But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Parallel translations
- WEB The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- BSB The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
- NKJV So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
- NASB The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
- NLT The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds 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 amazed disciples ask what kind of man can command wind and sea. Their wonder presses toward the answer that Jesus is more than a mere man.
Overview
The disciples' astonished question is the heart of the episode, for in Scripture only God controls the sea. Their wonder is the beginning of true understanding about Jesus' identity. Matthew leaves the question hanging so readers will confess what the disciples are only beginning to grasp, that this is the Son of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Mark 7:37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
- Matt 14:33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
- Mark 1:27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
- Mark 6:51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
- Matt 15:31Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 8:27 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.