Jonah 1:8
What does Jonah 1:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Jonah 1:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jonah 1:8 means
With the lot singled out Jonah, the sailors press him for answers. Their rapid questions—about cause, occupation, origin, country, and people—aim to uncover the full truth. They want to know not only what he has done but who he is, because identity explains action. In crisis, they intuit that moral and spiritual realities lie beneath events at sea. This barrage reveals their earnestness and fairness: they seek direct testimony before judgment. It also pushes Jonah to articulate publicly the faith he has been running from, placing his confession on the deck before listening Gentiles.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then they said to him, Now make clear to us what is your work, and where you come from? what is your country, and who are your people?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they say unto him, `Declare to us, we pray thee, on what account this evil <FI>is<Fi> on us? what <FI>is<Fi> thine occupation, and whence comest thou? what <FI>is<Fi> thy country, seeing thou art not of this people?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they said to him: Tell us for what cause this evil is upon us, what is thy business? of what country art thou? and whither goest thou? or of what people art thou?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they said unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us: what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Context
The lot’s outcome raises immediate curiosity and concern. The men are not content with superstition; they want explanation and responsibility assigned rightly. Their questions pull Jonah out of silence and set the stage for a pivotal confession in the next verse. By learning Jonah’s God and people, they will better understand the nature of the storm and their next steps. What Jonah says now will deepen their fear and shape their response.
v.7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
v.8This passage
v.9And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 14:43
Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die.
- 1 Samuel 30:13
And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.
- Joshua 7:19
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
- James 5:16
Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
- Genesis 47:3
And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.
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