Jona 1:8

Lutherbibel

Da sprachen sie zu ihm: Sage uns, warum geht es uns so übel? was ist dein Gewerbe, und wo kommst du her? Aus welchem Lande bist du, und von welchem Volk bist du?

Parallel Translations

Schlachter Bibel (1951)
Da sprachen sie zu ihm: Sage uns doch, um wessen willen uns dieses Unglück begegnet ist! Was ist dein Gewerbe, und wo kommst du her? Welches ist dein Land, und von welchem Volk bist du?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Tell: Joshua 7:19, 1 Samuel 14:43, James 5:16

What is thine: Genesis 47:3, 1 Samuel 30:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:33 - What is

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then they said unto him, tell us, we pray thee,.... They did not fall upon him at once in an outrageous manner, and throw him overboard; as it might be thought such men would have done, considering what they had suffered and lost by means of him; but they use him with great respect, tenderness, and lenity: and entreat him to tell them

for whose cause this evil [was] upon them: or rather, as the Targum,

"for what this evil is upon us;''

and so Noldius f renders the words; for their inquiry was not about the person for whose cause it was; that was determined by the lot; but on what account it was; what sin it was he had been guilty of, which was the cause of it; for they supposed some great sin must be committed, that had brought down the vengeance of God in such a manner:

what [is] thine occupation? trade or business? this question they put, to know whether he had any, or was an idle man; or rather, whether it was an honest and lawful employment; whether it was by fraud or violence, by thieving and stealing, he got his livelihood; or by conjuring, and using the magic art: or else the inquiry was about his present business, what he was going about; what he was to do at Tarshish when he came there; whether he was not upon some ill design, and sent on an unlawful errand, and going to do some ill thing, for which vengeance pursued him, and stopped him:

and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou? which questions seem to relate to the same thing, what nation he was of; and put by different persons, who were eager to learn what countryman he was, that they might know who was the God he worshipped, and guess at the crime he had been guilty of.

f Concordant. Part. Ebr. p. 182. No. 828.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Tell us, for whose cause - Literally “for what to whom.” It may be that they thought that Jonah had been guilty toward some other. The lot had pointed him out. The mariners, still fearing to do wrong, ask him thronged questions, to know why the anger of God followed him; “what” hast thou done “to whom?” “what thine occupation?” i. e., either his ordinary occupation, whether it was displeasing to God? or this particular business in which he was engaged, and for which he had come on board. Questions so thronged have been admired in human poetry, Jerome says. For it is true to nature. They think that some one of them will draw forth the answer which they wish. It may be that they thought that his country, or people, or parents, were under the displeasure of God. But perhaps, more naturally, they wished to “know all about him,” as people say. These questions must have gone home to Jonah’s conscience. “What is thy business?” The office of prophet which he had left. “Whence comest thou?” From standing before God, as His minister. “What thy country? of what people art thou?” The people of God, whom he had quitted for pagan; not to win them to God, as He commanded; but, not knowing what they did, to abet him in his flight.

What is thine occupation? - They should ask themselves, who have Jonah’s office to speak in the name of God, and preach repentance . “What should be thy business, who hast consecrated thyself wholly to God, whom God has loaded with daily benefits? who approachest to Him as to a Friend? “What is thy business?” To live for God, to despise the things of earth, to behold the things of heaven,” to lead others heavenward.

Jonah answers simply the central point to which all these questions tended:

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Tell us - for whose cause — A very gentle method of bringing the charge home to himself, and the several questions here asked gave the utmost latitude to make the best of his own case.