Jonah 1 · Verse 5

Jonah 1:5

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.
Jonah 1:5, King James Version

Jonah 1:5 in other translations

BSBThe 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.
WEBThen 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.
ASVThen 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.
YLTand the mariners are afraid, and cry each unto his god, and cast the goods that are in the ship into the sea, to make it light of them; and Jonah hath gone down unto the sides of the vessel, and he lieth down, and is fast asleep.
DARBYAnd the mariners were afraid, and cried every one unto hisgod; 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.
BBEThen the sailors were full of fear, every man crying to his god; and the goods in the ship were dropped out into the sea to make the weight less. But Jonah had gone down into the inmost part of the ship where he was stretched out in a deep sleep.
WebsterThen the mariners were afraid, and cried every man to his god, and cast the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah had gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

What does Jonah 1:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. mariners were afraid--though used to storms; the danger therefore must have been extreme. cried every man unto his god--The idols proved unable to save them, though each, according to Phoenician custom, called on his tutelary god. But Jehovah proved able: and the heathen sailors owned it in the end by sacrificing to Him (Jon 1:16). into the sides--that is, the interior recesses (compare 1Sa 24:3; Is 14:13, 15). Those conscious of guilt shrink from the presence of their fellow man into concealment. fast asleep--Sleep is no necessary proof of innocence; it may be the fruit of carnal security and a seared conscience. How different was Jesus' sleep on the Sea of Galilee! (Mr 4:37-39). Guilty Jonah's indifference to fear contrasts with the unoffending mariners' alarm. The original therefore is in the nominative absolute: "But as for Jonah, he," &c. Compare spiritually, Ep 5:14.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Cried every man unto his god - The ship's crew were all heathens; and, it is probable, heathens who had each a different object of religious worship. Cast forth the wares - Threw the lading overboard to lighten the ship, hoping the better to ride out the storm. Jonah was gone down - Most probably into the hold or cabin under the deck; or where they had berths for passengers in the sides of the ship, something in the manner of our packets. Was fast asleep - Probably quite exhausted and overcome with distress, which in many cases terminates in a deep sleep. So the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jonah 1:4-7

God sent a pursuer after Jonah, even a mighty tempest. Sin brings storms and tempests into the soul, into the family, into churches and nations; it is a disquieting, disturbing thing. Having called upon their gods for help, the sailors did what they could to help themselves. Oh that men would be thus wise for their souls, and would be willing to part with that wealth, pleasure, and honour, which they cannot keep…

Read the full comment on Jonah 1:4-7 →

Jonah 1:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּֽירְא֣וּvai.yi.re.'Uand they were afraidH3372
הַמַּלָּחִ֗יםha.ma.la.Chimthe sailorsH4419
וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֮vai.yiz.'a.Kuand they cried for helpH2199
אִ֣ישׁ'isheveryoneH376
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֱלֹהָיו֒'e.lo.Havgods hisH430
וַיָּטִ֨לוּvai.ya.Ti.luand they threwH2904
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַכֵּלִ֜יםha.ke.Limthe vesselsH3627
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhichH834
בָּֽאֳנִיָּה֙bo.'o.ni.Yah[were] in the shipH591
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הַיָּ֔םhai.Yamthe seaH3220
לְהָקֵ֖לle.ha.Kelto lightenH7043
מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֑םme.'a.lei.Hemfrom on <the> themH5921
וְיוֹנָ֗הve.yo.Nahand JonahH3124
יָרַד֙ya.Radhe had gone downH3381
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
יַרְכְּתֵ֣יyar.ke.Tei[the] innermost parts ofH3411
הַסְּפִינָ֔הha.se.fi.Nahthe shipH5600
וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖בvai.yish.Kavand he had lain downH7901
וַיֵּרָדַֽם\׃vai.ye.ra.Damand he had fallen fast asleepH7290

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jonah 1:5

  • Jeremiah 2:28

    But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

  • Acts 27:18-19

    And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

  • 1 Kings 18:26

    And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

  • Judges 16:19

    And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

  • Luke 22:45-46

    And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

  • Isaiah 45:20

    Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

  • Jonah 1:6

    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.

  • Matthew 26:43

    And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

  • Jonah 1:16

    Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.

  • Jonah 1:14

    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.

  • Matthew 26:40-41

    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

  • Isaiah 44:17-20

    And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cried.
6,14,16; 1Ki 18:26; Isa 44:17-20; 45:20; Jer 2:28; Ho 7:14
and cast.
Job 2:4; Ac 27:18,19,38; Php 3:7,8
the sides.
1Sa 24:3
and was.
Jud 16:19; Mt 25:5; 26:40,41,43,45; Lu 22:45,46

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jonah 1:4

    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.

  • Jonah 1:5

    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.

  • Jonah 1:6

    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.

Read all of Jonah 1

Jonah 1:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los marineros tuvieron miedo, y cada uno llamaba á su dios: y echaron á la mar los enseres que había en la nave, para descargarla de ellos. Jonás empero se había bajado á los lados del buque, y se había echado á dormir.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les marins eurent peur et crièrent chacun à son dieu; et ils jetèrent dans la mer les objets qui étaient dans le navire, pour l’en alléger. Et Jonas était descendu au fond du vaisseau et s’était couché, et dormait profondément.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Seeleute fürchteten sich und schrieen, ein jeder zu seinem Gott; und sie warfen die Geräte, welche im Schiffe waren, ins Meer, um sich zu erleichtern. Jona aber war in den unteren Schiffsraum hinabgestiegen, und hatte sich hingelegt und war in tiefen Schlaf gesunken.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et timuerunt nautæ, et clamaverunt viri ad deum suum, et miserunt vasa quæ erant in navi, in mare, ut alleviaretur ab eis; et Jonas descendit ad interiora navis, et dormiebat sopore gravi.