King James Version

What Does Jonah 1:5 Mean?

“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.”

Context

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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Topics in This Verse

Fear & Courage

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **And cried every man unto his god.**—If Phœnicians, the sailors would have their favourite deities in the national Pantheon; but they may have been a motley crew composed of various nationalities. For the panic comp. Psalm 107:23-30, and Shakespeare’s *Tempest,* “All lost! to prayers! to prayers, all lost!” **Wares.**—The Hebrew word is of general import for furniture of any kind, and so including all the movables in the ship. The cargo would probably, as in the case of St. Paul’s shipwreck, be reserved till the last extremity. **To lighten it of them.—**This gives the sense, though the Hebrew idiom appears to mean, *to give themselves relief.* (Comp. Exodus 18:22, “So shall it be easier for thyself;” 1Kings 12:10, “Make thou it lighter unto us.”) **Sides.—**Rather, *recesses.* The word is used of the inner part of the Temple (1Kings 6:16), of a cave (1Samuel 24:3), of a dwelling-house (Psalm 128:3). **Ship.**—The Hebrew is different from the word used earlier in the verse, and is peculiar to this passage. Its derivation from a root meaning “to cover with boards,” indicates a *decked* vessel. Jonah had gone below into the cabin, the natural course for a man flying from a disagreeable duty. To stand on deck and watch the slow receding shore would have been mental torture. **And was fast asleep.—**The fatigue of the hasty flight to the sea-shore accounts for this deep slumber. The same expression is used of Sisera (Judges 4:21). Besides, when a resolution is once irrevocably (as we think) taken, conscience ceases to disturb with its wakeful warning, and the restlessness of remorse has not yet arrived. There is a brief time during which “the exile from himself can flee.”

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

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.