שָׂא֙וּנִי֙ (śā·’ū·nî) in Jonah 1:12: Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
שָׂא֙וּנִי֙ (śā·’ū·nî) in Jonah 1:12
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Jonah 1:12 links the English rendering "Pick me up" with שָׂא֙וּנִי֙, Strong's H5375, and the morphology label V-Qal-Imp-mp | 1cs.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form clarifies the roles in the command: the sailors are addressed, and Jonah is the one to be picked up.
How To Communicate It
In explanation of Jonah 1:12, use this form to show that Jonah directs the sailors' action and identifies himself as the object.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make the imperative label prove more than the sentence supports.
- Do not use the stem label by itself to settle a theological claim.
- Do not treat attached suffixes as self-explaining; let the verse identify their referent.
- Do not use the command form alone to settle Jonah's motives or the moral evaluation of the scene.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | first person common singular
Qal
Imperative
Not marked
Not marked
Not marked
First person common singular
The imperative form gives direct force to the action, while the verse and passage determine the scope of the command or appeal.
This form carries the BSB rendering "Pick me up" within Jonah 1:12. Jonah 1 follows the prophet's flight, the storm at sea, and the sailors' growing fear as disobedience is exposed.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Jonah's instruction in Jonah 1:12, telling the sailors to pick him up and throw him into the sea
The imperative form within the speaker and audience frame of the verse
It gives Jonah's direct instruction to the sailors, with the first-person suffix identifying Jonah as the object.
It does not make the command form carry the whole narrative or theological meaning by itself.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries Jonah's direct instruction in the storm scene and identifies him as the object of the action.
Qal imperative masculine plural with 1cs suffix. It gives Jonah's direct instruction to the sailors, with the first-person suffix identifying Jonah as the object.. Attached to Jonah's instruction in Jonah 1:12, telling the sailors to pick him up and throw him into the sea. Governed by the speaker, addressee, and object frame of the verse. The command force must be read with the speaker, addressee, and narrative setting.
What does Jonah tell the sailors to do with him? He tells them to pick him up and throw him into the sea.
Direct: The imperative directly supports the rendering "Pick me up" in this occurrence.
Imperative force gives a direct command or appeal, but the verse identifies who speaks and who must respond. Attached suffixes should be resolved from the clause before interpretation. The first-person suffix must be read with Jonah as the speaker and object of the action.
Imperative alone supplies the theology: The command form marks force; the narrative and passage supply meaning. stem label settles the claim: The stem identifies the form but does not carry the full theological argument. suffix meaning can be guessed: The suffix must be resolved from the clause.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Jonah 1:12 links the English rendering "Pick me up" with שָׂא֙וּנִי֙, Strong's H5375, and the morphology label V-Qal-Imp-mp | 1cs.
H5375 is represented here by the lemma נָשָׂא. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "Pick me up" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The plural imperative addresses the sailors, and the 1cs suffix identifies Jonah as the one to be picked up.
Jonah 1 follows the prophet's flight, the storm at sea, and the sailors' growing fear as disobedience is exposed.
The form fits Scripture's witness to mercy, repentance, prophetic obedience, and God's compassion for the nations.
When teaching Jonah 1:12, use this form to show that Jonah directs the sailors' action and identifies himself as the object.
Do not derive a full word study, grammar doctrine, or passage theology from the imperative form alone. The form marks the direct command or appeal in this verse.