Jonah 1:7

KJV

And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil [is] upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they said {H559} every one {H376} to his fellow {H7453}, Come {H3212}, and let us cast {H5307} lots {H1486}, that we may know {H3045} for whose cause {H7945} this evil {H7451} is upon us. So they cast {H5307} lots {H1486}, and the lot {H1486} fell {H5307} upon Jonah {H3124}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then they said to each other, "Come, let's draw lots to find out who is to blame for this calamity." They drew lots, and Yonah was singled out.

Berean Standard Bible

“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

American Standard Version

And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
As a furious storm rages, threatening to engulf their ship, the desperate pagan mariners, recognizing the supernatural origin of their peril, collectively decide to cast lots to identify the individual responsible for incurring divine wrath. In a powerful display of God's sovereignty, the seemingly random lot falls decisively upon Jonah, exposing his disobedience and setting the stage for the dramatic unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jonah 1:7 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative. Prior to this, Jonah, commissioned by God to preach repentance to [Nineveh](/jonah/1-2 "God's Command to Jonah for Nineveh"), has defiantly fled in the opposite direction towards [Tarshish](/jonah/1-3 "Jonah Flees to Tarshish"). In response to his rebellion, God hurls a mighty tempest upon the sea, terrifying the pagan sailors who, in their desperation, lighten the ship by throwing cargo overboard and cry out to their various gods. Their frantic efforts prove futile, leading them to conclude that the storm is no ordinary phenomenon but a targeted act of divine judgment. This verse captures their collective decision to employ a method of divination to pinpoint the object of this wrath, culminating in the lot's unerring identification of Jonah. The immediate aftermath sees Jonah confessing his identity and sin, leading to his being cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish, all orchestrated by God.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of casting lots was a widespread and ancient method of decision-making and discerning divine will across various cultures, including both pagan societies and ancient Israel. Mariners, in particular, often attributed natural phenomena like storms to the displeasure of deities, viewing them as direct interventions. In the ancient Near East, it was common to believe that a community's suffering could be linked to the sin of an individual within that community, prompting investigations to identify the culprit. The sailors' resort to lots reflects this cultural understanding, seeking a definitive, divinely-sanctioned answer to their predicament. While their methods were pagan, the text powerfully demonstrates God's ability to override and use even such practices to accomplish His sovereign purposes, revealing truth to those who sought it, albeit through their own means.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates several overarching themes within the book of Jonah and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating that God is not confined by human methods or beliefs; He orchestrates events, even seemingly random ones like the casting of lots, to achieve His will. The outcome of the lot is not by chance but divinely directed, echoing the truth found in [Proverbs 16:33](/proverbs/16-33 "The Lot is Cast by the Lord"). Secondly, the verse highlights the **Consequences of Disobedience**. Jonah's personal sin of fleeing God's command brings severe, life-threatening peril not only upon himself but also upon innocent pagan sailors, underscoring how individual rebellion against God can have far-reaching, detrimental effects on a community, a principle also evident in stories like [Achan's sin in Joshua 7](/joshua/7 "Achan's Sin and Israel's Defeat"). Lastly, it showcases the **Pagan Recognition of Divine Judgment**. Despite their polytheistic background, the mariners intuitively grasp that the storm is a manifestation of divine wrath and that someone among them is the cause. Their actions demonstrate a profound, albeit incomplete, understanding of a powerful, intervening deity, contrasting sharply with Jonah's initial reluctance to obey the one true God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lots (Hebrew, _gôwrâl'_):** (H1486) This term refers to a pebble or small object used for divination or decision-making. It signifies a method of determining fate or a portion, as if by divine allocation. In this context, it represents the physical means by which the sailors sought to uncover the truth, which God sovereignly directed.
* **cast (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** (H5307) This primitive root means "to fall" in a variety of applications, including to cast (as in lots). Its use here emphasizes the physical act of throwing the lots, but the subsequent phrase "the lot fell upon Jonah" highlights the divine control over the outcome, as if the lot "fell" precisely where God intended.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** (H3045) This root signifies "to know," often implying to ascertain by seeing, to discern, or to come to have knowledge. The sailors' desire to "know for whose cause this evil is upon us" indicates their desperate need for clarity and understanding regarding the source of the divine judgment they were experiencing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots":** Faced with an escalating, supernatural storm, the mariners, having exhausted their own efforts and prayers to their gods, arrive at a collective decision. They propose a method, casting lots, which was a common practice in the ancient world for discerning hidden truths or divine will. This indicates their shared conviction that the storm was not random but a targeted act of a deity.
* **"that we may know for whose cause this evil [is] upon us":** This clause reveals the specific motivation behind their action. They are not merely seeking a random answer but desperately trying to identify the individual whose actions have provoked this "evil" (calamity, judgment) upon them all. Their lives are at stake, and they believe pinpointing the cause is the first step toward appeasing the offended deity.
* **"So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah":** The narrative swiftly moves from the proposal to the execution and the immediate, undeniable result. The casting of lots is presented as a straightforward action, but the crucial detail is the outcome: the lot "fell upon Jonah." This is the climactic moment that confirms the sailors' suspicions and reveals God's direct intervention, exposing His disobedient prophet through a seemingly random, yet divinely controlled, process.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as the pagan sailors, through their own superstitious methods, are led by God to uncover the truth about the disobedient prophet of the one true God. They are seeking divine revelation, while Jonah, who possesses it, is actively fleeing from it. There is also a strong sense of **Divine Intervention** or **Providence**, where God's hand is clearly seen guiding the seemingly random outcome of the lots. This highlights His absolute control over all circumstances, even those initiated by human actions or beliefs. Furthermore, the event serves as **Foreshadowing**, as the lot falling on Jonah directly leads to his being cast into the sea, a prefigurement of his three days and nights in the belly of the great fish. The swift, decisive nature of the lot's outcome also builds **Suspense**, as the reader anticipates the revelation of the guilty party and the subsequent actions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jonah 1:7 profoundly illustrates God's active sovereignty, even over what appears to be chance. The casting of lots, while a common ancient practice for decision-making or discerning fate, is here explicitly shown to be under divine control. The outcome was not arbitrary but divinely orchestrated to expose Jonah's rebellion and initiate the next phase of God's plan for him. This demonstrates that God is intimately involved in the affairs of humanity, guiding circumstances to achieve His purposes, even using the actions of unbelievers to bring His will to pass. It also underscores the principle that sin, especially disobedience to God's direct command, has far-reaching consequences, impacting not only the individual but also those around them. The pagan sailors' immediate recognition of divine judgment, even through their limited understanding, serves as a stark contrast to Jonah's initial spiritual blindness.

* [Proverbs 16:33](/proverbs/16-33 "The Lot is Cast by the Lord")
* [Leviticus 16:8](/leviticus/16-8 "Aaron Casts Lots for the Two Goats")
* [Acts 1:26](/acts/1-26 "Lots Cast to Choose Matthias")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene on the storm-tossed ship, culminating in the lot falling on Jonah, serves as a powerful mirror for our own lives. It compels us to consider the profound impact of our choices, particularly our obedience or disobedience to God's call. Just as Jonah's rebellion brought peril upon innocent sailors, our own unaddressed sin or refusal to follow God's clear leading can have ripple effects, causing distress or hardship for those in our sphere of influence. This passage challenges us to engage in honest self-examination, asking if there are areas where we are "fleeing from the presence of the Lord," perhaps through procrastination, fear, or outright defiance. It also reassures us of God's relentless pursuit of His children, even when we stray. He will employ various means, sometimes uncomfortable ones, to bring us back into alignment with His will, not out of malice, but out of a desire for our ultimate good and the fulfillment of His purposes through us. Ultimately, this verse calls us to humility, confession, and a renewed commitment to walk in obedience, trusting in God's sovereign hand to guide all circumstances for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's clear call or direction?**
* **How might my personal choices, both obedient and disobedient, be impacting those around me?**
* **Am I willing to allow God to expose areas of sin or disobedience in my life, even if it brings discomfort or requires difficult confession?**
* **How does the sovereignty of God, even over seemingly random events, encourage or challenge my trust in Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did the sailors resort to casting lots, and was this a legitimate way to discern God's will?**

Answer: The sailors resorted to casting lots because it was a widely accepted ancient practice for divination and decision-making, particularly when seeking to identify the cause of a supernatural event or divine displeasure. They believed that the outcome of the lots would reveal the will of the gods. While casting lots was also used by God's people in the Old Testament (e.g., for land distribution in [Joshua 18:10](/joshua/18-10 "Joshua Casts Lots for Land") or for selecting the scapegoat in [Leviticus 16:8](/leviticus/16-8 "Lots for the Scapegoat")) and even in the New Testament (to choose Matthias in [Acts 1:26](/acts/1-26 "Lots to Choose Matthias")), the Bible's legitimacy of the practice is always predicated on God's sovereign control over the outcome. [Proverbs 16:33](/proverbs/16-33 "The Lot is Cast by the Lord") explicitly states, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." In Jonah's case, regardless of the sailors' pagan beliefs or methods, God sovereignly intervened to ensure the lot fell on Jonah, thus using their practice to accomplish His divine purpose of exposing His disobedient prophet.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic scene of the lot falling on Jonah, identifying him as the cause of the storm and the one to be sacrificed for the sake of others, profoundly foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jonah's being cast into the tumultuous sea to save the lives of the mariners, and his subsequent three days and nights in the belly of the great fish, serve as a direct prophetic type of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, as Jesus Himself affirmed in [Matthew 12:40](/matthew/12-40 "Sign of Jonah"). However, unlike Jonah, who was identified by a lot due to his *disobedience*, Jesus was the innocent [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") upon whom the "evil" of the world's sin intentionally fell, not by chance, but by divine design. He willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, bearing the full wrath of God for humanity's transgression ([Isaiah 53:6](/isaiah/53-6 "All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray")). While Jonah was reluctantly thrown overboard, Christ voluntarily laid down His life to rescue a perishing world, demonstrating the ultimate act of love and obedience ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Christ Died for Us While We Were Still Sinners")). The sailors' salvation came through Jonah's exposure and expulsion; our eternal salvation comes through Christ's willing identification with our sin and His atoning death.

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

Proverbs 16:33

¶ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.

Joshua 7:13

Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Joshua 7:18

And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

1 Samuel 14:41

Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect [lot]. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

1 Samuel 14:42

And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

1 Samuel 10:20

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.

1 Samuel 10:21

When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.