Jonah 1:5
What does Jonah 1:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 1:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 1:5 means
The sailors, seasoned men of the sea, are terrified. They cry out each to his own god, proving both their religious fervor and their confusion. They throw cargo overboard to lighten the ship, a costly act that shows how dire the crisis is. Meanwhile, Jonah has gone down into the innermost parts and fallen into a deep sleep. His slumber highlights his detachment and spiritual dullness in the face of divine discipline. The image is striking: pagans are praying while the prophet is sleeping. Human effort and false worship cannot calm a storm sent by Jehovah, but the scene exposes Jonah’s failure in stark relief.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then the sailors were full of fear, every man crying to his god; and the goods in the ship were dropped out into the sea to make the weight less. But Jonah had gone down into the inmost part of the ship where he was stretched out in a deep sleep.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the mariners are afraid, and cry each unto his god, and cast the goods that <FI>are<Fi> in the ship into the sea, to make <FI>it<Fi> light of them; and Jonah hath gone down unto the sides of the vessel, and he lieth down, and is fast asleep.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the mariners were afraid, and the men cried to their god: and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship, into the sea, to lighten it of them: and Jonah went down into the inner part of the ship, and fell into a deep sleep.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the mariners were afraid, and cried every one unto hisgod; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to be lightened of them. But Jonah had gone down into the lower part of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Context
The storm rages, and the crew does everything they can. Their prayers to many gods and their practical seamanship both fall short. Jonah’s absence from the effort sets up the rebuke that follows. The captain will soon demand that Jonah pray, dragging him into the crisis he helped create. This prepares the way for the casting of lots, a traditional practice the sailors will use to identify the cause of their calamity.
v.4But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
v.5This passage
v.6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 45:20
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
- Matthew 26:40
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
- 1 Samuel 24:3
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
- 1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about the altar which was made.
- Matthew 25:5
Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
- Hosea 7:14
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.
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