22Immediately he pressed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. [14:23] And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [14:24] but the boat by this time was a great distance from the land, being violently tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them. [14:25] And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. [14:26] But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. [14:27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." [14:28] And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." [14:29] He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. [14:30] But when he saw the wind, he was frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." [14:31] Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" [14:32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. [14:33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
MAT 14:22-33
Jesus Walks on Water
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, the sea was a place of chaos and danger, often associated with primordial forces and divine power. For Jewish listeners, the sea evoked the imagery of creation and God’s dominion over chaos (e.g., Psalm 107:29). The disciples, experienced fishermen, would have understood the peril of being 'tossed' by waves, a term that carried connotations of severe distress or even torture. The 'fourth watch' marked the darkest and most ominous part of the night, a time when Roman military guards changed shifts and when people were most vulnerable. Jesus walking on the sea would have been seen as a display of divine authority over creation, echoing Old Testament themes of God’s sovereignty. Peter’s attempt to walk on water and his subsequent fear highlight the tension between faith and doubt, a central concern in Jewish and early Christian thought. The term 'little faith' underscores a deficiency in trust rather than a complete lack of belief.
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How other translations render this
MAT 14:22
- KJV
- And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
- BSB
- Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
- Koinōnos
- Immediately he pressed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
MAT 14:23
- KJV
- And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
- BSB
- After He had dismissed them, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,
- Koinōnos
- And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
MAT 14:24
- KJV
- But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
- BSB
- but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
- Koinōnos
- but the boat by this time was a great distance from the land, being violently tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.
MAT 14:25
- KJV
- And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
- BSB
- During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
- Koinōnos
- And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
MAT 14:26
- KJV
- And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
- BSB
- When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “Itʼs a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
- Koinōnos
- But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
MAT 14:27
- KJV
- But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
- BSB
- But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Koinōnos
- But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.
MAT 14:28
- KJV
- And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
- BSB
- “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”
- Koinōnos
- And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.
MAT 14:29
- KJV
- And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
- BSB
- “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
MAT 14:30
- KJV
- But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
- BSB
- But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
- Koinōnos
- But when he saw the wind, he was frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me.
MAT 14:31
- KJV
- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
- BSB
- Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
- Koinōnos
- Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?
MAT 14:32
- KJV
- And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
- BSB
- And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.
- Koinōnos
- And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
MAT 14:33
- KJV
- Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
- BSB
- Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
- Koinōnos
- And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 14:22
- He compelled:The word translated 'He compelled' suggests a strong, almost forceful persuasion, indicating that the disciples might have been reluctant or hesitant to leave without Jesus.
MAT 14:24
- being tossed:The term used here for 'being tossed' literally means to be tormented or tortured, conveying the extreme distress and struggle the boat and its occupants were enduring in the storm.
MAT 14:25
- watch:The word translated 'watch' refers to a specific division of the night, typically the fourth watch, which was the period just before dawn, from 3 AM to 6 AM.
MAT 14:31
- [You] of little faith,:The phrase 'of little faith' describes someone whose faith is small or insufficient, not necessarily absent, highlighting a deficiency in trust rather than a complete lack of it.