Jonah 1:3
What does Jonah 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 1:3 means
Instead of rising in obedience, Jonah rises to run. He heads toward Tarshish and boards a ship at Joppa, deliberately attempting to go “from the presence of Jehovah.” The repetition underscores the folly of trying to escape the God who made sea and land. The narrative stresses a downward movement—he goes down to Joppa, down into the ship—hinting that flight from God leads lower and lower. Jonah’s choice is intentional; he pays the fare and joins Gentile sailors. Disobedience is not an accident here; it is a planned, costly refusal of a clear command, and it sets in motion consequences that will not remain private.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and 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 Jehovah.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and 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 Jehovah.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Jonah got up to go in flight to Tarshish, away from the Lord; and he went down to Joppa, and saw there a ship going to Tarshish: so he gave them the price of the journey and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, away from the Lord.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jonah riseth to flee to Tarshish from the face of Jehovah, and goeth down <FI>to<Fi> Joppa, and findeth a ship going <FI>to<Fi> Tarshish, and he giveth its fare, and goeth down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the face of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Jonah rose up to flee into Tharsis from the face of the Lord, and he went down to Joppe, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them to Tharsis from the face of the Lord,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and 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 Jehovah.
Context
This verse starkly contrasts with the command of verse 2. Instead of heading east toward Nineveh, Jonah goes in the opposite direction. The plot now leaves land for sea, where the conflict between God’s word and Jonah’s will intensifies. His attempt to flee becomes the catalyst for divine intervention. The next verse shows that God will not abandon His servant to disobedience, but will pursue him through the elements themselves.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Joshua 19:46
and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.
- 2 Chronicles 2:16
and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 23:1
The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.
- Psalms 139:7
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
- Jonah 4:2
And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.
- Luke 9:62
But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
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