Jonah
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Jonah 1
Jonah 1
1Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and 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 Jehovah.
3But 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.
Commentary · verse 3
Jonah ran from the presence of Jehovah by taking a ship to Tarshish. Was Jonah afraid of the Ninevites? Did he really think he could run away from God?
4But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
4But 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.
Commentary · verse 4
God caused a mighty tempest (storm, whirlwind) in the sea so strong that the ship was likely to be broken. God had complete control over inanimate objects, the weather, and animals. Here, God took control over the weather, and possibly the ship in making sure it did not break.
5Then 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.
5Then 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.
Commentary · verse 5
Jonah was asleep in the bottom of the ship during the storm. Perhaps Jonah was more comfortable losing his life than speaking against the Ninevites.
6So 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.
6So 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.
Commentary · verse 6
The sailors wanted Jonah to join them in praying to his God to save the men from death.
7And 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.
7And 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.
Commentary · verse 7
The men on ship "cast lots" to find out who caused the tempest. They knew that a person was the cause of this storm. The lot fell on Jonah.
8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Commentary · verse 8
The sailors did not immediately judge Jonah, they asked Jonah a series of questions. They wanted to know who he was and where he came from.
9And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land.
9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
Commentary · verse 9
Jonah answered all their questions except "for whose cause this evil is upon us."
10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah, because he had told them.
10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Commentary · verse 10
The men knew Jonah was running from Jehovah and asked why he was running.
11Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
12And 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.
11Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
12And 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.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Jonah confessed that he was the cause of the storm and suggested they throw him overboard. Again, Jonah appeared to be more comfortable dying than facing the Ninevites.
13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.
13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Commentary · verse 13
The men first tried to get to shore in their own power. The storm grew. Since we know the storm was from God, it was possible that God caused the storm to increase.
14Wherefore they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We beseech thee, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Jehovah, hast done as it pleased thee.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.
14Wherefore 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.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Commentary · verses 14-15
Jonah prayed and the men threw him overboard, and the storm ceased.
16Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows.
16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Commentary · verse 16
The storm stopped after Jonah was thrown out. This built the faith of the men to the point they made vows to Jonah's God.
17And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Commentary · verse 17
God prepared a fish to swallow Jonah. God had complete control over animals. This passage did not say "whale." Jonah was there three days and three nights. Jesus referenced this verse when He prophesied of His death and resurrection (Matthew 12:39-41). Notice, Jonah was in the belly of the fish three nights. Actually, contrary to man-made tradition, Jesus was also in the belly of the earth for three nights.
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh because their wickedness had come up before God. The angels had said the same thing about Sodom ("the cry of them has waxed great before Jehovah...") in Genesis 19:13. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. Notice, God told Jonah to cry against Nineveh. God was giving Nineveh a warning before He would judge them, even though they were a heathen nation.