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Then they asked him, "Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?"

Verse Takeaways

1

The World is Watching

Commentators note that the pagan sailors, despite their fear, question Jonah calmly and fairly. Their simple question, "Why have you done this?" becomes a sharp rebuke. Scholars like Matthew Henry and John Calvin explain that when believers act inconsistently with their faith, they should expect to be called out, even by non-believers. It's a humbling reminder that our actions are a testimony, for better or worse.

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Book Overview

Jonah

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Commentaries

6

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Jonah 1:8

18th Century

Theologian

Tell us, for whose cause—Literally, “for what to whom.” It may be that they thought Jonah had been guilty toward someone else. The lot had p…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Jonah 1:8

19th Century

Bishop

For whose cause ...—The Hebrew idiom is peculiar, on account of which to whom; but in this verse, when addressed by the s…

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon

On Jonah 1:8

19th Century

Preacher

I do not know whether these men had traded with those who then lived in these islands, but they had a very English custom of not judging a man befo…

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John Calvin

John Calvin

On Jonah 1:8–10

16th Century

Theologian

After the lot fell on Jonah, they did not doubt that he was the guilty person, any more than if he had been proven to be so a hundred times: for wh…

John Gill

John Gill

On Jonah 1:8

17th Century

Pastor

Then they said to him, tell us, we pray you. They did not fall upon him at once in an outrageous manner, and throw him ov…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Jonah 1:8–12

17th Century

Minister

Jonah gave an account of his religion, for that was his duty. We may hope that he told it with sorrow and shame, justifying God, condemning himself…

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