Jonah 1:6 The captain approached him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish."

◄ Jonah 1:6 ►

New International Version
The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”

New Living Translation
So the captain went down after him. “How can you sleep at a time like this?” he shouted. “Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives.”

English Standard Version
So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Berean Standard Bible
The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

King James Bible
So 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.

New King James Version
So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

New American Standard Bible
So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

NASB 1995
So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

NASB 1977
So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the captain came near to him and said to him, “How is it that you are deeply sleeping? Arise, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

Amplified Bible
So the captain came up to him and said, “How can you stay asleep? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps your god will give a thought to us so that we will not perish.”

Christian Standard Bible
The captain approached him and said, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up! Call to your god. Maybe this god will consider us, and we won’t perish.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The captain approached him and said, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up! Call to your god. Maybe this god will consider us, and we won’t perish."”

American Standard Version
So 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.

Contemporary English Version
The ship's captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your God! Maybe he will have pity on us and keep us from drowning."

English Revised Version
So 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The captain of the ship went to him and asked, "How can you sleep? Get up, and pray to your God. Maybe he will notice us, and we won't die."

Good News Translation
The captain found him there and said to him, "What are you doing asleep? Get up and pray to your god for help. Maybe he will feel sorry for us and spare our lives."

International Standard Version
So the captain approached him, and told him, "What are you doing asleep? Get up! Call on your gods! Maybe your god will think about us so we won't die!"

Majority Standard Bible
The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”

NET Bible
The ship's captain approached him and said, "What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!"

New Heart English Bible
So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God. Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won't perish."

Webster's Bible Translation
So the ship-master came to him, and said to him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, it may be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

World English Bible
So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the chief of the company draws near to him and says to him, “What are you [doing], O sleeper? Rise, call to your God, it may be God considers Himself of us, and we do not perish.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the company draweth near to him, and saith to him, 'What -- to thee, O sleeper? rise, call unto thy God, it may be God doth bethink himself of us, and we do not perish.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the chief sailor will draw near to him and say to him, What to thee, thou snoring? Arise, and call to thy God; perhaps thy God will work for us and we shall not perish.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him: Why art thou fast asleep? rise up, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think of us, that we may not perish.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the helmsman approached him, and he said to him, “Why are you weighed down with sleep? Rise, call upon your God, so perhaps God will be mindful of us and we might not perish.”

New American Bible
The captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps this god will be mindful of us so that we will not perish.”

New Revised Standard Version
The captain came and said to him, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
So the captain came to him and said to him, Why are you sleeping? Arise, call upon your God, perhaps God will deliver us, that we perish not.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the High Sailor came to him and said to him: ’why are you sleeping? Arise, call to your God! Perhaps God will save us and we will not be destroyed!’

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
So 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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Great Storm
…5The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down to the lowest part of the vessel, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6The captain approached him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call upon your God. Perhaps this God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” 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 · Download

Cross References

Mark 4:38-40
But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / 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?”

Matthew 8:25-26
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.

Luke 8:24-25
The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

Acts 27:23-25
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.’ / So take courage, men, for I believe God that it will happen just as He told me.

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.

Matthew 14:30-31
But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” / Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

Psalm 44:23
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever.

Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

Jeremiah 10:10
But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

Nahum 1:6
Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; even rocks are shattered before Him.

Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.

Psalm 121:4
Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Romans 13:11
And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Treasury of Scripture

So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, What mean you, O sleeper? arise, call on your God, if so be that God will think on us, that we perish not.

What.

Isaiah 3:15
What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Ezekiel 18:2
What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Acts 21:13
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

arise.

Psalm 78:34
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.

Psalm 107:6,12,13,18-20,28,29
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses…

Jeremiah 2:27,28
Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us…

if.

Jonah 3:9
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

2 Samuel 12:22
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

The captain approached him
The word "captain" in Hebrew is "רַב הַחֹבֵל" (rav hachovel), which translates to "chief of the sailors" or "shipmaster." This indicates a person of authority and responsibility on the ship. Historically, the captain would have been a seasoned sailor, familiar with the sea's dangers. His approach to Jonah signifies a desperate situation, as he seeks help from every possible source. The captain's action reflects a universal human tendency to seek divine intervention in times of crisis, regardless of one's usual beliefs or practices.

and said, 'How can you sleep?'
The phrase "How can you sleep?" is a rhetorical question that underscores the urgency and peril of the situation. In the Hebrew context, sleep often symbolizes ignorance or indifference. Jonah's deep sleep amidst the storm suggests a spiritual lethargy or avoidance of his prophetic duty. This moment serves as a wake-up call, not just physically but spiritually, urging Jonah to confront his responsibilities. The captain's incredulity highlights the contrast between Jonah's inaction and the crew's frantic efforts to save the ship.

Get up and call on your god!
"Get up" is a call to action, both physically and spiritually. The Hebrew word "קוּם" (qum) is often used in the Old Testament to signify rising to fulfill a divine command or mission. The captain's directive to "call on your god" reflects the polytheistic beliefs common in ancient maritime cultures, where sailors would invoke various deities for protection. This plea for divine intervention underscores the universal recognition of a higher power in times of distress. It also foreshadows Jonah's eventual realization of his need to turn back to God.

Perhaps this god will consider us
The word "consider" in Hebrew is "עָשָׁה" (asah), which can mean to act, do, or make. Here, it implies the hope that Jonah's God will take notice and intervene. The captain's use of "perhaps" indicates uncertainty but also a glimmer of hope. This reflects the ancient belief in the capricious nature of gods, who might be swayed by human supplication. The phrase suggests a desperate hope that Jonah's God, unlike the others, might have the power and willingness to save them.

so that we may not perish.'
The word "perish" in Hebrew is "אָבַד" (avad), meaning to be lost or destroyed. This highlights the dire situation faced by the sailors, who fear for their lives. The plea "so that we may not perish" is a universal cry for salvation, resonating with the human instinct to seek deliverance from impending doom. In the broader biblical narrative, it echoes the theme of God's mercy and willingness to save those who call upon Him, foreshadowing the eventual redemption and repentance that Jonah will experience.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) The shipmaster . . .--Literally, the chief of those who work at the rope. Jewish nautical terms are infrequent and therefore obscure. The word mariners, in Jonah 1:5, correctly renders a term which seems, from its use in Ezekiel 27:8; Ezekiel 27:27; Ezekiel 27:29, as well as from its derivation (from salt; comp. the term "old salts"), to denote seafaring men generally. "Those who work the ropes" may be either "steersmen" or "topmen" as contrasted with rowers.

What meanest . . .--Literally, What to thee sleeping? i.e., How canst thou sleep so soundly? The motive of the question was no doubt partly the need of sympathy, as in the case of the disciples (Mark 4:38), partly a belief in the efficacy of the prophet's prayer. This belief seems to have sprung not solely from superstitious fear lest any deity should be overlooked, but from a vague sense that the God of Israel was pre-eminently great and good. The term used is ha Elohim, "the God." . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - The shipmaster; literally, the chief of the ropemen; Vulgate, gubernator; Septuagint, ὁ πρωρεύς, "the look out man." The captain. What meanest thou, O sleeper? How canst thou sleep so soundly when our danger is so imminent? If thou canst help us in no other way, at least ask the aid of Heaven. It was the duty of a prophet of the Lord to take the lead in prayer; but here the prophet's stupor is rebuked by the heathen's faith. Call upon thy God. The sailors' prayers had not been answered, and they arouse Jonah, noting something special about him, perhaps his prophet's dress, or observing that he was an Israelite, and therefore a worshipper of Jehovah, of whose power they had heard. If so be that God will think upon us. They use the word "God" with the article, ha Eiohim, as if they had, in spite of their Polytheism, a dim notion of one supreme Deity. Vulgate, Si forte recogitet Deus de nobis; Septuagint, ὅπως διασώση ὁ Θεὸς ἡμᾶς, "that God may save us." From the apparent use, of the Hebrew word (ashath) in Jeremiah 5:28 in the sense of "shining," some translate here, "if perchance God will shine upon us," i.e. be favourable to us. But the meaning given in the Anglican Version is best supported. So the psalmist says, "The Lord thinketh upon me" (Psalm 40:17), implying that God succours and defends him.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The captain
רַ֣ב (raḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

approached
וַיִּקְרַ֤ב (way·yiq·raḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

him and said,
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“How
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can you
לְּךָ֣ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

sleep?
נִרְדָּ֑ם (nir·dām)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7290: To be in or fall into heavy sleep

Get up
ק֚וּם (qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

[and] call
קְרָ֣א (qə·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

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

your God.
אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Perhaps
אוּלַ֞י (’ū·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 194: Perhaps

this God
הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

will consider us,
יִתְעַשֵּׁ֧ת (yiṯ·‘aš·šêṯ)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6245: To be sleek, glossy, to excogitate

so that
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

we may not perish.”
נֹאבֵֽד׃ (nō·ḇêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

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OT Prophets: Jonah 1:6 So the shipmaster came to him (Jon. Jh)