Matthew 14 · Verse 26

Matthew 14:26

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Matthew 14:26, King James Version

Matthew 14:26 in other translations

BSBWhen the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
WEBWhen the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
ASVAnd when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.
YLTand the disciples having seen him walking upon the sea, were troubled saying--‘It is an apparition,' and from the fear they cried out;
DARBYAnd the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear.
BBEAnd when they saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they gave cries of fear.
WebsterAnd when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

What does Matthew 14:26 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 26. They were troubled. They were afraid. The sight was remarkable. It was sufficient to awe them. In the dark night, amidst the tumultuous billows, appeared the form of a man. They thought it was a spirit--an apparition. It was a common belief among the ancients that the spirits of men after death frequently appeared to the living.

(i) "???" Job 9:8, Jn 6:19 (k) "were troubled" Lk 24:37

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 26 It is a spirit - That the spirits of the dead might and did appear, was a doctrine held by the greatest and holiest of men that ever existed; and a doctrine which the caviliers, free-thinkers and bound-thinkers, of different ages, have never been able to disprove.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 14:22-33

Those are not Christ's followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what…

Read the full comment on Matthew 14:22-33 →

Matthew 14:26 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΟἱHoi<the>G3588
δὲdeandG1161
μαθηταὶmathētaithe disciplesG3101
ἰδόντεςidonteshaving seenG1492
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἐπὶepionG1909
τῆςtēstheG3588
θαλάσσηςthalassēsseaG2281
περιπατοῦνταperipatountawalkingG4043
ἐταράχθησανetarachthēsanthey were troubledG5015
λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
φάντασμάphantasmaA ghostG5326
ἐστιν,estinit is!G1510
καὶkaiAndG2532
ἀπὸapoinG575
τοῦtou<the>G3588
φόβουphoboufearG5401
ἔκραξαν.ekraxanthey cried out.G2896

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 14:26

  • Revelation 1:17

    And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

  • Luke 1:11-12

    And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

  • Mark 6:49-50

    But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

  • Daniel 10:6-12

    His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. …

  • Job 4:14-16

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

  • Luke 24:37

    But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

  • Luke 24:45

    Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

  • Acts 12:15

    And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

  • 1 Samuel 28:12-14

    And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

  • Luke 24:5

    And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they were.
1Sa 28:12-14; Job 4:14-16; Da 10:6-12; Mr 6:49,50; Lu 1:11,12
Lu 24:5,45; Ac 12:15; Re 1:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 14:25

    And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

  • Matthew 14:26

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

  • Matthew 14:27

    But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Read all of Matthew 14

Matthew 14:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los discípulos, viéndole andar sobre la mar, se turbaron, diciendo: Fantasma es. Y dieron voces de miedo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les disciples, le voyant marcher sur la mer, furent troublés, disant: C’est un fantôme. Et ils crièrent de peur.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und als die Jünger ihn auf dem See wandeln sahen, wurden sie bestürzt und sprachen: Es ist ein Gespenst! und sie schrieen vor Furcht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et videntes eum super mare ambulantem, turbati sunt, dicentes: Quia phantasma est. Et præ timore clamaverunt.