The big picture
Jonah 1 opens in verse 1 with “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD , the God of heaven, which…”, and closes in verse 17 with “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Jonah, ship, presence, Tarshish. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jonah · King James Version · 17Jonah 1:1-6
1–6: The word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jonah 1:1–6 opens with “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,” and reaches “So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jonah moving toward the ship at Joppa to flee in the opposite direction from Nineveh; Sailors struggling in the storm, casting lots, questioning Jonah, and reluctantly throwing him overboard, with particular weight carried by LORD, ship, Jonah.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,” Naming Amittai and Jonah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” Naming Arise and Nineveh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jonah 1:1-6
King James Version1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD , and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD .
4But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
5Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
6So 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.
Jonah 1:7-12
7–12: They said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we…
Jonah 1:7–12 opens with “And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose…” and reaches “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jonah moving toward the ship at Joppa to flee in the opposite direction from Nineveh; Sailors struggling in the storm, casting lots, questioning Jonah, and reluctantly throwing him overboard, with particular weight carried by calm, cause, evil.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jonah 1:7-12
King James Version7And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
8Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD , the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
10Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD , because he had told them.
11Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Jonah 1:13-17
13–17: Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could…
Jonah 1:13–17 opens with “Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea…” and reaches “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jonah moving toward the ship at Joppa to flee in the opposite direction from Nineveh; Sailors struggling in the storm, casting lots, questioning Jonah, and reluctantly throwing him overboard, with particular weight carried by LORD, Jonah, beseech.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous…” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jonah 1:13-17
King James Version13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
14Wherefore 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.
15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD , and made vows.
17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jonah 1:1 begins with “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,”
Where the chapter turns
Jonah 1:8 forms a natural hinge: “Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy…”
The final note
Jonah 1:17 leaves the reader with “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Jonah, ship, presence, Tarshish, afraid help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.