Bible Strands
Jonah 1:7
“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The sailors address one another during a violent storm, deciding to use divination to identify the cause of their distress. This occurs immediately after the ship’s captain urges Jonah to pray to his deity.
The words — The phrase לְכוּ וְ/נַפִּילָה גֽוֹרָלוֹת (le.Khu ve./na.Pi.lah go.ra.Lot) translates literally to "come and let us cast lots." The subsequent clause וְ/נֵדְעָה (ve./Ne.de.'Ah) means "so we may know."
The thread — Proverbs 16:33 observes that the lot is cast into the lap but its decision comes from the LORD. Joshua 7:13 commands the people to consecrate themselves and remove devoted things, while Numbers 32:23 warns that neglecting a specific duty will cause their sin to find them out.
Why it lands — The text records a pagan crew using a randomizing method to isolate a single individual as the source of collective judgment. It requires the reader to recognize that human attempts to control or diagnose divine action operate under the same sovereign boundary as all other events.
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
King James Version
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 us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
- Joshua 7:13 Get up and consecrate the people, saying, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Among you, O Israel, there are things devoted to destruction. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.
- Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.
- Joshua 7:10 But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
- 1 Samuel 10:20 Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.
- 1 Samuel 14:41 So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.
- Acts 13:19 And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.
- Psalms 22:18 They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
- Isaiah 41:6 Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
- Matthew 27:35 When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.