Jonah 1:7 · Bible study
Jonah 1:7 Commentary: The Lot Falls on Jonah
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine how the casting of lots reveals God's sovereign pursuit of the disobedient prophet and his control over pagan practices.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The sailors cast lots to find who caused the storm; God directed the lot to Jonah, revealing his sovereign pursuit.
- Key words: goral (lot, pebbles for deciding), naphal (to fall, the lot fell), ra'ah (evil, calamity).
- Main debate: Whether the sailors’ use of lots was a valid appeal to God or merely a human practice that God overruled.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over all means, including pagan divination, to accomplish his will.
- Best use: Teaching on God’s relentless pursuit of his people and the futility of running from him.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They all said to each other, “Come! Let’s cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
KJV King James Version 1769
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And they say each unto his neighbour, `Come, and we cast lots, and we know on whose account this evil is on us.' And they cast lots, and the lot falleth on Jonah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And they said each one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they said every one to his fellow: Come and let us cast lots, that we may know why this evil is upon us. And they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y dijeron cada uno á su compañero: Venid, y echemos suertes, para saber por quién nos ha venido este mal. Y echaron suertes, y la suerte cayó sobre Jonás.
E disseram cada um a seu companheiro: Vinde, e lancemos sortes, para sabermos por causa de quem este mal veio sobre nós. Então lançaram sortes, e a sorte caiu sobre Jonas.
Et ils se dirent l’ un à l’ autre: Venez, et tirons au sort, pour savoir qui nous attire ce malheur. Ils tirèrent au sort, et le sort tomba sur Jonas.
Und einer sprach zum andern: Kommt, wir wollen losen, daß wir erfahren, um welches willen es uns so übel gehe. Und da sie losten traf' s Jona.
Voorts zeiden zij, een ieder tot zijn metgezel: Komt, en laat ons loten werpen, opdat wij mogen weten, om wiens wil ons dit kwaad overkomt. Alzo wierpen zij loten, en het lot viel op Jona.
Poi dissero l’uno all’altro: “Venite, tiriamo a sorte, per sapere a cagione di chi ci capita questa disgrazia”. Tirarono a sorte, e la sorte cadde su Giona.
Tedy rzekł jeden do drugiego: Chodźcie, rzućmy losy, abyśmy się dowiedzieli, dla kogo to złe na nas przyszło; rzucili tedy losy, i padł los na Jonasza.
И сказали друг другу: пойдем, бросим жребии, чтобы узнать, за кого постигает нас эта беда. И бросили жребии, и пал жребий на Иону.
船上的人彼此 說：「來吧，我們掣 籤，看看 這 災 臨到我們 是因誰的緣故。」於是他們掣 籤， 掣出 約拿來。
And they said to one another, Come, let us put this to the decision of chance and see on whose account this evil has come on us. So they did so, and Jonah was seen to be the man.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jonah 1:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the sailors cast lots because they believed the extraordinary storm signaled divine judgment for a hidden crime. Clarke observes that this was a very ancient mode of finding out the mind of Divine Providence. Gill and Barnes note that God overruled the lots of pagan sailors to accomplish his purpose, directing the lot to fall on Jonah. Keil & Delitzsch quote Jerome: “The fugitive is taken by lot, not from any virtue in lots themselves, least of all the lots of heathen, but by the will of Him who governs uncertain lots.” Calvin adds that the storm was no ordinary tempest, which is why the sailors resorted to the lot. The consensus holds that God sovereignly used a pagan divination practice to expose Jonah and continue his pursuit. Proverbs 16:33 stands behind the scene: the lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Divine direction view: God directly caused the lot to fall on Jonah, as seen in the parallels with Achan and Jonathan (Joshua 7; 1 Samuel 14) and Proverbs 16:33.
- Providential overruling view: The lot was a pagan practice, but God sovereignly worked through it to accomplish his purpose, without necessarily endorsing the method (Barnes, Gill).
What is clear: God sovereignly identified Jonah as the cause of the storm and used the lot to advance his pursuit of the fleeing prophet.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy of casting lots by pagans | God sovereignly directed the lot to fall on Jonah. | Some commentators (Barnes, Gill) see the lot as an appeal to God that was honored; others emphasize that it was a pagan custom that God overruled without endorsing it. |
| Extraordinary nature of the storm | The storm was unusual and clearly signaled divine judgment. | Calvin and others see it as a direct miraculous intervention; Keil & Delitzsch treat it as providential but not necessarily beyond natural phenomena. |
| Moral culpability of Jonah | The lot exposed Jonah as the one who had brought trouble on the ship. | Some traditions read this as God directly punishing Jonah’s disobedience; others see it as a means of correction rather than punishment. |
| Use of lots in the church today | The example of Jonah shows God can work through lots, but caution is needed. | Barnes and the Cambridge Bible note that lots were used in the Old Testament and at Pentecost, but after Pentecost they are superseded by the Holy Spirit’s guidance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The practice of casting lots to discern divine will was widespread in the ancient Near East. The Hebrew word goral (lot) refers to pebbles or marked objects used for decision-making. Clarke notes that this was a very ancient mode of endeavoring to find out the mind of Divine Providence. In Israel, lots were used to identify Achan (Joshua 7) and Jonathan (1 Samuel 14). The sailors, being pagan, each cried to his own god before resorting to the lot. Their decision to cast lots reflects a belief that the storm was not natural but supernaturally caused by someone’s crime. Calvin emphasizes that it was no ordinary tempest; something about its suddenness and violence convinced the crew that God was acting as an avenger. Cambridge adds that similar stories appear in classical literature, including Cicero’s account of Diagoras. The sailors’ action was an appeal to heaven, even though they did not know the true God. God honored that appeal by directing the lot to Jonah, fulfilling Proverbs 16:33 and showing that he governs even the uncertainties of pagan practices.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jonah 1:7. The text is consistent across manuscripts and versions.
Reception History
Early and medieval interpreters saw the lot falling on Jonah as an act of divine providence. Jerome wrote that “the fugitive is taken by lot… by the will of Him who governs uncertain lots,” a view echoed by Keil & Delitzsch. Reformation commentators like Calvin emphasized the extraordinary storm that drove the sailors to the lot, reading it as God’s direct intervention. Matthew Henry used the passage to show how God pursues and convicts those who flee from him. Across traditions, this verse has been read as a vivid demonstration that no one can hide from God, and that even pagan means serve his purpose. Many have also drawn a parallel to the selection of Matthias by lot in Acts 1, though noting the difference between inspired and ordinary circumstances.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Desperation drives the sailors to the lot. After all human efforts failed and their prayers went unanswered, the crew concluded that someone on board must be guilty. They turned to casting lots, a pagan but ancient method of seeking divine judgment.
- God directs the lot to the fugitive. The lot did not fall by chance. Gill, Barnes, and Clarke all affirm that God overruled the process. The same God who sent the storm now guided the lot to single out Jonah.
- God pursues the one who is running from him. Jonah had gone down to the ship and fallen asleep, but the storm and the lot follow him. God does not let his servant slip away quietly.
Five-point outline
- The sailors recognize the storm as judgment (v.5).
- They exhaust natural and religious remedies.
- They propose casting lots to identify the guilty party.
- The lot falls on Jonah, confirming his guilt.
- This leads to Jonah’s confession and eventual deliverance.
Illustration hooks
- In a classroom, one student steals a test answer key. The teacher asks everyone to draw slips of paper, knowing only the guilty student will draw the marked slip. The class is surprised, but the teacher orchestrated it.
- A GPS tracker on a stolen phone. The owner can see where it goes, even when the thief thinks he has escaped. God’s pursuit of Jonah works like that, though far more personal.
- If you have ever tried to hide a secret from someone who knows you completely, you know the relief when the truth eventually surfaces.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Did God approve of pagan lots, or did he simply work through them?
- Why does God go to such lengths to correct his own servant?
- Is it possible for God to use even our bad decisions to bring us back to him?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows a turning point in the story. The sailors have tried everything, and now they turn to the lot, an appeal to whatever gods they know. But the true God uses their attempt to reveal Jonah. As you discuss, note how the sailors moved from fear to action, and how God used their paganism for his own purpose.
Discussion questions
- What led the sailors to suggest casting lots? What does that tell you about their view of the storm? (Observation)
- Read Proverbs 16:33. How does that verse connect to what happens in Jonah 1:7? (Interpretation)
- The lot fell on Jonah. Do you think this was a lucky guess, or was God directly involved? Why? (Interpretation)
- Barnes and other commentators say God overruled the lot. How does that change the way you see the sailors’ action? (Interpretation)
- Jonah was sleeping while the storm raged. Why do you think he was so unconcerned? (Interpretation)
- God used a pagan method to expose his prophet. What does that teach you about God’s ability to work through any situation? (Application)
- Have you ever sensed God “closing in” on you when you were trying to avoid him? How did you respond? (Application)
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 32:23 | “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Yahweh; and be sure your sin will find you out. |
| Joshua 7:10 | Yahweh said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face like that? |
| Joshua 7:13 | Get up! Sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, “There is a devoted thing among you, Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted thing from among you.” |
| Joshua 7:14 | In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. It shall be that the tribe which Yahweh selects shall come near by families. The family which Yahweh selects shall come near by households. The household which Yahweh selects shall come near man by man. |
| Joshua 7:18 | He brought near his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected. |
| Joshua 22:16 | “The whole congregation of Yahweh says, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away today from following Yahweh, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel today against Yahweh? |
| Joshua 22:20 | Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.’” |
| Judges 7:13 | When Gideon had come, behold, there was a man telling a dream to his fellow. He said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream; and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the sailors decided to cast lots to find out who was to blame for the storm. He says God caused the lot to fall on Jonah.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes distinguishes between lawful uses of lots for dividing property and the pagan practice of divining hidden knowledge through them. He argues that in Jonah’s case God overruled the sailors’ superstitious lot, not because the practice itself was valid, but because it served God’s purpose to expose the prophet and teach him mercy.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin notes the sailors chose to cast lots because they realized the storm was not a normal wind but a sign of God’s wrath. They understood God caused such a terrible event for a serious reason.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Christians who hold the view that Jonah caused the storm point to this verse and Jonah 1:12 as proof that the lot determined his guilt. Historical examples from other cultures show people believed the guilty often suffered together with the innocent.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Geneva Bible Notes shows how the sailors decide to settle who is responsible for the trouble by drawing lots. Jonah’s name appears on the piece of paper when it is pulled out.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes the sailors assumed an exceptionally wicked person among them had provoked the storm. They cast lots as a direct appeal to the gods. God, however, overruled the chance to single out Jonah, his disobedient prophet, directing the lot with specific providential purpose.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Christians who hold the view that God spoke through Jonah point to this verse as showing He used casting lots to reveal the prophet’s identity. They believe this method shows God can determine truth in difficult situations.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argue that the sailors' repeated question is not a later addition but a deliberate tactic to draw out Jonah's confession. They also note that the lot fell on Jonah not by chance but by the will of God, who governs even heathen lots. The sailors then pressed Jonah to disclose his crime and background.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the storm is God sending to pursue Jonah because he fled from God. It shows that God uses such events to bring sinners to face their guilt.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws attention to the conditional nature of God's deliverance: He would pull them up only if they sought Him. Wesley notes with admiration that God kept this promise with admirable constancy for six hundred years, perhaps the longest period of freedom from captivity they ever knew.