Jonas Flees the Lord

Jonah 1

The Lord sends Jonas to preach against the great city of Nineve, but Jonas boards a ship for Tharsis to flee from the Lord's presence. The Lord sends a violent storm, and when the sailors learn by lot that Jonas is the cause, they cast him into the sea at his own bidding, whereupon the sea grows calm and the sailors fear the Lord and offer him sacrifice.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonA WORD of the Lord came to Jonas the son of Amathi, saying,

BrentonNow the word of the Lord came to Jonas the son of Amathi, saying,

GreekΚΑΙ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἰωνᾶν τὸν τοῦ Ἀμαθὶ, λέγων,

KJVNow the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

JPSNow the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying:

ThomsonArise and go to Ninive, that great city, and proclaim in it that the cry of its wickedness is come up to Me.

BrentonRise, and go to Nineve, the great city, and preach in it; for the cry of its wickedness is come up to me.

Greekἀνάστηθι, καὶ πορεύθητι εἰς Νινευὴ τὴν πόλιν τὴν μεγάλην, καὶ κήρυξον ἐν αὐτῇ, ὅτι ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς κακίας αὐτῆς πρὸς μέ.

KJVArise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

JPS’Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me.’

Thomson[But] Jonas arose to flee to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and finding a ship bound to Tharsis, he paid his fare and went on board with a design to sail with them to Tharsis, from the presence of the Lord.

BrentonBut Jonas rose up to flee to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord. And he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tharsis: and he paid his fare, and went up into it, to sail with them to Tharsis from the presence of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστη Ἰωνᾶς τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου Κυρίου· καὶ κατέβη εἰς Ἰόππην, καὶ εὗρε πλοῖον βαδίζον εἰς Θαρσὶς, καὶ ἔδωκε τὸ ναῦλον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀνέβη εἰς αὐτὸ, τοῦ πλεῦσαι μετʼ αὐτῶν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου Κυρίου.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa, and 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.

ThomsonBut the Lord raised a wind on the sea, and there was a great tempest in the sea, so that the ship was in danger of foundering.

BrentonAnd the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.

GreekΚαὶ Κύριος ἐξήγειρε πνεῦμα ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευε τοῦ συντριβῆναι.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut the LORD hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

ThomsonAnd the mariners were terrified, and cried every one to his god, and threw overboard some of the cargo, to lighten the vessel. Now Jonas had gone down into the ship’s hold, and was asleep and snoring.

BrentonAnd the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.

GreekΚαὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναυτικοὶ, καὶ ἀνεβόησαν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπʼ αὐτῶν· Ἰωνᾶς δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου, καὶ ἐκάθευδε, καὶ ἔρεγχε.

KJVThen 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.

JPSAnd the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

ThomsonAnd the master of the ship came to him and said to him, What! art thou snoring? Arise and call on thy God, that thy God may save us, and that we may not perish.

BrentonAnd the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snorest thou? arise, and call upon thy God, that God may save us, and we perish not.

GreekΚαὶ προσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, τί σὺ ῥέγχεις; ἀνάστα, καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν Θεόν σου, ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα.

KJVSo 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.

JPSSo the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him: ‘What meanest thou that thou sleepest? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.’

ThomsonThen they said, one to another, Come let us cast lots and know on whose account this calamity is come on us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonas.

BrentonAnd each man said to his neighbour, Come, let us cast lots, and find out for whose sake this mischief is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonas.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ, δεῦτε βάλωμεν κλήρους, καὶ ἐπιγνῶμεν, τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡ κακία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν· καὶ ἔβαλον κλήρους, καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Ἰωνᾶν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.

ThomsonWhereupon they said to him, Tell us. What is thy business? And whence comest thou? And of what country, and of what people art thou?

BrentonAnd they said to him, Tell us what is thine occupation, and whence comest thou, and of what country and what people art thou?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀπάγγειλον ἡμῖν, τίς σου ἡ ἐργασία ἐστὶ, καὶ πόθεν ἔρχῃ, καὶ ἐκ ποίας χώρας, καὶ ἐκ ποίου λαοῦ εἶ σύ;

KJVThen 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?

JPSThen 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?’

ThomsonAnd he said to them, I am a servant of the Lord; and I worship the Lord God of heaven, Who made the sea and the dry land.

BrentonAnd he said to them, I am a servant of the Lord; and I worship the Lord God of heaven, who made the sea, and the dry land.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, δοῦλος Κυρίου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ, καὶ τὸν Κύριον Θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐγὼ σέβομαι, ὃς ἐποίησε τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν ξηράν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd he said unto them: ‘I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land.’

ThomsonUpon this the men were greatly terrified and said to him, Why hast thou done this? (For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, for he had told them.)

BrentonThen the men feared exceedingly, and said to him, What is this that thou hast done? for the men knew that he was fleeing from the face of the Lord, because he had told them.

GreekΚαὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβον μέγαν, καὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτὸν, τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; διότι ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄνδρες ὅτι ἐκ προσώπου Κυρίου ἦν φεύγων, ὅτι ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς·

KJVThen 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.

JPSThen were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him: ‘What is this that thou hast done?’ For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

ThomsonThen they said to him, What shall we do to thee that the sea may be calmed for us? For the sea rolled and grew more and more tempestuous.

BrentonAnd they said to him, What shall we do to thee, that the sea may be calm to us? for the sea rose, and lifted its wave exceedingly.

Greekκαὶ εἶπον πρὸς αὐτὸν, τί ποιήσομέν σοι, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφʼ ἡμῶν; ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρε μᾶλλον κλύδωνα.

KJVThen 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.

JPSThen said they unto him: ‘What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us?’ for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.

ThomsonAnd Jonas said to them, Take me up and throw me into the sea, and the sea will be calm for you; for I know that on my account this great tempest is come upon you.

BrentonAnd Jonas said to them, Take me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea shall be calm to you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰωνᾶς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἄρατέ με, καὶ ἐμβάλετέ με εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφʼ ὑμῶν· διότι ἔγνωκα ἐγὼ, ὅτι διʼ ἐμὲ ὁ κλύδων ὁ μέγας οὗτος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς ἐστι.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd 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.’

ThomsonWhen the men had laboured hard to reach land, but could not because the sea ran high, and grew more tempestuous against them,

BrentonAnd the men tried hard to return to the land, and were not able: for the sea rose and grew more and more tempestuous against them.

GreekΚαὶ παρεβιάζοντο οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς τὴν γῆν, καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο, ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο, καὶ ἐξηγείρετο μᾶλλον ἐπʼ αὐτούς.

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

JPSNevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Thomsonthen they cried to the Lord and said, Forbid it, O Lord, that we perish, for the life of this man, and bring not upon us innocent blood; for Thou, O Lord, has done according to Thy pleasure.

BrentonAnd they cried to the Lord, and said, Forbid it, Lord: let us not perish for the sake of this man's life, and bring not righteous blood upon us: for thou, Lord, hast done as thou wouldest.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνεβόησαν πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ εἶπαν, μηδαμῶς Κύριε· μὴ ἀπολώμεθα ἕνεκεν τῆς ψυχῆς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου, καὶ μὴ δῷς ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς αἷμα δίκαιον, διότι σὺ Κύριε, ὃν τρόπον ἐβούλου, πεποίηκας.

KJVWherefore 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.

JPSWherefore 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.’

ThomsonThen they took Jonas and cast him into the sea. Whereupon from raging the sea became still.

BrentonSo they took Jonas, and cast him out into the sea: and the sea ceased from its raging.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβον τὸν Ἰωνᾶν, καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ἐκ τοῦ σάλου αὐτῆς.

KJVSo they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

JPSSo they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.

ThomsonAnd the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

BrentonAnd the men feared the Lord very greatly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord, and vowed vows.

GreekΚαὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβῳ μεγάλῳ τὸν Κύριον, καὶ ἔθυσαν θυσίαν τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ ηὔξαντο τὰς εὐχάς.

KJVThen the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

JPSThen the men feared the LORD exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.