Lexical Summary sephinah: Ship, vessel Original Word: סְפִינָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ship From caphan; a (sea-going) vessel (as ceiled with a deck) -- ship. see HEBREW caphan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom saphan Definition a vessel, ship NASB Translation ship (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סְפִינָה noun feminine vessel, ship (covered in, overlaid, with sheathing, deck, etc.; Aramaic  ; on Arabic  as loan-word see Frä216); — only ׳יַרְכְּתַי הַסּ Jonah 1:5. ספף (√ of following, meaning unknown). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Narrative Setting The noun appears once, in Jonah 1:5, within the account of the prophet’s attempt to flee from the presence of the LORD. Two different Hebrew words for a sea-going craft occur in that verse; the first describes the vessel from the perspective of those on deck, while the rarer term under discussion is used for the lowest part “of the vessel” (Jonah 1:5). Scripture thus draws attention to Jonah’s retreat to the innermost recesses of the craft, heightening the contrast between divine pursuit and human evasion. Historical Background During the eighth century BC, large commercial ships regularly departed from the Phoenician port of Joppa, carrying timber, metals, and luxury goods across the Mediterranean. Such vessels were typically multi-decked, allowing cargo to be stored in covered holds below. The narrative’s mention of the prophet descending into “the lowest part” aligns with this design, as passengers sometimes paid to occupy space among the cargo. While Israel’s own maritime activity was limited, reliance on foreign ships for long-distance travel was common (compare 1 Kings 10:22). Distinctiveness among Hebrew Nautical Terms Most Old Testament references to seagoing craft employ a more familiar word. The choice of this rarer noun in Jonah 1:5 may stress the sheltered, enclosed nature of the area into which Jonah withdrew. The underlying verbal idea of being “covered” or “paneled” subtly reinforces the prophet’s futile attempt to hide from God (Psalm 139:9–10). Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over the Nations: The storm that engulfs the ship demonstrates God’s reach beyond Israel’s borders (Jonah 1:4). The vessel becomes a stage on which pagan sailors encounter the living God (Jonah 1:14–16). Typological and Christological Reflections • Jonah asleep below deck amid a life-threatening storm anticipates Jesus asleep in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:38). In Jonah, the prophet’s slumber is culpable; in the Gospels, the greater Prophet’s repose displays perfect trust. Practical Ministry Application • Missions: The only occurrence of the word is embedded in a narrative that confronts ethnocentrism. Contemporary ministry must heed God’s global heart, avoiding Jonah’s impulse to retreat into the hold of personal comfort. Resonance with Other Biblical Passages • Psalm 107:23–30 celebrates those “who go down to the sea in ships” and experience the LORD’s deliverance from storms. Summary Though it surfaces only once, the term designates more than a physical craft; it frames a theological tableau of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and global mercy. The enclosed ship’s hold where Jonah sought refuge ultimately became the place where he was found, underscoring that no depth of concealment can thwart God’s redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations הַסְּפִינָ֔ה הספינה has·sə·p̄î·nāh hassefiNah hassəp̄înāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jonah 1:5 HEB: אֶל־ יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַסְּפִינָ֔ה וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַיֵּרָדַֽם׃ NAS: into the hold of the ship, lain down KJV: into the sides of the ship; and he lay, INT: into the hold of the ship lain and fallen 1 Occurrence |
    |