Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
Parallel translations
- WEB Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep.
- KJV And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
- NKJV And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
- NASB And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.
- NLT Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
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
A violent storm threatens to swamp the boat while Jesus sleeps. His calm rest amid the tempest contrasts with the disciples' coming panic.
Overview
The sudden, fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee endangers experienced fishermen, while Jesus sleeps in peace, a sign both of his true humanity and his perfect trust in the Father. The covered boat heightens the sense of mortal peril. The scene tests whether the disciples will trust the Lord who is present with them, even when he seems unconcerned.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 8:23As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
- Mark 4:37–38Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.
- Ps 107:23–27Others went out to sea in ships, conducting trade on the mighty waters.
- Jonah 1:4–5Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
- Acts 27:14–38But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.
- 2 Cor 11:25–26Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
- John 6:17–18got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
- Isa 54:11“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.
- John 11:15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
- John 11:5–6Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
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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 8:24 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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