King James Version

What Does Jonah 1:5 Mean?

Jonah 1:5 in the King James Version says “Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the...” — study this verse from Jonah chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Jonah 1:5 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

3

But 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.

4

But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. sent out: Heb. cast forth was like: Heb. thought to be broken

5

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.

6

So 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.

7

And 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.

Read Jonah 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
"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." The sailors' response shows genuine piety—they pray to their gods and take practical action (throwing cargo overboard). "But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep." The contrast is devastating: pagans pray earnestly while God's prophet sleeps soundly. The Hebrew phrase "fast asleep" (radam) means deep, death-like sleep. Jonah isn't accidentally napping but deliberately checking out—physical manifestation of spiritual rebellion. This teaches that religious privilege doesn't guarantee spiritual sensitivity. Covenant members can be more spiritually dead than pagans (Romans 2:17-29). Christ warned about this repeatedly (Matthew 23).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The sailors' polytheism was typical for ancient Mediterranean culture. Each god had jurisdiction over specific domains—sea gods, storm gods, etc. They'd pray to all relevant deities. Jonah's monotheism should have made him more devout, not less. Yet he's spiritually comatose while they're spiritually engaged. This irony drives home the book's message: ethnicity and covenant privilege don't automatically produce faithful hearts.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways do unbelievers sometimes display greater spiritual sensitivity than professing Christians?
  2. How does spiritual complacency manifest in physical indifference to crisis?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ1 of 22

“were afraid”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

הַמַּלָּחִ֗ים2 of 22

“Then the mariners”

H4419

a sailor (as following 'the salt')

וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֮3 of 22

“and cried”

H2199

to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly

אִ֣ישׁ4 of 22

“every man”

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)

אֶל5 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֱלֹהָיו֒6 of 22

“unto his god”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וַיָּטִ֨לוּ7 of 22

“and cast forth”

H2904

to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively) to cast down or out

אֶת8 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַכֵּלִ֜ים9 of 22

“the wares”

H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

אֲשֶׁ֤ר10 of 22
H834

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

בָּֽאֳנִיָּה֙11 of 22

“that were in the ship”

H591

a ship

אֶל12 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַיָּ֔ם13 of 22

“into the sea”

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

לְהָקֵ֖ל14 of 22

“to lighten”

H7043

to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)

מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑ם15 of 22
H5921

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

וְיוֹנָ֗ה16 of 22

“it of them But Jonah”

H3124

jonah, an israelite

יָרַד֙17 of 22

“was gone down”

H3381

to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau

אֶל18 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יַרְכְּתֵ֣י19 of 22

“into the sides”

H3411

properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recess

הַסְּפִינָ֔ה20 of 22

“of the ship”

H5600

a (sea-going) vessel (as ceiled with a deck)

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב21 of 22

“and he lay”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

וַיֵּרָדַֽם׃22 of 22

“and was fast asleep”

H7290

to stun, i.e., stupefy (with sleep or death)

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 1:5 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 1:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 2:28Acts 27:18-191 Kings 18:26Luke 22:45-46Jonah 1:6Isaiah 45:20

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