And 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.
Read it in contextThe storm and the sailors
Start reading at Jonah 1:1 (Jonah 1:1 to Jonah 1:16).
Start at 1:1; the storm only makes sense alongside the call Jonah fled.
A great wind threatens the ship; Jonah is cast into the sea and the sailors fear the LORD.
1:1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
1:2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
1:3But 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.
1:4But 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.
1:5Then 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.
1:6So 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.
1:7And 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.
1:8Then 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?
1:9And 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.
1:10Then 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.
1:11Then 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.
1:12And 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.
1:13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
1:14Wherefore 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.
1:15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
1:16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Jonah son of Amittai is the traditional attribution, but the final narrator's identity is unknown. Being the prophet in the story does not by itself establish him as its writer. Biblical references: Jonah 1:1; 2 Kings 14:25. traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jonah 1:1–1:17): Jonah, the ship's captain, and the sailors are involved in the storm and Jonah's flight from the LORD's commission. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israelite readers reflecting on God's mercy and the prophet's response. Nineveh hears Jonah's warning within the story; it is not identified as the original recipient of the completed book. Biblical references: Jonah 3:4; Jonah 4:2; Jonah 4:11. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? The Great Storm. Read Jonah 1:4 through Jonah 1:10 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? Jonah's flight leads into the storm and the sailors' response, establishing the consequences of his refusal. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The narrative does not give a year for the Nineveh mission. Second Kings locates a prophet named Jonah in Jeroboam's reign, but that verse does not date every event in this book. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The narrated movement involves the call to Nineveh, departure through Joppa, the sea, the fish, Nineveh, and the place outside the city. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The storm and the sailors (Jonah 1:4 to Jonah 1:16).
Start reading at Jonah 1:1. Start at 1:1; the storm only makes sense alongside the call Jonah fled.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus explicitly compares Jonah's experience with His own coming death and speaks of Nineveh's response to Jonah. The text provides these connections without requiring an allegory for every narrative detail. See 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 12:41. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Obey God's call and examine resentment at mercy shown to others. The final question asks the reader to weigh the value of people rather than merely Jonah's comfort. interpretation
Cited: Jonah 1:4, Jonah 1:10, 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 12:41
Who wrote it, and how we know
JonahFrom early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book is written about Jonah in the third person. Kings records Jonah as a historical prophet. 2 Kings 14:25
Early traditionTradition names Jonah.
What is debatedThe book does not claim Jonah as its writer.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jonah 1
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Jonah's flight leads into the storm and the sailors' response, establishing the consequences of his refusal.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The prepared fish and Jonah's prayer lead to his release and the renewed commission.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jonah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jonah follows a prophet sent to Nineveh and records both the city's response and his resistance to mercy. The narrative identifies the fish as a great fish prepared by the LORD; other zoological details are not supplied.