# Whale tries to eat man **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 12, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124 "2021-06-12T15:44:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/1 "2021-06-12T15:44:04Z")
In local news (New England) – a humpback whale tried to eat a man who was diving for lobsters. He was actually IN THE WHALE’s CLOSED MOUTH. FInally the whale spit him out. > **['A humpback whale tried to eat me': A Cape Cod lobster diver was briefly...](https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/06/11/cape-cod-lobster-diver-humpback-whale-mouth/)** > > A Cape Cod commercial lobster diver was bruised up Friday after he says he was briefly caught in the mouth of a humpback whale. Here he is telling what happened. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/c9Y_d00bno8/maxresdefault.jpg "Diver Says He Was Swallowed By Whale Off Provincetown") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Y_d00bno8) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/2 "2021-06-12T16:06:18Z")
I see he was just doing his job at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/3 "2021-06-12T16:33:44Z")
I have heard of people at the surface ending up in a humpback’s mouth, but this is different. From the article, humpback will lunge feed (move ahead rapidly underwater and gulp) to grab prey. It makes sense that the whale spits out things it can’t swallow, but taking that object to the surface is interesting to me. He’s a lucky guy. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/4 "2021-06-12T16:39:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I see he was just doing his job at the time. I’m trying to work this comment out… Job/Jonah confusion? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/5 "2021-06-12T16:40:49Z")
Good catch. I missed that completely! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/6 "2021-06-12T16:41:46Z")
I think you have to be in the mindset of constantly looking for terrible puns to catch that one. Probably not a virtue. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/7 "2021-06-12T16:55:20Z")
Maybe a mod can correct it to “I see he was just doing his jonah at the time.” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/8 "2021-06-12T16:58:58Z")
I obviously needed more tea to wake up today. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/9 "2021-06-12T17:10:57Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Maybe a mod can correct it to “I see he was just doing his jonah at the time.” I think there’s more mileage in bible verses about divers. Believe it or not, Deutoronmy 25:13 says: > Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights and Proverbs 20:23 says > Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD So it’s pretty clear why god sent this whale to eat the guy. God gets pissed off about some weird stuff, but I guess that’s his prerogative. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/10 "2021-06-12T17:16:26Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > God gets pissed off about some weird stuff, but I guess that’s his prerogative. Maybe he is just jealous of people who can sink in water. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/11 "2021-06-12T17:47:54Z")
Incredibly, the same guy is a [plane crash survivor](https://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20011201/NEWS01/312019994) as well. I don’t know if that makes him amazingly lucky or amazingly unlucky. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/12 "2021-06-12T18:18:24Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Good catch. I missed that completely Rumored to have been said by the other humpbacks in the pod. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/13 "2021-06-12T18:33:06Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think you have to be in the mindset of constantly looking for terrible puns to catch that one. Probably not a virtue. - Yes, yes it is. As for the would-be Jonah, it’s a good thing he wasn’t wearing any akrillics. He would have been a goner. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/14 "2021-06-12T18:36:39Z")
😉 (stupid 5 character minimum) ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/15 "2021-06-12T21:12:34Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think there’s more mileage in bible verses about divers. Believe it or not, Deutoronmy 25:13 says: > > > Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights > > and Proverbs 20:23 says > > > Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD > > So it’s pretty clear why god sent this whale to eat the guy. God gets pissed off about some weird stuff, but I guess that’s his prerogative. I hate to break this to you, but you’ve gotten tripped up by Jacobean English. 400 years ago, “divers” was a synonym for “various” or “several.” Those verses were aimed at people who would cheat in the marketplace by surreptitiously using incorrect weights when goods were weighed in the scales. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/16 "2021-06-12T21:16:06Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > I hate to break this to you… No, you’re thinking of the word “diverse” with an e on the end. This is about divers, completely different. I mean it’s a bit odd that God would be concerned with buoyancy devices, but mysterious ways and all that. I think it has something to do with God telling us not to be shellfish. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2021, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/17 "2021-06-12T22:29:52Z")
He is doing an AskMeAnything (assisted by his son) on reddit right now: > **[r/IAmA - I’m a lobster diver who recently survived being inside of a whale. AMA!](https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/nydiqd/im_a_lobster_diver_who_recently_survived_being/)** > > 93,680 votes and 8,745 comments so far on Reddit A highlight: Q: What actor do you want play you in the future Netflix movie? A: Matt Damon. Comment: Call it _Not-So-Good Whale Hunting_ LOL ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/18 "2021-06-13T00:05:19Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > No, you’re thinking of the word “diverse” with an e on the end. This is about divers, completely different. NOPE! I grew up in conservative churches, that used the KJV exclusively. When you do that, you **HAVE TO** be aware of how the English language has changed over time, or some passages won’t make sense. Using Proverbs 20:23 as an example (the whole verse this time)– KJV: Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. New KJV: Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. New American Standard Bible: Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good. NIV: The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. Understand that the translators of all those versions are working off the same source. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), who wrote a commentary on the Bible, writes on this verse, “A bargain made by fraud will prove a losing bargain in the end.” On Deut. 25:13, Adam Clarke (1760-1832) who also wrote a commentary on the Bible, says, “Divers weights - אבן ואבן eben vaaben, a stone and a stone, because the weights were anciently made of stone, and some had two sets of stones, a light and a heavy. With the latter they bought their wares, by the former they sold them.” Merriam-Webster Online says, > Definition of _divers_ (Entry 2 of 2) > > **:** an indefinite number more than one > // with divers of the leaves torn and stitched across— Charles Dickens > > ## Synonyms for _divers_ > > Synonyms: Adjective > > - [manifold](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifold), > - [multifarious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multifarious), > - [myriad](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myriad) > > ## History and Etymology for _divers_ > > Adjective > > Middle English _divers, diverse_ [diverse](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse#etymology) > > Note: The form _divers_ continues a Middle English variant of [diverse](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse#etymology) with the stress shifted to the initial syllable and the vowel lengthened. In modern English _diverse,_ with stress on the second syllable, has taken over most of the word’s meanings, but _divers_ remains as a quantifier, with the final _-s_ voiced as if it were a plural marker. [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) says, > # divers > > [dahy-verz] > > Save This Word! > > [See synonyms for divers on Thesaurus.com](https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/divers) > > ### adjective > > several; various; sundry: divers articles. > > ### pronoun > > (used with a plural verb) an indefinite number more than one: > He chose divers of them, who were asked to accompany him. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/19 "2021-06-13T00:09:25Z")
This new board software really needs a ‘whoosh’ smilie. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124/20 "2021-06-13T00:11:36Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > God telling us not to be shellfish We’re supposed to be God’s sheep, not his lobsters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whale-tries-to-eat-man/944124.md?page=2)