Jonah 1:10
Then 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽירְא֤וּ
afraid
H3372
וַיִּֽירְא֤וּ
afraid
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
1 of 20
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים
Then were the men
H582
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים
Then were the men
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
2 of 20
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
גְדוֹלָ֔ה
exceedingly
H1419
גְדוֹלָ֔ה
exceedingly
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
4 of 20
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
עָשִׂ֑יתָ
unto him Why hast thou done
H6213
עָשִׂ֑יתָ
unto him Why hast thou done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
9 of 20
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָדְע֣וּ
knew
H3045
יָדְע֣וּ
knew
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
11 of 20
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים
Then were the men
H582
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים
Then were the men
Strong's:
H582
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
13 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מִלִּפְנֵ֤י
from the presence
H6440
מִלִּפְנֵ֤י
from the presence
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
14 of 20
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
ה֣וּא
H1931
ה֣וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
16 of 20
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
18 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Cross References
Jonah 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.Job 27:22For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
Historical Context
Ancient sailors were religiously devout, knowing their survival depended on divine favor. They'd pray to multiple gods, perform rituals, and avoid angering deities. Jonah's revelation that he was fleeing the Creator-God terrified them—they were caught between the sea and an angry deity who controlled it. Their subsequent reluctance to throw Jonah overboard (v. 13) despite his guilt shows remarkable moral character. These pagans display greater righteousness than God's prophet.
Questions for Reflection
- How does your sin affect those around you, not just yourself?
- What does it mean that fleeing God is both impossible and dangerous?
- How do unbelievers sometimes demonstrate greater moral sensitivity than professing Christians?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The sailors' response: "Then 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." The phrase "exceedingly afraid" (yir'u yir'ah gedolah) literally means "feared a great fear"—Hebrew superlative indicating terror. These pagan sailors understood immediately: you don't flee from the universal Creator-God who made sea and land. Their question "Why hast thou done this?" expresses shock at Jonah's folly. Fleeing God is irrational, impossible, and dangerous to everyone nearby. Psalm 139:7-12 elaborates: there is no escaping God's presence. The sailors grasped what Jonah ignored: rebellion against this God endangers not just the rebel but everyone around him. Sin's corporate consequences appear throughout Scripture (Achan—Joshua 7; Ananias and Sapphira—Acts 5). Individual rebellion affects communities.