Jonah 1:11

¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

Then said {H559} they unto him, What shall we do {H6213} unto thee, that the sea {H3220} may be calm {H8367} unto us? for the sea {H3220} wrought {H1980}, and was tempestuous {H5590}.

They asked him, "What should we do to you, so that the sea will be calm for us?" - for the sea was getting rougher all the time.

Now the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, “What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?”

Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.

Commentary

Context of Jonah 1:11

Jonah 1:11 finds the prophet Jonah in a desperate situation aboard a ship fleeing from God's command to go to Nineveh. A mighty storm, sent by the Lord, threatens to break the ship apart. The panicked mariners, having already cast lots and discovered Jonah is the cause of their calamity (Jonah 1:7), are now directly asking him for a solution. They understand that Jonah's God is powerful and that their lives depend on placating Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty over Nature: The storm's intensity and the mariners' recognition of its supernatural origin underscore God's absolute control over creation. This is a central theme throughout the Book of Jonah, demonstrating that even a prophet's disobedience cannot thwart God's ultimate purposes.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Jonah's flight from God's will brings immediate and severe consequences, not only upon himself but also upon innocent bystanders. This highlights the ripple effect of sin and the seriousness of defying divine instructions.
  • Human Desperation and Inquiry: The mariners' question, "What shall we do unto thee?", reveals their profound fear and their desperate search for a way to appease the divine wrath they perceive. They are seeking an immediate practical solution to survive the perilous situation.
  • The Sea's Fury: The phrase "the sea wrought, and was tempestuous" vividly describes the violent and uncontrollable nature of the storm, emphasizing the dire straits the ship and its crew faced.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "wrought" for the Hebrew word הֹלֵךְ (holek), which literally means "going" or "walking." In this context, it implies the sea was continually growing, intensifying, or becoming more agitated. The term "tempestuous" (Hebrew: וְסֹעֵר, v'so'er) further emphasizes the violent, swirling, and stormy nature of the waters. Together, they paint a picture of a sea that is relentlessly escalating in its fury, pressing the mariners for an immediate and drastic action.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that ignoring God's call or disobeying His commands can lead to significant turmoil, not only in our own lives but potentially impacting those around us. Just as the mariners sought to calm the physical storm, we are often faced with "storms" in our lives that are a result of our spiritual choices. The question "What shall we do?" becomes a critical self-assessment point, prompting us to consider what steps are necessary to reconcile with God and find peace. It also highlights the reality that true peace, whether physical or spiritual, often comes from aligning ourselves with God's will and seeking His mercy, much like how the mariners eventually feared the Lord exceedingly after the storm ceased.

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Cross-References

  • Micah 6:6 (2 votes)

    ¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

  • Micah 6:7 (2 votes)

    Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?

  • 2 Samuel 21:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

  • 2 Samuel 21:6 (2 votes)

    Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

  • 1 Samuel 6:2 (2 votes)

    And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

  • 1 Samuel 6:3 (2 votes)

    And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

  • 2 Samuel 24:11 (1 votes)

    For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,