Jonah 1:13

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard, trying to reach the shore. But they couldn't, because the sea kept growing wilder against them.

Jonah 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Jonah 1:13 In-Context

11 They asked him, "What should we do to you, so that the sea will be calm for us?" - for the sea was getting rougher all the time.

12 "Pick me up," he told them, "and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; because I know it's my fault that this terrible storm has come over you."

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard, trying to reach the shore. But they couldn't, because the sea kept growing wilder against them.

14 Finally they cried to ADONAI, "Please, ADONAI, please! Don't let us perish for causing the death of this man, and don't hold us to account for shedding innocent blood; because you, ADONAI, have done what you saw fit."

15 Then they picked up Yonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging.