Jonah 1:13

13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

Jonah 1:13 in Other Translations

13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

New Living Translation (NLT)

13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn’t make it.

The Message Bible (MSG)

13 But no. The men tried rowing back to shore. They made no headway. The storm only got worse and worse, wild and raging.

American Standard Version (ASV)

13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

13 Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn't do it. The storm was getting worse.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not because the sea was raging against them more and more.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

13 Instead of doing what he said, the men did their best to row back to land. But they couldn't. The sea got even rougher than before.

Jonah 1:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jonah 1:13

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to bring [it] to the land,
but they could not
Or, "they digged" ^F12; that is, the waters of the sea with their oars; not by casting anchor, as Abendana; they used all their skill and exerted all their strength; they laboured with all their might and main, as a man digs in a pit; they ploughed the ocean, and furrowed the sea, as the Latins speak, but all in vain; they rowed against wind and tide; God, his purposes and providence, were against them; and it was not possible for them to make land, and get the ship ashore, which they were desirous of, to save the life of Jonah, as well as their own; for, seeing him penitent, they had compassion on him; his character and profession as a prophet, the gravity of the man, the sedateness of his countenance, his openness of mind, and his willingness to die, wrought greatly upon the men, that they would fain have saved him if they could; and perhaps being Heathens, and not knowing thoroughly the nature of his offence, might think he did not deserve to die; but all their endeavours to save him were to no purpose: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them;
it grew more and more so; the storm beat right against them, and drove them back faster than they came; so that it was impossible to stand against it.

FOOTNOTES:

F12 (wrtxyw) "et fodiebant", Montanus, Calvin, Piscator, Tarnovius; "foderunt", Vatablus, Liveleus.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Jonah 1:13 In-Context

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before.

14 Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.”

15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm.