Jonah 1:13

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they couldn’t because the sea was raging against them more and more.

Hebrew Names Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

King James Version (1611)
Neuerthelesse the men rowed hard to bring it to the land, but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

King James Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

English Standard Version
Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

New American Standard Bible
However, the men rowed desperately to return to land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming even stormier against them.

New Century Version
Instead, the men tried to row the ship back to the land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming more stormy.

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, the men rowed hard [breaking through the waves] to return to land, but they could not, because the sea became even more violent [surging higher] against them.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Neuerthelesse, the men rowed to bring it to the lande, but they coulde not: for the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.

Legacy Standard Bible
However, the men rowed desperately to return to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy against them.

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea was raging against them more and more.

Contemporary English Version
The sailors tried their best to row to the shore. But they could not do it, and the storm kept getting worse every minute.

Darby Translation
But the men rowed hard to regain the land; but they could not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Easy-to-Read Version
Instead, the men tried to row the ship back to the shore, but they couldn't do it. The wind and the waves of the sea were too strong—and they were becoming stronger and stronger.

George Lamsa Translation
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to the land; but they could not; for the sea became more tempestuous against them.

Good News Translation
Instead, the sailors tried to get the ship to shore, rowing with all their might. But the storm was becoming worse and worse, and they got nowhere.

Lexham English Bible
But the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to the dry land, and they could not do so because the sea was growing more and more tempestuous against them.

Literal Translation
But the men rowed to return to the dry land, but they were not able, for the sea was going on and being stormy against them.

American Standard Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Bible in Basic English
And the men were working hard to get back to the land, but they were not able to do so: for the sea got rougher and rougher against them.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not; for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neuerthelesse, the men assayed with rowing to bring the shippe to lande, but they could not, because the sea wrought, and was troublous against them.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the men tried hard to return to the land, and were not able: for the sea rose and grew more and more tempestuous against them.

English Revised Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

World English Bible
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And men rowiden, for to turne ayen to the drie lond, and thei miyten not, for the see wente, and wexe greet on hem.

Update Bible Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

New English Translation
Instead, they tried to row back to land, but they were not able to do so because the storm kept growing worse and worse.

New King James Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them.

New Living Translation
Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn't make it.

New Life Bible
The men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the wind was blowing even worse against them.

New Revised Standard
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Nevertheless the men, wrought hard, to bring it back unto the land, but could not, - for, the sea, was raging over them more and more.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men rowed hard to return the land, but they were not able: because the sea tossed and swelled upon them.

Revised Standard Version
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

Young's Literal Translation
And the men row to turn back unto the dry land, and are not able, for the sea is more and more tempestuous against them.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuerthelesse, the men assayed with rowinge, to brynge the shippe to lode: but it wolde not be, because the see wrought so, & was so troublous agaynst them.

THE MESSAGE
But no. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway. The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging.

Contextual Overview

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. ¹⁶ Seized with great fear of Adonai , they offered a sacrifice to Adonai and made vows. ¹⁷ The word of Adonai came to Yonah the son of Amitai: "Set out for the great city of Ninveh, and proclaim to it that their wickedness has come to my attention." But Yonah, in order to get away from Adonai , prepared to escape to Tarshish. He went down to Yafo, found a ship headed for Tarshish, paid the fare and went aboard, intending to travel with them to Tarshish and get away from Adonai . However, Adonai let loose over the sea a violent wind, which created such stormy conditions that the ship threatened to break to pieces. The sailors were frightened, and each cried out to his god. They threw the cargo overboard to make the ship easier for them to control. Meanwhile, Yonah had gone down below into the hold, where he lay, fast asleep. The ship's captain found him and said to him, "What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Maybe the god will remember us, and we won't die." Then they said to each other, "Come, let's draw lots to find out who is to blame for this calamity." They drew lots, and Yonah was singled out. They said to him, "Tell us now, why has this calamity come upon us? What work do you do? Where are you from? What is your country? Which is your people?" He answered them, "I am a Hebrew; and I fear Adonai , the God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land." At this the men grew very afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done?" For the men knew he was trying to get away from Adonai , since he had told them. 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. "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." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard, trying to reach the shore. But they couldn't, because the sea kept growing wilder against them. 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." Then they picked up Yonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging. Seized with great fear of Adonai , they offered a sacrifice to Adonai and made vows.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Nevertheless the: There was great humanity and tender feeling in these men. They were probably affected deeply with the candid confession, the disinterested, submissive conduct of the disobedient prophet, and were unwilling to cast him into the deep, until they found that every effort to save themselves was in vain.

rowed: Heb. digged

but: Job 34:29, Proverbs 21:30

Reciprocal: John 6:19 - had rowed

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land,

but they could not,.... Or, "they digged" l; 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.

l ויחתרו "et fodiebant", Montanus, Calvin, Piscator, Tarnovius; "foderunt", Vatablus, Liveleus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The men rowed hard - , literally “dug.” The word, like our “plowed the main,” describes the great efforts which they made. Amid the violence of the storm, they had furled their sails. These were worse than useless. The wind was off shore, since by rowing alpine they hoped to get back to it. They put their oars well and firmly in the sea, and turned up the water, as men turn up earth by digging. But in vain! God willed it not. The sea went on its way, as before. In the description of the deluge, it is repeated Genesis 7:17-18, “the waters increased and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth; the waters increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.” The waters raged and swelled, drowned the whole world, yet only bore up the ark, as a steed bears its rider: man was still, the waters obeyed. In this tempest, on the contrary, man strove, but, instead of the peace of the ark, the burden is, the violence of the tempest; “the sea wrought and was tempestuous against them” . “The prophet had pronounced sentence against himself, but they would not lay hands upon him, striving hard to get back to land, and escape the risk of bloodshed, willing to lose life rather than cause its loss. O what a change was there. The people who had served God, said, Crucify Him, Crucify Him! These are bidden to put to death; the sea rageth; the tempest commandeth; and they are careless its to their own safety, while anxious about another’s.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jonah 1:13. The men rowed hard — Were very unwilling to proceed to this extremity, and thought they would risk every thing rather than cast this disobedient prophet into the great deep.