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.
Read it in contextThe storm and the sailors
Start reading at Jonah 1:1 (Jonah 1:1 to Jonah 1:16).
Start at 1:1; the storm only makes sense alongside the call Jonah fled.
A great wind threatens the ship; Jonah is cast into the sea and the sailors fear the LORD.
1:1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
1:2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
1:3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
1:4But 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.
1:5Then 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.
1:6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
1:7And 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.
1:8Then 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?
1:9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
1:10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
1:11Then 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.
1:12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
1:13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
1:14Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
1:15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
1:16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Jonah son of Amittai is the traditional attribution, but the final narrator's identity is unknown. Being the prophet in the story does not by itself establish him as its writer. Biblical references: Jonah 1:1; 2 Kings 14:25. traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jonah 1:1–1:17): Jonah, the ship's captain, and the sailors are involved in the storm and Jonah's flight from the LORD's commission. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israelite readers reflecting on God's mercy and the prophet's response. Nineveh hears Jonah's warning within the story; it is not identified as the original recipient of the completed book. Biblical references: Jonah 3:4; Jonah 4:2; Jonah 4:11. book background
What
What is the main event described in Jonah 1:5? The mariners were afraid due to the great tempest, cried out to their individual gods, and cast the ship's cargo into the sea to lighten it. Meanwhile, Jonah was deep within the ship, fast asleep.
What is God revealing through the events in Jonah 1:5? God is revealing His sovereign control over creation by sending the great wind and tempest (Jonah 1:4). The mariners' actions reveal the human tendency to turn to false gods and self-effort in crisis, while Jonah's sleep highlights his spiritual state of fleeing from the LORD.
What is the literary style of the book of Jonah? The book of Jonah is written as narrative history and prophecy.
When
When was the book of Jonah written? The book of Jonah was written between approximately 780 and 750 B.C.
When do the events described in Jonah 1:5 take place? The events described in Jonah 1:5 take place around 780 B.C.
Where
Where did the events in Jonah 1:5 occur? The events occurred on a ship at sea, after it had departed from Joppa, heading towards Tarshish.
Where was the author of the book of Jonah located when it was written? The author was located in Israel when the book of Jonah was written.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The storm and the sailors (Jonah 1:4 to Jonah 1:16).
Start reading at Jonah 1:1. Start at 1:1; the storm only makes sense alongside the call Jonah fled.
How
How does Jonah 1:5 fit into the broader context of the book of Jonah? This verse describes the immediate, desperate reaction of the mariners to the storm sent by the LORD, contrasting sharply with Jonah's deep sleep. It sets the stage for the shipmaster to confront Jonah and for the mariners to discover Jonah's identity and his role in the tempest, leading to the casting of lots. stated in the text
How does Jonah 1:5 point to Christ? Jonah's deep sleep during the life-threatening storm, while others were in fear, can be seen as a contrast to Christ, who also slept during a storm but then rose to calm it with a word, demonstrating His divine authority over creation (Matthew 8:23-27). Jonah's subsequent 'death' and resurrection from the great fish, which Christ used as a sign of His own death and resurrection (Matthew 12:40), is foreshadowed by his profound slumber in the face of death. interpretation
How can the events of Jonah 1:5 be applied to believers today? In times of crisis, people often turn to various sources for help, including false gods or their own efforts, much like the mariners. This passage reminds believers to examine their own spiritual state, ensuring they are not spiritually asleep or fleeing from God's will when facing difficulties, but rather turning to the one true God for deliverance. interpretation
Cited: Jonah 1:3, Jonah 1:4, Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:6, Jonah 1:7, Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 12:40
Who wrote it, and how we know
JonahFrom early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book is written about Jonah in the third person. Kings records Jonah as a historical prophet. 2 Kings 14:25
Early traditionTradition names Jonah.
What is debatedThe book does not claim Jonah as its writer.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jonah 1
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Jonah's flight leads into the storm and the sailors' response, establishing the consequences of his refusal.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The prepared fish and Jonah's prayer lead to his release and the renewed commission.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jonah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied.