Matthew 8 · Verse 24

Matthew 8:24

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
Matthew 8:24, King James Version

Matthew 8:24 in other translations

BSBSuddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping.
WEBBehold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep.
ASVAnd behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
YLTand lo, a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves, but he was sleeping,
DARBYand behold, the water became very agitated on the sea, so that the ship was covered by the waves; but he slept.
BBEAnd there came up a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was sleeping.
WebsterAnd behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

What does Matthew 8:24 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. A great tempest. A violent storm; or a wind so strong as to endanger their lives. This lake was subject to sudden squalls.

The ship was covered with the waves. The billows dashed against the ship, (Mk 4:37,) so that it was fast filling and in danger of sinking.

He was asleep. On the hinder part of the vessel, on a pillow, Mk 4:38. It was in the night, and Jesus had retired to rest. He was probably weary, and slept calmly and serenely, he apprehended no danger, and showed to his disciples how calmly one can sleep with a pure conscience, and who feels safe in the hands of God.

(h) "And, behold" Mk 4:37, Lk 8:23

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Arose a great tempest in the sea - Probably excited by Satan, the prince of the power of the air, who, having got the author and all the preachers of the Gospel together in a small vessel, thought by drowning it, to defeat the purposes of God, and thus to prevent the salvation of a ruined world. What a noble opportunity must this have appeared to the enemy of the human race!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 8:23-27

It is a comfort to those who go down to the sea in ships, and are often in perils there, to reflect that they have a Saviour to trust in and pray to, who knows what it is to be on the water, and to be in storms there. Those who are passing with Christ over the ocean of this world, must expect storms. His human nature, like to ours in every thing but sin, was wearied, and he slept at this time to try the faith of his…

Read the full comment on Matthew 8:23-27 →

Matthew 8:24 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
σεισμὸςseismosa stormG4578
μέγαςmegasgreatG3173
ἐγένετοegenetoaroseG1096
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
θαλάσσῃthalassēseaG2281
ὥστεhōsteso thatG5620
τὸtotheG3588
πλοῖονploionboatG4143
καλύπτεσθαιkaluptesthaibeing swampedG2572
ὑπὸhupobyG5259
τῶνtōntheG3588
κυμάτων·kumatōnwaves;G2949
αὐτὸςautosHe HimselfG846
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐκάθευδεν.ekatheudenwas sleeping.G2518

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

Cross references for Matthew 8:24

  • Luke 8:23

    But 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 4:37-38

    And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

  • Psalms 107:23-27

    They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. …

  • Jonah 1:4-5

    But 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. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

  • Acts 27:14-38

    But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. …

  • John 6:17-18

    And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

  • Isaiah 54:11

    O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:25-26

    Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

  • John 11:5-6

    Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

  • John 11:15

    And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there.
Ps 107:23-27; Isa 54:11; Jon 1:4,5; Mr 4:37,38; Ac 27:14-38
2Co 11:25,26
but.
Lu 8:23; Joh 6:17,18; 11:5,6,15

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

Context

  • Matthew 8:23

    And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

  • Matthew 8:24

    And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

  • Matthew 8:25

    And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Read all of Matthew 8

Matthew 8:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y he aquí, fué hecho en la mar un gran movimiento, que el barco se cubría de las ondas; mas él dormía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et voici, une grande tourmente s’éleva sur la mer, en sorte que le bateau était couvert par les vagues; mais lui dormait.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und siehe, es erhob sich ein großes Ungestüm auf dem See, so daß das Schiff von den Wellen bedeckt wurde; er aber schlief.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et ecce motus magnus factus est in mari, ita ut navicula operiretur fluctibus: ipse vero dormiebat.