Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
- KJV And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
- NKJV And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
- NASB Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
- NLT Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
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
Jesus immediately catches Peter and asks why he doubted. Christ rescues the failing believer even as He gently corrects.
Overview
Without delay Jesus stretches out His hand and grasps the sinking Peter, then questions his little faith and doubt. The rescue reveals Christ's readiness to save those who call on Him, while the gentle rebuke instructs. The verse comforts believers that Jesus holds onto His own in their weakness, even as He calls them to greater trust.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Jas 1:6–8But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
- Ps 138:7If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
- Gen 22:14And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
- Luke 22:31–32Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.
- Matt 8:26“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.
- Matt 17:20“Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
- Mark 5:41Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
- Mark 1:31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
- Matt 6:30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- Matt 16:8Aware of their conversation, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you debating among yourselves about having no bread?
- Isa 63:12who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,
- Mark 11:23“Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him.
- Mark 16:7But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”
- Deut 32:36For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.
- Luke 24:34and saying, “The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon!”
- Mark 1:41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
- Rom 4:18–20Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Acts 4:30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
- 1 Tim 2:8Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
- 1 Pet 1:5who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 14:31 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
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