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."

◄ Jonah 1:12 ►

New International Version
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

New Living Translation
“Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”

English Standard Version
He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

Berean Standard Bible
“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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”

New American Standard Bible
And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”

NASB 1995
He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”

NASB 1977
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So he said to them, “Lift me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become quiet for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”

Amplified Bible
Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.”

Christian Standard Bible
He answered them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so that it will calm down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this great storm that is against you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He answered them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea so it may quiet down for you, for I know that I’m to blame for this violent storm that is against you.”

American Standard 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.

Contemporary English Version
Jonah told them, "Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I'm the cause of this terrible storm."

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He told them, "Throw me overboard. Then the sea will become calm. I know that I'm responsible for this violent storm."

Good News Translation
Jonah answered, "Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I know it is my fault that you are caught in this violent storm."

International Standard Version
Jonah told them, "Pick me up and toss me into the sea. Then the sea will calm down for you, because I know that it's my fault that this mighty storm has come upon you."

Majority Standard Bible
?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.?

NET Bible
He said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea to make the sea quiet down, because I know it's my fault you are in this severe storm."

New Heart English Bible
He said to them, "Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, Take me, and cast me into the sea; so shall the sea be calm to you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

World English Bible
He said to them, “Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he says to them, “Lift me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea ceases from you; for I know that on my account this great storm [is] on you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto them, 'Lift me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea doth cease from you; for I know that on my account this great tempest is upon you.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to them, Lift me up and cast me down to the sea, and the sea will subside from you: For I shall know on my account this great storm is upon you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he 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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them, “Take me, and cast me into the sea, and the sea will cease for you. For I know that it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”

New American Bible
Jonah responded, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea and then the sea will calm down for you. For I know that this great storm has come upon you because of me.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Jonah said to them, Take me up and cast me into the sea, so that the sea may be calm to you; for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Yonan said to them: ‘pick me up and throw me into the sea, and the sea will be still for you, for I know that this great storm was upon you because of me!’

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jonah Cast Into the Sea and Swallowed
11Now 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 4:39-41
Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. / “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” / Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Luke 11:30
For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

Romans 5:7-8
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. / But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

Acts 27:22-25
But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because you will not experience any loss of life, but only of the ship. / For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me / 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.’ ...

Matthew 8:24-27
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” / “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. ...

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Hebrews 9:28
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

Isaiah 53:5
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 107:28-30
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. / He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed. / They rejoiced in the silence, and He guided them to the harbor they desired.

Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

Exodus 32:32
Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

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.”

Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm to you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is on you.

Take.

2 Samuel 24:17
And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

John 11:50
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

for.

Joshua 7:12,20,21
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you…

1 Chronicles 21:17
And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

Ecclesiastes 9:18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

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Jonah 1

1. Jonah, sent to Nineveh, flees to Tarshish.
4. He is betrayed by a great storm;
11. thrown into the sea;
17. and swallowed by a fish.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

“Pick me up,” he answered,
Jonah's response to the sailors' predicament is significant. His willingness to be "picked up" indicates a moment of self-sacrifice and acceptance of responsibility. This phrase reflects Jonah's acknowledgment of his role in the storm and his readiness to face the consequences. It parallels the concept of substitutionary atonement found in the New Testament, where Jesus willingly offers Himself for the sake of others.

“and cast me into the sea,”
Jonah's instruction to be thrown into the sea is a dramatic act of surrender. The sea, often seen as a symbol of chaos and judgment in biblical literature, represents the depths of Jonah's disobedience and the severity of God's discipline. This act foreshadows the death and burial of Christ, who was also "cast" into the depths of death for the salvation of humanity.

“so it may quiet down for you.”
Jonah's statement reveals his understanding that his actions have brought calamity upon the sailors. The calming of the sea upon Jonah's removal is reminiscent of Jesus calming the storm in the Gospels, demonstrating divine authority over nature. It also highlights the theme of peace and restoration that comes through obedience and repentance.

“For I know that I am to blame”
Jonah's confession is a pivotal moment of self-awareness and repentance. Acknowledging personal responsibility is a key biblical principle, seen throughout Scripture in figures like David and Peter. This admission is crucial for reconciliation with God and others, emphasizing the importance of humility and truthfulness in the believer's life.

“for this violent storm that has come upon you.”
The storm is a manifestation of divine judgment, a common motif in the Old Testament where natural events are used to convey God's displeasure. Jonah's recognition of the storm as a consequence of his disobedience underscores the biblical theme of cause and effect in moral and spiritual matters. It serves as a reminder of the broader narrative of redemption, where Christ takes upon Himself the "storm" of God's wrath to bring peace to humanity.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jonah
A prophet of God who is fleeing from the Lord's command to go to Nineveh. His disobedience leads to a storm threatening the ship he is on.

2. The Sailors
The crew of the ship bound for Tarshish, who are caught in a violent storm due to Jonah's disobedience. They are initially unaware of the cause of the storm.

3. The Sea
Represents the chaos and danger that results from Jonah's attempt to flee from God's presence. It is both a literal and symbolic element in the account.

4. The Storm
A divine intervention by God to redirect Jonah's path and bring him back to obedience. It serves as a catalyst for Jonah's confession and the sailors' eventual recognition of God's power.

5. Tarshish
The destination Jonah chooses in his attempt to escape God's command, symbolizing his rebellion and desire to avoid God's mission.

Teaching Points

Acknowledgment of Sin
Jonah's admission of guilt is a crucial step in resolving the crisis. We must recognize and confess our sins to restore our relationship with God.

God's Sovereignty
The storm illustrates God's control over nature and circumstances. Trust in God's sovereignty, even in life's storms.

Impact of Disobedience
Jonah's disobedience affects not only himself but also those around him. Our actions have consequences for others, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God.

Repentance and Redemption
Jonah's willingness to be cast into the sea is a form of repentance, leading to his eventual redemption. True repentance involves a willingness to face the consequences of our actions.

God's Mercy
Despite Jonah's rebellion, God provides a way for his redemption. God's mercy is available to all who turn back to Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Cast me forth into the sea.--There was no need of prophetic inspiration to enable Jonah to pass this sentence upon himself. He is too manly not to prefer to perish without involving others in his ruin.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - Jonah, brought to a better mind, perhaps divinely inspired, pronounces his own sentence. "I know," he says, "that the fault is mine, and deserves death, therefore take me up, and cast me forth into the sea." He will not he his own executioner, but will patiently bear a death righteously inflicted by others, whoso safety he was endangering by his continued presence.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Pick me up,”
שָׂא֙וּנִי֙ (śā·’ū·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

he answered,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“and cast me
וַהֲטִילֻ֣נִי (wa·hă·ṭî·lu·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Strong's 2904: To pitch over, reel, to cast down, out

into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the sea,
הַיָּ֔ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

so it
הַיָּ֖ם (hay·yām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3220: A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basin

may quiet down
וְיִשְׁתֹּ֥ק (wə·yiš·tōq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8367: To be quiet

for you.
מֵֽעֲלֵיכֶ֑ם (mê·‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition-m | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

For
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אָ֔נִי (’ā·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

know
יוֹדֵ֣עַ (yō·w·ḏê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I am to blame
בְשֶׁלִּ֔י (ḇə·šel·lî)
Preposition-b, Pr | Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 7945: On account of, whatsoever, whichsoever

for this
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

violent
הַגָּד֛וֹל (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

storm
הַסַּ֧עַר (has·sa·‘ar)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5591: A hurricane

that has come upon you.”
עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Prophets: Jonah 1:12 He said to them Take me up (Jon. Jh)