Jonah 1:15
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙
So they took up
H5375
וַיִּשְׂאוּ֙
So they took up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
1 of 9
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וַיְטִלֻ֖הוּ
and cast him forth
H2904
וַיְטִלֻ֖הוּ
and cast him forth
Strong's:
H2904
Word #:
4 of 9
to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively) to cast down or out
הַיָּ֖ם
and the sea
H3220
הַיָּ֖ם
and the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
6 of 9
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד
ceased
H5975
וַיַּעֲמֹ֥ד
ceased
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
7 of 9
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Cross References
Psalms 107:29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.Luke 8:24And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.Psalms 89:9Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Historical Context
Mediterranean storms could last for days. The immediate cessation the moment Jonah hit the water would have been unmistakable evidence of divine intervention—no natural explanation suffices. Ancient sailors, already religiously inclined, would have recognized this as proof of Yahweh's power. The narrative deliberately parallels Christ's storm-calming (Mark 4:35-41) and especially His substitutionary death—one man dies to bring peace to many.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jonah being "cast forth" into the sea prefigure Christ's substitutionary atonement?
- What does the sea's immediate calming reveal about God's sovereign control over creation?
- In what ways does Christ's sacrifice bring peace (calm) where sin brought storm and chaos?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. The sailors execute Jonah's instruction (1:12) with evident reluctance after prayer (1:14). "They took up Jonah" (vayis'u et-Yonah, וַיִּשְׂאוּ אֶת־יוֹנָה) uses nasa (נָשָׂא), meaning to lift, bear, or carry—the same verb used for bearing sin (Isaiah 53:4, 12). Though unintentional, the language foreshadows substitutionary atonement: one man dies so others might live.
"And cast him forth into the sea" (vayatilu el-hayam, וַיַּטִלֻהוּ אֶל־הַיָּם) uses tul (טוּל), meaning to hurl or throw—the same verb used of God hurling the wind (1:4). What God hurled against them, they now hurl into the depths. The immediate result: "and the sea ceased from her raging" (vaya'amod hayam miza'apo, וַיַּעֲמֹד הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ). The verb amad (עָמַד) means to stand still, stop, or cease. The sea's "raging" (za'apo, זַעְפּוֹ) comes from za'af (זַעַף), meaning fury, rage, or wrath.
The instantaneous calming proves supernatural causation—storms don't stop the moment someone drowns. This miracle confirms Yahweh's control and validates Jonah's explanation. It also typologically prefigures Christ calming the storm (Mark 4:39) and ultimately His substitutionary death that reconciles God's wrath: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). Jonah's casting into the sea brought temporary physical calm; Christ's death on the cross brings eternal spiritual peace.