a Hebrew: See also Genesis 41:12; Exodus 1:15; 2:11.
Jonah worshiped the Lord, who, unlike the sailors’ false gods, made and controlled the sea and land. Many believed different gods ruled specific areas and tasks. Calling God the God of the heavens likely showed this deity's superiority, as heaven is the highest realm. The Old Testament consistently states that the Lord is the one true God (see, for example, Deuteronomy 6:4), sometimes using language to show his superiority over false gods imagined by pagan peoples (see Psalm 95:3–5).