But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrasing "the ship was like to be broken" isn't just a description of damage; it suggests the ship itself seemed to think it was about to break. This poetic personification highlights how dire the situation was, almost as if the vessel itself was alive and aware of the overwhelming divine power threatening to shatter it.
But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jonah has just paid for passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction of God's command, thinking he can escape the Lord's presence. As soon as he's settled into his flight, God intervenes not by direct confrontation, but by unleashing a violent storm that threatens to tear the ship apart. This divine tempest is the immediate consequence of Jonah's rebellion, designed to halt his disobedience and reveal the gravity of his flight from God.
Jonah thought he was outrunning God, but he quickly found out otherwise. How does this verse reveal the active, sometimes overwhelming, power of God?
The language here is intense! The word translated 'hurled' or 'sent out' (depending on your translation) suggests a sudden, powerful casting forth, not a gentle breeze.
A Deliberate Assault
The sailors are terrified, realizing their ship is about to break apart. Yet, Jonah is sound asleep. What's the stark contrast here?
This verse paints a vivid picture of extreme danger and the prophet's oblivious state.
A Ship on the Brink
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The phrase 'threatened to break up' (or 'thought to be broken') isn't just about the physical state of the ship. It reflects the desperate perception of the sailors.
Jonah's Deep Slumber
In contrast to the chaos and terror of the crew and the ship, Jonah is deep in sleep. This isn't peaceful rest; it's likely a sleep born of exhaustion, despair, or a desperate (and flawed) attempt to escape his inner turmoil and God's presence.
Understand the original words
ṭûl · Hebrew Verb
A metaphor for divine intervention, judgment, or judgment sent by God. It signifies God's sovereign control over the elements of creation to accomplish His purposes.
This storm wasn't just a random weather event; it was a divine intervention specifically sent by God to intercept a disobedient prophet. The intensity of the tempest, a common danger along the treacherous coast of Joppa, highlights God's power and His unwavering pursuit of those who flee from Him.
c. 8th century BC
Jonah's Call to Prophesy
The prophet Jonah is called by God to go to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, and preach against its wickedness.
c. 8th century BC
Jonah Flees to Joppa
Instead of obeying, Jonah heads to the port of Joppa to escape God's command, intending to sail to Tarshish (likely in Spain).
c. 8th century BC— this verse
The Great Storm Unleashed
As Jonah sails away, God 'hurls' a violent storm upon the sea, threatening to break the ship and its cargo.
c. 8th century BC
Mariners' Fear and Prayers
The pagan sailors are terrified and cry out to their gods, while also casting valuable cargo overboard to lighten the ship.
c. 8th century BC
Jonah Identified by Lot
The sailors cast lots to discover whose fault the storm is, and the lot falls on Jonah, revealing his disobedience.
c. 8th century BC
Jonah Cast into the Sea
Jonah instructs the sailors to throw him into the sea, believing it will calm the storm, which they then do.
This passage describes a violent storm, the 'Euroclydon,' which struck Paul's ship in the same sea, highlighting how God uses natural forces, like winds and storms, to intervene in human affairs and confront those fleeing from Him.
Psalm 107:23-29This psalm vividly depicts sailors caught in a storm, crying out to God, and God responding by calming the tempest, showing God's sovereign power over the seas and His ability to deliver those in distress.
Job 38:11In this chapter, God challenges Job by recounting His power over the sea, setting its boundaries and controlling its waves, which underscores the immense authority God wields even over destructive storms like the one Jonah encountered.
1 Kings 19:11-12Here, God appears to Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a 'still small voice,' demonstrating that while God can use powerful natural phenomena like storms, His presence and power are ultimately deeper and more profound.
cambridgeJonah 1:4: "But 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."
4 . sent out ] Lit., as in margin, cast forth , indicating the suddenness and violence of the storm. The same word occurs and is rendered “cast forth” in A.V. in Jonah 1:5; Jonah 1:12; Jonah 1:15 . Josephus speaks of a violent wind called “the black North wind,” which he says sometimes visited the sea off the coast of Joppa. And we read of “a tempestuo…
barnesJonah 1:4: "But 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."
But (And) the Lord sent out - (literally 'cast along'). Jonah had done his all. Now God's part began. This He expresses by the word, "And." Jonah took "his" measures, "and" now God takes "His." He had let him have his way, as He often deals with those who rebel against Him. He lets them have their way up to a certain point. He waits, in the tranquility…
The phrasing "the ship was like to be broken" isn't just a description of damage; it suggests the ship itself seemed to think it was about to break. This poetic personification highlights how dire the situation was, almost as if the vessel itself was alive and aware of the overwhelming divine power threatening to shatter it.
Jonah has just paid for passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction of God's command, thinking he can escape the Lord's presence. As soon as he's settled into his flight, God intervenes not by direct confrontation, but by unleashing a violent storm that threatens to tear the ship apart. This divine tempest is the immediate consequence of Jonah's rebellion, designed to halt his disobedience and reveal the gravity of his flight from God.
Jonah has just paid for passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction of God's command, thinking he can escape the Lord's presence. As soon as he's settled into his flight, God intervenes not by direct confrontation, but by unleashing a violent storm that threatens to tear the ship apart. This divine tempest is the immediate consequence of Jonah's rebellion, designed to halt his disobedience and reveal the gravity of his flight from God.
"But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up." — The phrasing "the ship was like to be broken" isn't just a description of damage; it suggests the ship itself seemed to think it was about to break. This poetic personification highlights how dire…
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Last reviewed October 2026