Jonah 1:8

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou?

Then said {H559} they unto him, Tell {H5046} us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil {H7451} is upon us; What is thine occupation {H4399}? and whence {H370} comest {H935} thou? what is thy country {H776}? and of what people {H5971} art thou?

They said to him, "Tell us now, why has this calamity come upon us? What work do you do? Where are you from? What is your country? Which is your people?"

โ€œTell us now,โ€ they demanded, โ€œwho is to blame for this calamity that is upon us? What is your occupation, and where have you come from? What is your country, and who are your people?โ€

Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?

Commentary

Context

Jonah 1:8 takes place aboard a ship caught in a violent storm, which the mariners believe is divinely sent. Earlier, God had commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah chose to flee to Tarshish instead. A great storm was sent by the Lord, threatening to break the ship apart. After the mariners desperately cried out to their own gods and lightened the ship, they cast lots to discover who was responsible for this calamity. The lot fell on Jonah, confirming their suspicions. This verse records their urgent interrogation of Jonah, seeking to understand the nature of his offense and the identity of his God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Accountability: The mariners immediately connect the "evil" (calamity or disaster) to a specific individual and his actions, highlighting a universal understanding of divine judgment and the consequences of wrongdoing. They perceive a direct link between Jonah's disobedience and the peril they face.
  • Urgency and Desperation: The series of rapid-fire questions ("What is thine occupation? whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?") reflects their desperate need to understand the situation and, hopefully, appease the offended deity. They are trying to ascertain Jonah's identity, his purpose, and his relationship with his God.
  • Seeking the Cause of Calamity: The primary question, "for whose cause this evil is upon us," reveals their conviction that the storm is not natural but a direct result of someone's actions against a powerful deity. This sets the stage for Jonah's subsequent confession in the following verse.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "evil" in "for whose cause this evil [is] upon us" is ra'ah (ืจึธืขึธื”). While it can mean moral evil, in this context, it refers to a disaster, calamity, or distress, emphasizing the destructive nature of the storm and the suffering it caused. The mariners saw the storm as a direct, punitive consequence, not just a random act of nature.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that actions have consequences, and sometimes our disobedience can impact those around us. It also highlights how even those outside a specific faith tradition can recognize the hand of God in extraordinary circumstances, prompting them to seek answers and accountability. When faced with difficulties, it is wise to reflect on our own standing before God and consider if there are areas of disobedience that need to be addressed through confession and repentance.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 47:3 (9 votes)

    And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What [is] your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants [are] shepherds, both we, [and] also our fathers.

  • 1 Samuel 30:13 (8 votes)

    And David said unto him, To whom [belongest] thou? and whence [art] thou? And he said, I [am] a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

  • Joshua 7:19 (7 votes)

    And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me.

  • James 5:16 (6 votes)

    Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  • 1 Samuel 14:43 (5 votes)

    Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I must die.