Jonah 1:5

3 Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard to sail for Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

4 Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.

The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

6 The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

7 “Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
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.
WEB
Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship and he was laying down, and was fast asleep.
ASV
Then 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.
DARBY
And the mariners were afraid, and cried every one unto his god; 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.
BLB
And the sailors were afraid, and each man cried out to his god. And they threw the articles that [were] in the ship into the sea to lighten it from them. And Jonah had gone down into the recesses of the ship, and he had lain down and was deeply asleep.
ÅB
Da ble skipsfolkene redde og ropte hver til sin gud, og de kastet de ting som var i skipet, ut i havet for å lette skipet. Men Jonas var steget ned i skipets nederste rom og lå i fast søvn.
OTB
Sjømennene ble redde og ropte hver til sin egen gud. De kastet lasten i havet for å lette skipet. I mellomtiden hadde Jona gått ned i skipets akter, hvor han la seg ned og falt i dyp søvn.
B1930
Da blev skibsfolkene redde og ropte hver til sin gud, og de kastet de ting som var i skibet, ut i havet for å lette skibet. Men Jonas var steget ned i skibets nederste rum og lå i fast søvn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 2:28

    But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.

    Read in context
  • Acts 27:18–19

    We were tossed so violently that the next day the men began to jettison the cargo.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 18:26

    And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made.

    Read in context
  • Judges 16:19

    And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.

    Read in context
  • Luke 22:45–46

    When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 45:20

    Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.

    Read in context
  • Jonah 1:6

    The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

    Read in context
  • Matthew 26:43

    And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.

    Read in context