Jonah 1:16 kjv

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

Jonah 1:16 nkjv

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows.

Jonah 1:16 niv

At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

Jonah 1:16 esv

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

Jonah 1:16 nlt

The sailors were awestruck by the LORD's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.

Jonah 1 verses

Jonah 1 16 Meaning

Jonah 1:16 describes the profound, immediate response of the pagan sailors after witnessing the miraculous cessation of the storm upon Jonah's casting into the sea. They experienced an overwhelming, reverential awe of Yahweh, the God of Israel. This deep fear led them to acts of worship: they offered sacrifices and made vows specifically to the Lord, thereby acknowledging His supreme power and turning from their former gods.

Jonah 1 16 Context

Jonah 1:16 occurs at the climax of the narrative's first major section. Jonah, fleeing God's command to go to Nineveh, finds himself in a furious storm sent by the Lord. The Gentile sailors, desperate to survive, first pray to their own gods, then discover Jonah's culpability, and reluctantly cast him into the raging sea at his instruction. The verse immediately follows the miraculous cessation of the storm once Jonah is overboard. The sailors' profound fear and subsequent worship represent a stark contrast to Jonah's disobedience and his initial lack of outward devotion, despite being a prophet of Yahweh. Historically, these sailors would have been pagan mariners from a culture steeped in polytheism, believing in various gods associated with specific domains, including the sea. Their turning to Yahweh indicates a direct polemic against the regional and limited nature of their deities, affirming Yahweh's universal power and sovereignty over all creation, even extending His influence and demand for worship beyond Israel.

Jonah 1 16 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּֽירְאוּ - wayyi'yr'u): This conjunction signifies immediate consequence and sequence. It emphasizes that their action of fearing directly followed the supernatural calming of the storm.

• the men (הָאֲנָשִׂים - ha'anashim): Refers specifically to the Gentile sailors previously described in the narrative. Their identity as non-Israelites highlights the profound theological significance of their conversion.

• feared (יִירְאוּ - yi'yr'u): While initially implying terror, the subsequent actions of sacrifice and vows transform this "fear" into deep reverence, awe, and worshipful submission to God's revealed power and sovereignty. It moves beyond mere dread to a recognition of ultimate authority.

• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the personal, covenant name of God, specific to Israel. The sailors directing their fear, sacrifice, and vows to YHWH, rather than their pagan gods (Baal, Dagon, etc.), is a monumental shift, indicating a true turning and acknowledgment of the one true God.

• exceedingly (יִרְאָה גְדֹלָה מְאֹד - yir'ah gedolah me'od): Literally "a great fear, greatly" or "very much so." This intensifies the magnitude of their response. Their fear was not trivial but profound and transformative, reaching a spiritual depth that surpassed typical human fright.

• and offered a sacrifice (וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זֶבַח - wayyizbechu zevach): An act of cultic worship and devotion common in the ancient Near East, here directed exclusively to Yahweh. While the specific nature of the sacrifice is unknown (e.g., whether it was Levitically prescribed, which is unlikely mid-sea), the act itself demonstrates a conscious abandonment of their former deities and a solemn act of adoration.

• to the Lord (לַיהוָה - la'YHWH): Reiteration of the dedication of their sacrifice and vows exclusively to Yahweh, further solidifying their conversion or sincere worship.

• and made vows (וַיִּדְּרוּ נְדָרִים - wayyidderu nedarim): Another significant act of devotion, involving a solemn promise or commitment to God, often in gratitude for deliverance or in petition. This indicates a continuing and future commitment, suggesting a lasting change of allegiance and a deeper covenantal bond beyond just a one-time offering.

• "Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly": This phrase captures the immediate, overwhelming, and authentic spiritual awe that seized the sailors. Their previous actions showed natural fear of death; this "exceeding fear" implies a recognition of the transcendent power of God, specifically Yahweh, beyond their natural explanations. It’s an epiphanic moment where they fully grasp the might of the deity Jonah revealed.

• "and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows": These actions signify true worship and devotion. They represent a turning away from polytheism towards the singular worship of YHWH. The sacrifice is an act of thanksgiving and propitiation, while the vows indicate future faithfulness and commitment. It suggests not just a fleeting fear, but a fundamental change in their spiritual allegiance and an act of faith.

Jonah 1 16 Bonus section

• Irony intensified: The narrative emphasizes the pagan sailors' quick spiritual sensitivity over the prophet Jonah's stubborn resistance. They convert before Jonah fully understands or accepts his mission.
• A Light to the Nations: This episode serves as an early, vivid example of YHWH's redemptive purpose extending beyond Israel. The conversion of these sailors points forward to the broader New Testament mission to the Gentiles.
• Authenticity of Fear: While initial fear was prompted by the terrifying storm, their response transitions to a profound spiritual awe (reverence) of YHWH Himself. This reflects the biblical understanding of "the fear of the Lord" as the beginning of wisdom and true godliness.
• Miracle Witness: The sailors were direct witnesses to a divine miracle, experiencing YHWH's immediate power to control the natural world. This encounter transcended mere philosophical belief and solidified their new faith.
• Symbolism of Sacrifices/Vows: Though likely not according to Mosaic Law given their context, their intent to offer sacrifices and make vows to YHWH demonstrates a fundamental shift from their previous pagan worldview. It represents their full embrace of YHWH as the supreme deity who holds power over life and death.

Jonah 1 16 Commentary

Jonah 1:16 presents a pivotal moment in the book, highlighting the universal sovereignty of Yahweh and His concern for all nations, a theme often overlooked by His chosen people. The verse is steeped in irony: the pagan sailors, who had no prior connection to YHWH, immediately perceive and respond with profound reverence and worship to God's power. Their "fear of the Lord exceedingly" isn't mere terror, but an awakened sense of divine awe leading to genuine acts of faith—sacrifice and solemn vows—directed explicitly to Yahweh. This stands in stark contrast to Jonah, YHWH's prophet, who actively flees God's presence and demonstrates disobedience. The sailors' instantaneous turning underscores God's mighty revelation through nature and Jonah's testimony, serving as a powerful foreshadowing of Gentile inclusion into God's saving grace and worship. It shows that true worship is not confined to ethnicity or prior religious knowledge, but springs from an awakened heart recognizing God's unmatched authority.