Giona 1:13

13 Nondimeno quegli uomini davan forte nei remi per ripigliar terra; ma non potevano, perché il mare si faceva sempre più tempestoso e minaccioso.

Giona 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jonah 1:13

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land,
but they could not
Or, "they digged" F12; that is, the waters of the sea with their oars; not by casting anchor, as Abendana; they used all their skill and exerted all their strength; they laboured with all their might and main, as a man digs in a pit; they ploughed the ocean, and furrowed the sea, as the Latins speak, but all in vain; they rowed against wind and tide; God, his purposes and providence, were against them; and it was not possible for them to make land, and get the ship ashore, which they were desirous of, to save the life of Jonah, as well as their own; for, seeing him penitent, they had compassion on him; his character and profession as a prophet, the gravity of the man, the sedateness of his countenance, his openness of mind, and his willingness to die, wrought greatly upon the men, that they would fain have saved him if they could; and perhaps being Heathens, and not knowing thoroughly the nature of his offence, might think he did not deserve to die; but all their endeavours to save him were to no purpose: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them;
it grew more and more so; the storm beat right against them, and drove them back faster than they came; so that it was impossible to stand against it.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (wrtxyw) "et fodiebant", Montanus, Calvin, Piscator, Tarnovius; "foderunt", Vatablus, Liveleus.

Giona 1:13 In-Context

11 E quelli gli dissero: "Che ti dobbiam fare perché il mare si calmi per noi?" Poiché il mare si faceva sempre più tempestoso.
12 Egli rispose loro: "Pigliatemi e gettatemi in mare, e il mare si calmerà per voi; perché io so che questa forte tempesta vi piomba addosso per cagion mia".
13 Nondimeno quegli uomini davan forte nei remi per ripigliar terra; ma non potevano, perché il mare si faceva sempre più tempestoso e minaccioso.
14 Allora gridarono all’Eterno, e dissero: "Deh, o Eterno, non lasciar che periamo per risparmiar la vita di quest’uomo, e non ci mettere addosso del sangue innocente; poiché tu, o Eterno, hai fatto quel che ti è piaciuto".
15 Poi presero Giona e lo gettarono in mare; e la furia del mare si calmò.
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