Jonah 1:14

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיִּקְרְא֨וּ
Wherefore they cried
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
#2
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#4
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ
and said
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
אָנָּ֤ה
We beseech thee
oh now!
#6
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#7
אַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#8
נָ֣א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#9
נֹאבְדָ֗ה
H6
we beseech thee let us not perish
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
#10
בְּנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙
life
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
#11
הָאִ֣ישׁ
for this man's
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)
#12
הַזֶּ֔ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#13
וְאַל
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
#14
תִּתֵּ֥ן
and lay
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
#15
עָלֵ֖ינוּ
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#16
דָּ֣ם
blood
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
#17
נָקִ֑יא
not upon us innocent
innocent
#18
כִּֽי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#19
אַתָּ֣ה
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#20
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#21
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#22
חָפַ֖צְתָּ
as it pleased
properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire
#23
עָשִֽׂיתָ׃
hast done
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Jonah. The concept of life reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The divine name or title here functions within biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness to establish theological authority and covenantal relationship. The original language emphasizes the covenant name Yahweh, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His promises, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Jonah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes life in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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