Jonah 1:12
What does Jonah 1:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 1:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 1:12 means
Jonah instructs them to pick him up and throw him into the sea, promising that the sea will become calm. He admits the tempest is on them for his sake. This is a sober acceptance of responsibility and a willingness to face consequence. It is not yet the repentance that will come later, but it is a step away from self-preservation toward the good of others. His words suggest a substitutionary pattern: one life given so many may be spared. Through this confession and surrender, Jonah aligns, however imperfectly, with the reality of God’s judgment and the hope of mercy for the crew.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to them, Take me up and put me into the sea, and the sea will become calm for you: for I am certain that because of me this great storm has come on you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he saith unto them, `Lift me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea doth cease from you; for I know that on my account this great tempest <FI>is<Fi> upon you.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to them: take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm to you: for I know for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And 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 because of me this great tempest is upon you.
Context
Jonah’s proposal provides the first concrete path to peace, moving beyond blame to costly action. It offers the sailors a difficult choice: take his life into their hands or continue to struggle. Their response in the next verse shows their reluctance to harm him, even after this instruction. This tension highlights both their compassion and the inexorability of God’s purpose, which human effort cannot overturn.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Samuel 24:17
And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.
- John 11:50
nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
- Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.
- Acts 27:24
saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Cæsar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.
- 1 Chronicles 21:17
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father’s house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.
- Joshua 7:20
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Jehovah, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
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