Jonah 1:12

“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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jonah speaks to the frightened sailors aboard the vessel during a worsening storm. He issues his instruction precisely when they have asked what must be done to calm the sea.

The words — The verbs שָׂא֙וּ/נִי (sa.'U./ni, "pick up me") and וַ/הֲטִילֻ֣/נִי (va./ha.ti.Lu./ni, "and throw me") frame Jonah’s direct command to be removed from the ship and cast into the water.

The thread — Jonah’s admission of personal guilt for a storm affecting others parallels David’s confession in 2 Samuel 24:17 and 1 Chronicles 21:17, and echoes the corporate consequences of individual sin in Joshua 7:12.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that personal disobedience can trigger collective danger, requiring direct action to remove the source of the crisis rather than seeking indirect or partial solutions.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them שָׂא֙וּנִי֙sa.'U./nipick up/ me וַהֲטִילֻ֣נִיva./ha.ti.Lu./niand/ throw/ me אֶל־'el-into הַיָּ֔םhai./Yamthe/ sea וְיִשְׁתֹּ֥קve./yish.Tokso/ it may be calm הַיָּ֖םhai./Yamthe/ sea מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֑םme./'a.lei./Khemfrom/ on <the>/ you כִּ֚יkifor יוֹדֵ֣עַyo.De.a'[am] knowing אָ֔נִי'A.niI כִּ֣יkithatבְשֶׁלִּ֔יve./she./L/iby/ which/ to <the>/ meהַסַּ֧עַרha./Sa.'arthe/ storm הַגָּד֛וֹלha./ga.Dol<the>/ great הַזֶּ֖הha./Zeh<the>/ this עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃'a.lei./Khem[is] on/ you

King James Version

And 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.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 24:17 When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.”
Joshua 7:12 This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.
1 Chronicles 21:17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”
John 11:50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
Joshua 7:20 “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did:
Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Acts 27:24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’