Definition: Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jonah 1:8. It's a really interesting and slightly perplexing passage in the Bible! Here’s a simplified explanation: The Basic Situation: Jonah was God’s prophet sent out to the fish (a massive sea creature) that had swallowed him. Jonah was upset because he disobeyed God’s command to stay on land and instead swam away. God then called him back, and this verse is about his desperate plea for understanding. What it Means in Plain English: "Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil [is] upon us; What [is] thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country? and of what people [art] thou?" Let’s unpack each part: “Then said they unto him…” : This is a bit awkward, but it means the people were asking Jonah to explain why this problem was happening. “…for whose cause this evil [is] upon us?” : This is the core of the question. They are asking why this bad thing (the evil) is happening to them. It’s a direct inquiry about the reason behind the trouble. “What [is] thine occupation?…” : They want to know what Jonah was doing – what he did . He was running away from God's instructions! “…and whence comest thou?” : They are asking where this person (Jonah) came from and how they ended up in this situation. “what [is] thy country?…” : They want to know the geographical location of this person. The Significance & Why It’s So Interesting: This verse is a bit mysterious, and there are different interpretations over time. Here's what scholars generally believe: It's about a "Sea Serpent": The “fish” Jonah was fleeing from was actually a massive sea serpent, symbolizing a powerful, disruptive force or evil. It’s a Test of Faith: The verse is essentially a test of Jonah's faith and obedience. It shows that even when we disobey God, He will still seek us out and understand our reasons. In short, the verse is a plea for understanding and a question about the source of a problem. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss a particular interpretation?