Jonah Cast into the Sea

As the sea worsens, the sailors ask Jonah how it may be calmed. Jonah tells them to cast him overboard, acknowledging that the storm has come because of him. Even then the sailors show more moral seriousness than Jonah has shown so far, straining at the oars in an attempt to avoid shedding his blood. Their effort fails because the sea, under the LORD's command, continues to rage against them.

N¹¹ow the sea was growing worse and worse, so they said to Jonah, “What must we do to you to calm this sea for us?” 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.

The sailors finally cry out to the LORD, asking not to be held guilty for Jonah's life and confessing God's sovereign right to act as He pleases. When they cast Jonah into the sea, the storm stops immediately. The sailors respond with fear, sacrifice, and vows to the LORD, while Jonah himself is swallowed by a great fish appointed by God. The paragraph closes not with Jonah's death, but with his preservation inside a living prison prepared by divine mercy and judgment together.

¹⁴So they cried out to the LORD: “Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! For You, O LORD, have done as You pleased.” ¹⁵Then they picked up Jonah and cast him into the sea, and the raging sea grew calm. ¹⁶Then the men feared the LORD greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to Him. ¹⁷Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.