Jonah 1 5

Jonah 1:5 kjv

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.

Jonah 1:5 nkjv

Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.

Jonah 1:5 niv

All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

Jonah 1:5 esv

Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

Jonah 1:5 nlt

Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold.

Jonah 1 verses

Jonah 1 5 Meaning

Jonah 1:5 describes the chaotic scene aboard the storm-tossed ship, contrasting the frantic efforts of the pagan mariners with the profound spiritual slumber of the disobedient prophet Jonah. The mariners, overcome with fear from the great storm (sent by the Lord), instinctively cried out to their respective gods, demonstrating their desperate reliance on any deity they knew. Simultaneously, they resorted to practical but desperate measures, casting the valuable cargo overboard in a futile attempt to lighten the ship and avert disaster. In stark contrast, Jonah, the true worshipper of the Most High God, was found in the lowest part of the vessel, deeply asleep, detached from the unfolding peril and his divine commission.

Jonah 1 5 Context

Jonah 1:5 immediately follows the Lord's sending of a "great wind" and a "mighty tempest" in the previous verse (1:4), establishing the divine origin and severity of the storm. The verse sets the scene of human panic and futile natural responses against the backdrop of supernatural judgment. It serves as a stark comparison between the pagan mariners, who are actively responding to the crisis (praying to their gods, discarding cargo), and the prophet Jonah, who is in a state of deep, rebellious disengagement from God and reality. This disengagement highlights Jonah's deliberate defiance of the Lord's command to go to Nineveh, which propelled him to flee by sea in the first place (1:1-3). The ship, intended as a means of escape, becomes the stage for the unfolding divine confrontation.

Jonah 1 5 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּירְאוּ vayyire'u from יָרֵא yare): An immediate consequence and transition from the storm's onset (v.4). Yare signifies a profound fear, dread, and even reverence, indicating the overwhelming terror experienced.
• mariners (מַלָּחִים mallāchîm): Literally "sailors" or "seamen." They are described as professional, experienced seafarers, highlighting that even seasoned individuals were overwhelmed, implying the extraordinary nature of the storm.
• were afraid (וַיִּירְאוּ vayyire'u): Reinforces the extreme terror gripping the experienced sailors. This is a common human response to an uncontrollable, life-threatening situation.
• cried (וַיִּזְעֲקוּ vayyiz‘aqū from זָעַק za'aq): Implies a loud, desperate cry for help, an outcry of anguish often used in appeals to divine power.
• every man unto his god (אִישׁ אֶל־אֱלֹהָיו 'îsh 'el-'elōhâv): Emphasizes the polytheistic nature of the crew, each invoking their personal or national deity. This highlights their spiritual ignorance compared to Jonah, yet also their human impulse to seek divine help in crisis. It also subtly underscores the futility of their fragmented spiritual efforts.
• cast forth (וַיָּטִילוּ vayyaṭîlū from טוּל ṭūl): Suggests a desperate and frantic throwing, rather than careful offloading, reflecting the urgency of the situation.
• the wares (הַכֵּלִים hakkelîm): Refers to the ship's cargo, goods, or equipment. Their precious livelihood and reason for travel are being sacrificed for survival, demonstrating the extent of their desperation.
• into the sea (אֶל־הַיָּם 'el-haddām): Thrown into the very destructive element.
• to lighten it of them (לְהָקֵל מֵעֲלֵיהֶם lehāqēl mê‘ălêhem): A practical nautical attempt to reduce the ship's weight and prevent sinking or breaking apart. Futile against a divinely sent storm.
• But Jonah (וְיוֹנָה weYonah): The "But" establishes a stark contrast and introduces the central figure's opposite reaction. Jonah stands apart from the chaotic scene.
• was gone down (יָרַד yarad): Literally "descended." This marks another stage in Jonah's spiritual and physical descent, symbolizing his movement away from God and responsibility (first from Jerusalem to Joppa, now into the ship's hold).
• into the sides of the ship (יַרְכְתֵי הַסְּפִינָה yarkᵉtê hassᵉfînāh): The innermost, deepest, most secluded part of the vessel, the 'hold' or 'inner chambers.' Symbolically, it points to his attempt to hide himself and his true spiritual condition from God and others.
• and he lay (וַיִּשְׁכַּב vayyishkav from שָׁכַב shakav): Denotes a physical posture of rest or recline, highlighting his passive and relaxed state amidst the storm.
• and was fast asleep (וַיֵּרָדַם vayyerādam from רָדַם radam): Implies a deep, profound sleep, even a stupor. This is the most striking detail, indicating spiritual insensitivity, defiance, and a conscious or unconscious attempt to escape responsibility and the direct judgment of God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god": This group highlights the natural human reaction to extreme peril (fear) coupled with a culturally conditioned, yet ultimately ineffective, spiritual response (polytheistic prayer). It showcases the "Gentiles'" desperate earnestness contrasted with the prophet's apathy.
• "and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them": Describes their pragmatic, yet desperate, attempt at self-preservation through physical sacrifice. They value their lives above their livelihoods. This practical response underlines the severity of the danger.
• "But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep": This crucial contrasting group reveals Jonah's profound spiritual disengagement and rebellious heart. While others fought for survival, he retreated into deep slumber, a symbolic burying of his head from God's will and the unfolding consequences. It signifies an intentional, profound escape.

Jonah 1 5 Bonus section

The term for deep sleep, radam (רָדַם), often in the Old Testament describes a divinely induced, deep sleep or stupor (e.g., Adam in Gen 2:21 before the creation of Eve, or Abram in Gen 15:12 for the covenant ceremony). However, Jonah's radam is strikingly different. It is not presented as divinely induced for a beneficial purpose but rather as a profound personal oblivion, a defiant spiritual anesthesia. It underscores his deep rebellion against God's will. This contrasts powerfully with Jesus' peaceful sleep in the storm (Mark 4:38), which evinced His divine control and serenity, not spiritual flight or apathy. Furthermore, the desperation of the mariners throwing their cargo highlights an ancient maritime practice—known from various historical texts and archaeology—that would have been immediately understandable to the original audience, emphasizing the extreme nature of the storm and their plight. Their multi-deity worship reflects common ancient Near Eastern syncretism, which the narrative will subtly polemicize by demonstrating the unique power of Yahweh alone.

Jonah 1 5 Commentary

Jonah 1:5 paints a vivid picture of cosmic disequilibrium: Yahweh has unleashed chaos (1:4), and humanity responds. The mariners exemplify natural human reactions: terror driving them to call upon their perceived divine aids and to sacrifice all material possessions in a desperate attempt at survival. This reflects both the universality of fear in the face of death and the futility of human, idolatrous solutions against divine will. Ironically, their fervent, if misguided, spiritual effort contrasts sharply with Jonah, the prophet of the true God. His profound sleep, far from peaceful rest, signifies spiritual lethargy, a wilful defiance, or even a self-imposed anesthesia to evade God's inescapable call and the immediate judgment upon him. His physical "going down" mirrors his spiritual decline. The scene sets the stage for God's relentless pursuit of His disobedient servant, using even "heathen" sailors to call His prophet to account. This narrative underscore's God's sovereignty over creation, His determined will, and His use of unconventional means to accomplish His purpose.