23And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. [8:24] And look — a violent upheaval arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But he was sleeping. [8:25] And the disciples came and woke him, saying: Lord, save us — we are perishing! [8:26] And he said to them: Why are you so cowardly, you of little faith? Then he got up and sternly rebuked the winds and the sea, and a great calm came. [8:27] And the men marveled, saying: What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?
MAT 8:23-27
Jesus Calms the Storm
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, the sea was a symbol of chaos and danger, often associated with primordial forces in Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. Storms on the Sea of Galilee were sudden and violent, posing a real threat to fishermen and travelers. The disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen, would have recognized the peril of being swamped by waves (, often implying violent shaking or upheaval). Their cry to Jesus as 'Lord' reflects a plea for deliverance, possibly invoking divine authority in a moment of desperation. Jesus' rebuke of the wind and sea mirrors language used in Jewish tradition to describe God’s power over chaos (e.g., Psalm 107:29). For the disciples, witnessing such authority over nature would have evoked awe, as it aligned Jesus with divine power in a way that transcended human capability. The calm that followed would have been seen as a sign of divine intervention, reinforcing Jesus' unique authority.
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How other translations render this
MAT 8:23
- KJV
- And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
- BSB
- When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.
MAT 8:24
- KJV
- And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
- BSB
- Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
- Koinōnos
- And look — a violent upheaval arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But he was sleeping.
MAT 8:25
- KJV
- And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
- BSB
- The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
- Koinōnos
- And the disciples came and woke him, saying: Lord, save us — we are perishing!
MAT 8:26
- KJV
- And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
- BSB
- “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: Why are you so cowardly, you of little faith? Then he got up and sternly rebuked the winds and the sea, and a great calm came.
MAT 8:27
- KJV
- But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
- BSB
- The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
- Koinōnos
- And the men marveled, saying: What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 8:24
- a storm:The word translated 'a storm' here more literally means a violent shaking or commotion, and is often used for an earthquake. This suggests the storm was exceptionally violent and disruptive.
MAT 8:25
- they awoke:The word translated 'they awoke' is actually the word for 'Lord' or 'master.' The English translation is a contextual interpretation, as the disciples were addressing Jesus as their master.
MAT 8:26
- fearful:The word translated 'fearful' carries a strong sense of cowardice or timidity, often contrasted with bravery. It implies a lack of courage rather than just being afraid.
- He rebuked:The term translated 'He rebuked' implies a strong, authoritative reprimand, often used in contexts of silencing or restraining someone or something. It's a forceful command to cease.