God’s Word Translation
Jonah 1:16
16The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord.
Jonah 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
- New International Version (NIV)At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.
Context of Jonah 1:16
14So they cried to the Lord for help: “Please, Lord, don’t let us die for taking this man’s life. Don’t hold us responsible for the death of an innocent man, because you, Lord, do whatever you want.” 15Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the sea became calm. The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord. 17The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Read all of Jonah 1Jonah 1:16 word by word
וַיִּֽירְא֧וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֛ים יִרְאָ֥ה גְדוֹלָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּֽזְבְּחוּ־זֶ֙בַח֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וַֽיִּדְּר֖וּ נְדָרִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- exceedinglyיִרְאָהyir'âh · fearH3374
- exceedinglyגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- and offeredזָבַחzâbach · to sacrificeH2076
- a sacrificeזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
- and madeנָדַרnâdar · to vowH5087
- vowsנֶ֫דֶרneder nêder · vowH5088
Cross-references for Jonah 1:16
- Jonah 1:10Then the men were terrified. They knew that he was running away from the Lord, because he had told them. They asked Jonah, “Why have you done this?”
- Isaiah 26:9With my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right.
- Daniel 4:34At the end of the seven time periods, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my mind came back to me. I thanked the Most High, and I praised and honored the one who lives forever, because his power lasts forever and his kingdom lasts from one generation to the next.
- Daniel 6:26I decree that in every part of my kingdom people should tremble with terror in front of Daniel’s God, the living God who continues forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His power lasts to the end ⌞of time⌟.
- Mark 4:31It’s like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth.
- Acts 5:11The whole church and everyone else who heard about what had happened were terrified.
- Genesis 8:20Noah built an altar to the Lord. On it he made a burnt offering of each type of clean animal and clean bird.
- Judges 13:16But the Messenger of the Lord responded, “If I stay here, I will not eat any of your food. But if you make a burnt offering, sacrifice it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the Messenger of the Lord.)
- 2 Kings 5:17So Naaman said, “If you won’t take it, please have someone give me as much dirt as a pair of mules can carry. From now on I will sacrifice to the Lord alone. I will not offer any burnt offering or sacrifice to any other gods.
- Psalms 107:22Let them bring songs of thanksgiving as their sacrifice. Let them tell in joyful songs what he has done.
- Isaiah 60:5Then you will see this and rejoice, and your heart will be thrilled with joy, because the riches of the sea will be brought to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you.
- Genesis 28:20Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on my trip and give me food to eat and clothes to wear,
- Psalms 50:14Bring ⌞your⌟ thanks to God as a sacrifice, and keep your vows to the Most High.
- Psalms 66:13I will come into your temple with burnt offerings. I will keep my vows to you,
- Psalms 116:14I will keep my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4When you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it because God doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise.
Commentaries on Jonah 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Offered a sacrifice - The first perhaps ever offered on board a vessel since the ark floated on the waters of the great deluge; and it is most probable that these heathens, witnessing what was done, became sincere converts to the true God.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And the men feared the Lord with a great fear - because, from the tranquility of the sea and the ceasing of the tempest, they saw that the prophet‘s words were true. This great miracle completed the conversion of the mariners. God had removed all human cause of fear; and yet, in the same words as before, he says, “they feared a great fear;” but he adds, “the Lord.” It was the great fear, with which even the disciples of Jesus feared, when they saw the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 The mariners rowed against wind and tide, the wind of God's displeasure, the tide of his counsel; but it is in vain to think of saving ourselves any other way than by destroying our sins. Even natural conscience cannot but dread blood-guiltiness. And when we are led by Providence God does what he pleases, and we ought to be satisfied, though it may not please us. Throwing Jonah into the sea put an end to the storm. God will not afflict for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16feared: God's power over the stormy sea led the sailors to worship. Although sacrifices and vows were part of Israelite worship (for example, Psalm 116:17–18), the sailors likely did not fully convert from worshiping false gods. They probably added Israel's God to their list. This situation is deeply ironic. Pagan sailors showed respect and honor toward the Lord, while the Lord’s own prophet dishonored him. The prophet then seemed to sink into the sea and…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. offered a sacrifice--They offered some sacrifice of thanksgiving at once, and vowed more when they should land. Glassius thinks it means only, "They promised to offer a sacrifice."Read the comment
Topics related to Jonah 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jonah 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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