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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ
Wherefore they cried
H7121
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ
Wherefore they cried
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
1 of 23
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
7 of 23
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
נָ֣א
H4994
נָ֣א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
8 of 23
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
נֹאבְדָ֗ה
we beseech thee let us not perish
H6
נֹאבְדָ֗ה
we beseech thee let us not perish
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
9 of 23
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
בְּנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙
life
H5315
בְּנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙
life
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
10 of 23
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
הָאִ֣ישׁ
for this man's
H376
הָאִ֣ישׁ
for this man's
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
11 of 23
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
וְאַל
H408
וְאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
13 of 23
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּתֵּ֥ן
and lay
H5414
תִּתֵּ֥ן
and lay
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
14 of 23
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עָלֵ֖ינוּ
H5921
עָלֵ֖ינוּ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 23
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
דָּ֣ם
blood
H1818
דָּ֣ם
blood
Strong's:
H1818
Word #:
16 of 23
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
18 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
20 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
21 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Psalms 115:3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.Psalms 135:6Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.Deuteronomy 21:8Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.Psalms 107:28Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.Ephesians 1:11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:Matthew 11:26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.Jonah 1:16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures took bloodguilt seriously, believing unjust killing brought divine curse on individuals and communities (Genesis 4:10-11, 2 Samuel 21:1-14). The sailors' concern for "innocent blood" reflects universal moral law written on human hearts (Romans 2:14-15). Their prayer to Yahweh, using His covenant name (LORD/YHWH), shows they've moved from polytheistic hedging to direct address of Israel's God. This anticipates Gentile conversion throughout Scripture—Rahab, Ruth, Naaman, the Ninevites, and ultimately the church's mission to all nations.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the sailors' theological progression teach about how God draws people to Himself?
- How do these pagans' moral sensitivity and concern for justice challenge nominally Christian attitudes?
- What does their acknowledgment of God's sovereignty ("as it pleased thee") reveal about submitting to divine providence even in crisis?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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. Having exhausted human effort (verse 13), the sailors turn to Jonah's God in desperate prayer. "They cried unto the LORD" (vayiqre'u el-YHWH, וַיִּקְרְאוּ אֶל־יְהוָה) marks a theological turning point—these polytheists now address Yahweh specifically, not "every man unto his god" (1:5). They've recognized that Jonah's God controls this storm.
The double plea "we beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee" (anna YHWH... anna, אָנָּה יְהוָה... אָנָּה) uses the particle anna (אָנָּה), an urgent appeal meaning "please, we pray." The repetition intensifies desperation. Their first request: "let us not perish for this man's life" (al-na novdah benefesh ha'ish hazeh, אַל־נָא נֹאבְדָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה)—don't destroy us for executing this man. They fear being guilty of murder.
"Lay not upon us innocent blood" (ve'al-titten aleynu dam naqi, וְאַל־תִּתֵּן עָלֵינוּ דָּם נָקִיא) reveals their moral sensitivity. Though Jonah confessed guilt (1:12) and the lots proved divine verdict (1:7), they still fear bloodguilt. The phrase "innocent blood" (dam naqi) appears throughout Scripture regarding wrongful killing (Deuteronomy 19:10, Jeremiah 26:15). These pagans understand concepts of justice and divine retribution better than many who claim covenant relationship with God.
Their prayer concludes with theological submission: "for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee" (ki-attah YHWH ka'asher chafatzta asita, כִּי־אַתָּה יְהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתָּ עָשִׂיתָ). This acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty—He does whatever He wills (Psalm 115:3, 135:6). They recognize they're not victims of fate but instruments in Yahweh's purposes. This confession surpasses many believers' understanding of providence.