MS: וַיהוָה הֵטִיל רוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה אֶל־הַיָּם וַיְהִי סַעַר־גָּדוֹל בַּיָּם וְהָאֳנִיָּה חִשְּׁבָה לְהִשָּׁבֵר
LXX: Καὶ Κύριος ἐξήγειρε πνεῦμα ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευε τοῦ συντριβῆναι
TJ: וַיָי אֲרִים רוּחַ רַב עַל יַמָא וַהֲוָה נַחְשׁוֹל רַב בָּיַמָא וְאִילְפָא בָּעֲיָא לְאִתַּבְּרָא
Verse Breakdown
MS: וַיהוָה הֵטִיל רוּחַ־גְּדוֹלָה אֶל־הַיָּם LXX: Καὶ Κύριος ἐξήγειρε πνεῦμα ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν TJ: וַיָי אֲרִים רוּחַ רַב עַל יַמָא
MS: vayhva hetil ruakh-gdola el-hayam LXX: Kai Kyrios exegeire pneuma epi ten thalassan TH: Vayay ‘erim ruakh rav `al yama
MS: And the lord sent a spirit/wind, great, on the sea LXX: And the lord sent spirit/wind on the sea TJ: And the lord sent a spirit/wind, great, on the sea
MS: וַיְהִי סַעַר־גָּדוֹל בַּיָּם LXX: καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ TJ: וַהֲוָה נַחְשׁוֹל רַב בָּיַמָא
MS: Vayhi sa`ar-gdol bayam LXX: kay egeneto klydon megas en te thalasse TJ: Vahava nakhshol rav bayama
MS: And there was a tempest, great, in the sea LXX: And there was a tempest, great, in the sea TJ: And there was a tempest, great, in the sea
MS: וְהָאֳנִיָּה חִשְּׁבָה לְהִשָּׁבֵר LXX: καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευε τοῦ συντριβῆναι TJ: וְאִילְפָא בָּעֲיָא לְאִתַּבְּרָא
MS: Veha’aniya khishva lehishaver LXX: kai to ploion ekindyneue tou sentribenai TJ: ve’ilpa be`aya litabra
MS: And the ship threatened to break LXX: And the ship threatened to break up TJ: And the ship threatened to break
Critical Reconstruction
Shortest Construction:
“And the Lord sent a wind on the sea, and there was a great tempest in the sea, and the ship threatened to break.”
Longest Construction:
“And the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and there was a great tempest in the sea, and the ship threatened to break up.”
Overview:
This is another very stable verse, the most so far. The only minor change is from LXX, which omits “great” from the wind God sent on the sea. Going by lectio difficilior potior, or the textual criticism method of preferring the most difficult reading, it is more likely that the most ancient text read “wind,” and that the addition of “great” was an explanation to match the “great tempest.” Clearly, the wind was great if it caused a great tempest, so the most ancient reading could include or omit “great” before wind, but I prefer omission in this case.
How Do We Do Bible Study?
This textual overview brings up a good question: What does it mean to study the Bible? This book overviews a comparative look at the whole book of Jonah. When studying academics, it can be easy to ignore the devotional or spiritual aspect to Bible reading. It has been said in many ways, “one can know the Bible inside and out, but unless that head knowledge becomes heart knowledge, it is all for nothing.” Serious Bible study takes work, like vigorous exercise. It can begin with a good heart, one that wishes to stay fit, either physically or spiritually. But eventually, you can be drawn in by “elitism,” and the desire to be better than others. Exercise is good so long as it is for a good reason, but when it becomes solely a means for puffing yourself up, it has become harmful to your heart. Similarly, Bible study is good for you as long as you study for the right reason, which is to know God. This must be the center of all study. Otherwise, study will be used to puff yourself up, and it will become harmful to your spiritual walk. The responsibility of the pastor is to shepherd the flock. To know what is good and bad. Serious study has a significant role in that. But you must not allow serious study to be study for its own sake, apart from knowing your Lord. If it has, I would suggest putting this book down.
Ultimately, whether God sent a wind or a great wind on the sea makes no difference. The heart is the same: Jonah ran from God, so God shook up Jonah’s life to get his attention. Isn’t that the same for us? We begin compromising in certain ways, and God shakes up our life to get our attention back on Him. When I was around middle-school age, I was riding my bike on a bike path near me home. I turned too hard, and my whole bike fell over at a fast speed. I panicked, since I had fallen and my leg was stuck under the bike. Ultimately, I was not injured, but that panic made me realize something: I did not want to be where I was right then. God does the same thing with Jonah here. Ultimately, none of the sailors nor Jonah were harmed. But God will use this great tempest to show them something: Where you are right now is not where you want to be. May He do that in all of our lives, to guide our paths constantly. Amen.
