Jonah 1:6
So 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקְרַ֤ב
came
H7126
וַיִּקְרַ֤ב
came
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
1 of 19
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
רַ֣ב
So the shipmaster
H7227
רַ֣ב
So the shipmaster
Strong's:
H7227
Word #:
3 of 19
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
נִרְדָּ֑ם
unto him What meanest thou O sleeper
H7290
נִרְדָּ֑ם
unto him What meanest thou O sleeper
Strong's:
H7290
Word #:
9 of 19
to stun, i.e., stupefy (with sleep or death)
ק֚וּם
arise
H6965
ק֚וּם
arise
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
10 of 19
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
קְרָ֣א
call
H7121
קְרָ֣א
call
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
11 of 19
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים
if so be that God
H430
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים
if so be that God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
13 of 19
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת
will think
H6245
יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת
will think
Strong's:
H6245
Word #:
15 of 19
probably to be sleek, i.e., glossy; hence (through the idea of polishing) to excogitate (as if forming in the mind)
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים
if so be that God
H430
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים
if so be that God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
16 of 19
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
Cross References
Jonah 3:9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?2 Samuel 12:22And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?Amos 5:15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.Acts 21:13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.Ephesians 5:14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Historical Context
Ancient sailors, facing death, would exhaust all religious options. The captain's instruction to Jonah assumes that more gods prayed to increases survival chances. He doesn't yet know Jonah's God is the only true God or that Jonah is fleeing Him. The scene's irony would have shocked Jewish readers—their prophet worse than pagans. It still shocks: how often do nominal Christians show less spiritual concern than secular people show ethical concern?
Questions for Reflection
- When have unbelievers had to rebuke you for spiritual indifference or hypocrisy?
- What does it mean that pagans sometimes display greater concern for others than professing believers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"So 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." The pagan captain rebukes God's prophet—stunning role reversal. The question "What meanest thou, O sleeper?" expresses shock at Jonah's indifference. The command "arise, call upon thy God" assumes Jonah has special access to deity. The phrase "if so be that God will think upon us" (Hebrew 'ulay yit'asheth ha-'Elohim lanu) means "perhaps God will give us a thought"—desperate hope that Jonah's God might intervene. The irony is rich: pagans recognize the need for prayer; God's prophet must be commanded to pray. This teaches that external religion without internal devotion is worthless. Jesus condemned such hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27-28).