Yahweh. Ironically, it is the pagan sailors who are actively engaged in prayer, while the prophet of God is profoundly disengaged.
  • Jonah's Spiritual Apathy: While chaos erupts on deck, Jonah is found "fast asleep" in the ship's hold. This deep sleep symbolizes his spiritual insensitivity and deliberate evasion of God's command to go to Nineveh, a theme introduced in Jonah 1:3. His sleep is not merely physical exhaustion but a profound detachment from the crisis his disobedience has caused.
  • Divine Providence: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the storm itself is a direct act of God (Jonah 1:4), demonstrating His sovereignty even over the elements and His persistent pursuit of His disobedient prophet.

Linguistic Insights

  • The word for "wares" (Hebrew: כֵּלִים, kelim) refers broadly to vessels, goods, or articles. Here, it signifies the ship's cargo, which they desperately cast overboard to save the vessel.
  • "Sides of the ship" (Hebrew: יַרְכְּתֵי הַסְּפִינָה, yarketei hassefinah) implies the innermost or deepest part of the vessel, the hold, suggesting Jonah sought maximum concealment and isolation from the storm and perhaps from his own conscience.
  • "Fast asleep" (Hebrew: וַיֵּרָדַם, vayyeradam) denotes a deep, heavy, even supernatural sleep, similar to the sleep God caused to fall upon Adam in Genesis 2:21. It emphasizes the profound nature of Jonah's unconscious state amidst the terrifying turmoil.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that outward circumstances often reveal our true spiritual condition. While the world may panic and seek solutions in various places, a believer's response to crisis should be rooted in faith and active communion with God. Jonah's sleep highlights the danger of spiritual complacency and disobedience; even when God's hand is clearly at work, we can remain oblivious if we are actively running from His will. It also challenges us to consider who we turn to in times of trouble. The mariners cried "every man unto his god," but believers have the privilege of crying out to the one true God who controls all things, as seen in Psalm 107:28.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

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