1. Introduction
The Hebrew of Jonah 1:15 personifies the great storm as “raging.” The LXX moves away from the personification of the storm. The TJ, however, stays consistent with the Hebrew in personifying the storm. The personification of the storm on Galilee in the NT will also be examined.
2. Lexical and Linguistic Background
Jonah 1:15’s “rage” is the Hb “za`ap.” According to Strongs, this term means “anger, indignation, rage, wrath.” Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon specifically notes this term is used figuratively for the “raging of the sea, Jonah 1:15.” This term is personified and used of people. The Targum Jonathan translation of Hb “za`ap” in Jonah 1:15 is Ar/Hb “nikhshel.” According to Klein’s Dictionary, Hb “nikhshel” is the sense of raging, specifically as a storm. This is a personified term.
The LXX translation of Hb “za`ap” in Jonah 1:15 is Gr “salos.” According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, this term means the “tossing or swell of the sea.” Strongs specifically notes this is a vibration or billow, essentially a wave. This term is not personified or used of people. The NT term, Gr “epitimao,” is used in Mark 4:39 at Jesus’ “rebuke” of the storm. According to Strongs, this term means “charge, rebuke.” This is a personified term.
3. Terms in the Bible and Later Comparisons
The term Hb “za`ap” is used six times in the WLC Hebrew OT. The subject of Hb “za`ap” will be listed in order of appearance: “Asa,” “God,” “the king,” “God,” “the sea,” and “the Lord.” The instance in Jonah 1:15 is the only instance where the subject of Hb “za`ap” is not a person or God. The term Hb “nikhshel” in Targum Jonathan is translated as “a crushing wind,” “gale on highsea,” or “a spirit,” according to Jastrow. This may be interpreted as personified language, though is ultimately unclear.
The term Gr “salos” in the LXX Greek OT is used seven times, with its translated word in the NKJV as follows: “permit,” “allow,” “raging,” “allow,” “despise,” “raging,” and “whirlwinds.” In the NT, Gr “salos” only appears once in Luke 21:25, as “waves roaring.” While this is sometimes used of people, it seems more naturally to be a non-personified term used on people than a personified term used on the sea. The NT Gr “epitimao” is used 29 times throughout the TR Greek NT, with its objects as: “the sea,” “Jesus,” “the crowd,” and “demons,” among some other objects. This is a clearly personified term.
4. Synthesis And Conclusion
The personification or de-personification of forces of nature tracks an interesting theology throughout the Old and New Testaments, as well as their communities. The personification of the sea in the Old and New Testaments, though admittedly less in the New Testament, is largely consistent throughout the two parts. This is appreciated through the translation of TJ, however is more or less lacking in the translation of the LXX. The NT authors, however, differ from the LXX in this, and seem to prefer personification.
