And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, 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?
- BSB Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “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 let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
- Ps 138:7Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.
- Gen 22:14Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide. As it is said to this day, “On Yahweh’s mountain, it will be provided.”
- Luke 22:31–32The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat,
- Matt 8:26He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm.
- Matt 17:20He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
- Mark 5:41Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”
- Mark 1:31He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.
- Matt 6:30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
- Matt 16:8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, ‘because you have brought no bread?’
- Isa 63:12Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
- Mark 11:23For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says.
- Mark 16:7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”
- Deut 32:36For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone; that there is no one remaining, shut up or left at large.
- Luke 24:34saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
- Mark 1:41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
- Rom 4:18–20Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
- Acts 4:30while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
- 1 Tim 2:8I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.
- 1 Pet 1:5who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation 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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