Jonah 1:10 kjv

Then 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.

Jonah 1:10 nkjv

Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Jonah 1:10 niv

This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)

Jonah 1:10 esv

Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Jonah 1:10 nlt

The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the LORD. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned.

Jonah 1 verses

Jonah 1 10 Meaning

Jonah 1:10 reveals the profound fear and bewilderment of the mariners upon learning that Jonah, a prophet of YHWH, was attempting to flee from his God. This verse marks a pivotal moment where the true nature of the storm is understood as divine judgment, intensifying the sailors' apprehension and prompting them to confront Jonah about his great offense.

Jonah 1 10 Context

Jonah 1:10 is a critical turning point within the narrative of Jonah. Immediately preceding this verse, the ship's crew has been caught in a violent storm, leading them to believe divine wrath is involved. They cast lots, which identify Jonah as the cause (v. 7). Under interrogation (v. 8), Jonah admits he is a Hebrew and worships YHWH, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land. Verse 10 builds directly on this confession, as the sailors comprehend the gravity of Jonah's sin—fleeing from the very Creator God he professed to serve. The men's initial fear of the storm now shifts to an "exceeding" fear of Jonah's powerful God. Culturally, ancient mariners were deeply superstitious and believed in a multitude of gods, each presiding over different elements or nations. For them, a powerful storm meant a deity was enraged. Jonah's confession revealed that not only was this their storm, but it was from the God who controlled all things, including the very sea they were on, and that Jonah had defied Him directly. This knowledge presented a profound challenge to their polytheistic worldview, establishing YHWH's singular sovereignty.

Jonah 1 10 Word analysis

• Then the men: Refers to the Gentile mariners, originally polytheistic and crying out to their own gods (Jona 1:5). Their shift in focus highlights YHWH's undeniable sovereignty being revealed even to those outside His covenant people.
• were exceedingly afraid: Hebrew: yir’u yirah gedolah (יָרְאוּ יִרְאָה גְדוֹלָה). The verb yir’u (they feared) is coupled with the cognate noun yirah (fear) and intensified by gedolah (greatly/exceedingly), indicating profound, intense terror, far beyond their initial fear (Jona 1:5). This is not reverential fear (Deut 6:13) but dread of a powerful, offended deity.
• and said to him: Their verbal confrontation signals a desperate need for understanding and a solution, as they grasp the source of their peril.
• "What is this that you have done?": This is an expression of shock, accusation, and utter bewilderment. They realize the immense theological and practical ramifications of Jonah's action against such a powerful God. It reflects the gravity of sin being brought to light.
• For the men knew: Their knowledge stemmed directly from Jonah's prior confession (Jona 1:9), where he identified YHWH as the "God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." This prior knowledge now brings terrible clarity to the unfolding disaster.
• that he was fleeing: Hebrew: boreach (בּוֹרֵחַ), a participle indicating ongoing, active flight. It emphasizes Jonah's deliberate and sustained act of disobedience. The action implies attempting to escape divine jurisdiction or a divine summons.
• from the presence of the LORD: Hebrew: mippene YHWH (מִפְּנֵי יְהוָה). "Presence" (paniym) denotes direct exposure, accountability, and the sphere of God's immediate action and oversight. To flee from His presence underscores the absolute futility of Jonah's attempt (Psa 139:7-10) and signifies direct defiance against an all-encompassing, omnipotent deity. The title "YHWH" signifies the covenant God of Israel, now revealed to these pagans as universal sovereign.
• because he had told them: This confirms that Jonah's own words were the source of their knowledge. His confession, though perhaps grudging, brought clarity and truth to a situation perceived by natural means, turning pagan fear into a direct apprehension of YHWH's wrath.

Jonah 1 10 Bonus section

This verse serves as a subtle polemic against the polytheistic beliefs of the mariners and indeed, against any notion of localized deities. Jonah’s God, YHWH, is not merely the national deity of Israel confined to their land or temple, but the God "who made the sea and the dry land" and whose presence extends across all creation (Amos 9:1-4). This challenges the ancient world’s compartmentalized view of gods, forcing them to confront the singular, universal authority of YHWH. The sailors' profound fear of YHWH, distinct from their initial generic fear, implicitly acknowledges His supremacy. The irony lies in Jonah, the one fleeing, becoming the accidental conduit through which these Gentiles first encounter the overwhelming majesty of the God he sought to avoid. The mariners' question is not just accusatory but seeks to comprehend how one could dare defy such a Creator God, thereby implicitly magnifying YHWH’s awe-inspiring power. Their growing understanding sets the stage for their eventual turn towards YHWH in the subsequent verses (Jona 1:16).

Jonah 1 10 Commentary

Jonah 1:10 marks a dramatic shift in the mariners' perception and fear. Initially, they feared the storm itself, attributing it perhaps to generic angry gods. However, once Jonah confessed his identity as a Hebrew and revealed YHWH's universal sovereignty as "the God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land" (Jona 1:9), and critically, admitted he was fleeing from this very God, their fear deepened into an "exceeding" terror. This dread stemmed not merely from the threat of drowning, but from the horrifying realization that they were caught in the direct judgment of the Creator of all things because of one man's defiant act. Their question, "What is this that you have done?" underscores their shock at Jonah's incomprehensible disobedience against such a mighty God, whose reach extended even over the high seas. The verse subtly highlights the universality of God's dominion (Psa 139:7-10) and the futility of escaping His call, as His sovereignty is revealed even to pagan sailors, proving Him greater than any perceived "god of the sea." Jonah's failure to represent YHWH initially turns into an unwilling but powerful testimony to God's unparalleled power and presence. It reveals that the consequence of sin cannot be hidden forever (Num 32:23) and that God is actively engaged in His creation, demanding accountability.

• Examples: This can be seen in personal conviction; the feeling of dread when one knows they've willfully disobeyed God, or the realization of consequences for a secret sin, despite efforts to hide. Similarly, actions of believers, even their failings, can sometimes inadvertently bear witness to God's reality to unbelievers.