King James Version

What Does Jonah 1:14 Mean?

Jonah 1:14 in the King James Version says “Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's...” — study this verse from Jonah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.”

Jonah 1:14 · KJV

Salvation

Context

12

And 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.

13

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. rowed: Heb. digged wrought: or, grew more and more tempestuous: Heb. went

14

Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

15

So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. ceased: Heb. stood

16

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly , and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. offered: Heb. sacrifice unto the LORD, and vowed vows

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. Having exhausted human effort (verse 13), the sailors turn to Jonah's God in desperate prayer. "They cried unto the LORD" (vayiqre'u el-YHWH, וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־יְהוָה) marks a theological turning point—these polytheists now address Yahweh specifically, not "every man unto his god" (1:5). They've recognized that Jonah's God controls this storm.

The double plea "we beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee" (anna YHWH... anna, אָנָּה יְהוָה... אָנָּה) uses the particle anna (אָנָּה), an urgent appeal meaning "please, we pray." The repetition intensifies desperation. Their first request: "let us not perish for this man's life" (al-na novdah benefesh ha'ish hazeh, אַל־נָא נֹאבְדָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה)—don't destroy us for executing this man. They fear being guilty of murder.

"Lay not upon us innocent blood" (ve'al-titten aleynu dam naqi, וְאַל־תִּתֵּן עָלֵינוּ דָּם נָקִיא) reveals their moral sensitivity. Though Jonah confessed guilt (1:12) and the lots proved divine verdict (1:7), they still fear bloodguilt. The phrase "innocent blood" (dam naqi) appears throughout Scripture regarding wrongful killing (Deuteronomy 19:10, Jeremiah 26:15). These pagans understand concepts of justice and divine retribution better than many who claim covenant relationship with God.

Their prayer concludes with theological submission: "for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee" (ki-attah YHWH ka'asher chafatzta asita, כִּי־אַתָּה יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתָּ עָשִׂיתָ). This acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty—He does whatever He wills (Psalm 115:3, 135:6). They recognize they're not victims of fate but instruments in Yahweh's purposes. This confession surpasses many believers' understanding of providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern cultures took bloodguilt seriously, believing unjust killing brought divine curse on individuals and communities (Genesis 4:10-11, 2 Samuel 21:1-14). The sailors' concern for "innocent blood" reflects universal moral law written on human hearts (Romans 2:14-15). Their prayer to Yahweh, using His covenant name (LORD/YHWH), shows they've moved from polytheistic hedging to direct address of Israel's God. This anticipates Gentile conversion throughout Scripture—Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, the Ninevites, and ultimately the church's mission to all nations.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the sailors' theological progression teach about how God draws people to Himself?
  2. How do these pagans' moral sensitivity and concern for justice challenge nominally Christian attitudes?
  3. What does their acknowledgment of God's sovereignty ("as it pleased thee") reveal about submitting to divine providence even in crisis?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ1 of 23

“Wherefore they cried”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

אֶל2 of 23
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֔ה3 of 23

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ4 of 23

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אָנָּ֤ה5 of 23

“We beseech thee”

H577

oh now!

יְהוָ֔ה6 of 23

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אַל7 of 23
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

נָ֣א8 of 23
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

נֹאבְדָ֗ה9 of 23

“we beseech thee let us not perish”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

בְּנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙10 of 23

“life”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

הָאִ֣ישׁ11 of 23

“for this man's”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הַזֶּ֔ה12 of 23
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְאַל13 of 23
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תִּתֵּ֥ן14 of 23

“and lay”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

עָלֵ֖ינוּ15 of 23
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

דָּ֣ם16 of 23

“blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

נָקִ֑יא17 of 23

“not upon us innocent”

H5355

innocent

כִּֽי18 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אַתָּ֣ה19 of 23
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

יְהוָ֔ה20 of 23

“O LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר21 of 23
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

חָפַ֖צְתָּ22 of 23

“as it pleased”

H2654

properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire

עָשִֽׂיתָ׃23 of 23

“hast done”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jonah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jonah 1:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jonah 1:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 115:3Psalms 135:6Ephesians 1:11Deuteronomy 21:8Psalms 107:28Matthew 11:26

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