And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
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.
- BSB Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
- 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 8:23But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
- Mark 4:37–38And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
- Ps 107:23–27They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
- Jonah 1:4–5But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
- Acts 27:14–38But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
- 2 Cor 11:25–26Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
- John 6:17–18And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
- Isa 54:11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
- John 11:15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
- John 11:5–6Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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
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
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.