Jonah 1:13

Verse

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

American Standard Version (1901)

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Bible in Basic English

And the men were working hard to get back to the land, but they were not able to do so: for the sea got rougher and rougher against them.

Free Bible Version

Instead the sailors tried to row to get back to the shore, but they couldn't because the sea had become so wild from the worsening storm.

Geneva Bible 1599

Neuerthelesse, the men rowed to bring it to the lande, but they coulde not: for the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.

King James (Authorized) Version

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

Translation for Translators

But the sailors did not want to do that. Instead, they tried hard to row the ship back to the land. But they could not do that, because the storm continued to get worse.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get them back to the land, but they could not do it because the sea was becoming more and more violent against them.

Noah Webster Bible

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

World English Bible

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.

Young's Literal Translation

And the men row to turn back unto the dry land, and are not able, for the sea is more and more tempestuous against them.

Context

Jonah Cast into the Sea

¹²“Pick me up,” he answered, “and cast me into the sea, so it may quiet down for you. For I know that I am to blame for this violent storm that has come upon you.” ¹³Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

Summary

In Jonah 1:13, the sailors, in a desperate attempt to save themselves from the storm sent by God, try to row back to land but fail. Despite their efforts, the situation only worsens, leading them to cry out to the Lord for help. This verse highlights the futility of human strength and the need to turn to God in times of trouble. It sets the stage for the miraculous intervention that follows, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nature and His willingness to rescue those who call upon Him.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The men rowed hard - Were very unwilling to proceed to this extremity, and thought they would risk every thing rather than cast this disobedient prophet into the great deep.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

But the men (the seamen) do not venture to carry out this sentence at once. They try once more to reach the land and escape from the storm, which is threatening them with destruction, without so serious a sacrifice. יחתּרוּ, lit., they broke through, sc. through the waves, to bring (the ship) back to the land, i.e., they tried to reach the land by rowing and steering. Châthar does not mean to row, still less to twist or turn round (Hitzig), but to break through; here to break through the waves, to try to overcome them, to which the παρεβιάζοντο of the lxx points. As they could not accomplish this, however, because the sea continued to rage against them (סער עליהם, was raging against them), they prayed thus to Jehovah: "We beseech Thee, let us not (אנּא = אל־נא) perish for the sake of the soul of this man (בּנפשׁ, lit., for the soul, as in Sa2 14:7 after Deu 19:21), and lay not upon us innocent blood," - that is to say, not "do not let us destroy an innocent man in the person of this man" (Hitzig), but, according to Deu 21:8, "do not impute his death to us, if we cast him into the sea, as bloodguiltiness deserving death;" "for Thou, O Jehovah, hast done as it pleased Thee," - namely, inasmuch as, by sending the storm and determining the lot, Thou hast so ordained that we must cast him into the sea as guilty, in order to expiate Thy wrath. They offer this prayer, not because they have no true conception of the guilt of Jonah, who is not a murderer or blasphemer, inasmuch as according to their notions, he is not a sinner deserving death (Hitzig), but because they regard Jonah as a prophet or servant of the Almighty God, upon whom, from fear of his God, they do not venture to lay their hand. "We see, therefore, that although they had never enjoyed the teaching of the law, they had been so taught by nature, that they knew very well that the blood of man was dear to God, and precious in His sight" (Calvin).

Jonah 1:13

Jonah Cast into the Sea

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

American Standard Version (1901)

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Bible in Basic English

And the men were working hard to get back to the land, but they were not able to do so: for the sea got rougher and rougher against them.

Free Bible Version

Instead the sailors tried to row to get back to the shore, but they couldn't because the sea had become so wild from the worsening storm.

Geneva Bible 1599

Neuerthelesse, the men rowed to bring it to the lande, but they coulde not: for the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.

King James (Authorized) Version

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

Translation for Translators

But the sailors did not want to do that. Instead, they tried hard to row the ship back to the land. But they could not do that, because the storm continued to get worse.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get them back to the land, but they could not do it because the sea was becoming more and more violent against them.

Noah Webster Bible

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

World English Bible

Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.

Young's Literal Translation

And the men row to turn back unto the dry land, and are not able, for the sea is more and more tempestuous against them.

Adam Clarke
Keil-Delitzsch
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

The men rowed hard - Were very unwilling to proceed to this extremity, and thought they would risk every thing rather than cast this disobedient prophet into the great deep.

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jonah 1:13

Verse

Context

Jonah Cast into the Sea

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Jonah 1:13

Jonah Cast into the Sea

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes