They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Parallel translations
- KJV And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
- BSB Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
- NKJV And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
- NASB They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
- NLT The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples are filled with awe and wonder who Jesus is, that even wind and sea obey him.
Overview
Their fear turns to reverent astonishment as they grasp that no mere man commands the elements. The question 'Who then is this?' is the central question of Mark's Gospel, pointing toward Jesus' divine identity. The wind and sea obey him because he is the Lord of creation, God in the flesh.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Luke 8:25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”
- Job 38:11and said, ‘Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?’
- 1 Sam 12:18–20So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
- Ps 89:7a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
- Jonah 1:15–16So they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging.
- Jonah 1:9–10He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”
- Matt 8:27The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- 1 Sam 12:24Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
- Mark 5:33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
- Matt 14:32When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
- Rev 15:4Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed.”
- Heb 12:28Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
- Luke 4:36Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
- Mal 2:5“My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.
- Mark 7:37They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 4:41 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.