en_tn_condensed/jon/01/05.md

the sailors

the men who worked on the ship

his own god

Here "god" refers to false gods and idols that people worship.

They threw the ship's cargo

"The men threw the heavy things off the ship." This was done to keep the ship from sinking.

to lighten it

Making the ship lighter would make if float better. Alternate translation: "to help the ship float better"

But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship

Jonah did this before the storm started.

down into the innermost parts of the ship

"inside the ship"

was lying there deeply asleep

"was lying there fast asleep" or "was lying there and sleeping deeply." For this reason, the storm did not wake him up.