Focused Passage

Matthew 14:22-33

The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear

Matthew moves from Herod’s fearful interpretation of Jesus, to the flashback of John’s execution, to Jesus’ withdrawal and compassion, to the feeding of the multitude, to Jesus’ solitary prayer, to his walking on the sea, to Peter’s rescue and the disciples’ worship, and finally to widespread healing in Gennesaret.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.

23 After He had dismissed them, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.

26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29 “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.

33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 22

Original words

vvv Καὶ G2532 Conjunction Immediately εὐθέως G2112 Adverb [Jesus] made ἠνάγκασεν G315 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural disciples μαθητὰς G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural get into ἐμβῆναι G1684 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction go on ahead of προάγειν G4254 Verb - Present Infinitive Active Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular other side πέραν G4008 Adverb while ἕως G2193 Preposition . . . οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular He dismissed ἀπολύσῃ G630 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural crowds ὄχλους G3793 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 23

Original words

After καὶ G2532 Conjunction He had dismissed [them] ἀπολύσας G630 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . ὄχλους G3793 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural He went up ἀνέβη G305 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular on εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular mountain ὄρος G3735 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular by κατ’ G2596 Preposition Himself ἰδίαν G2398 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular to pray προσεύξασθαι G4336 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle When δὲ G1161 Conjunction evening ὀψίας G3798 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular came γενομένης G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular He was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular there ἐκεῖ G1563 Adverb alone μόνος G3441 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 24

Original words

but δὲ G1161 Conjunction the τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular was ἀπεῖχεν G568 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular already ἤδη G2235 Adverb far πολλοὺς G4183 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural . . . σταδίους G4712 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular land γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular buffeted βασανιζόμενον G928 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural waves κυμάτων G2949 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural because γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular wind ἄνεμος G417 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular against it ἐναντίος G1727 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Greek many stadia; a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters
Verse 25

Original words

vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction During the fourth Τετάρτῃ G5067 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular watch φυλακῇ G5438 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular night νυκτὸς G3571 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular [Jesus] went out ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural walking περιπατῶν G4043 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular sea θάλασσαν G2281 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular

BSB notes

  • That is, between three and six in the morning
Verse 26

Original words

When δὲ G1161 Conjunction the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural disciples μαθηταὶ G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural saw ἰδόντες G3708 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular walking περιπατοῦντα G4043 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular sea θαλάσσης G2281 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular they were terrified ἐταράχθησαν G5015 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural It’s ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a ghost Φάντασμά G5326 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular they said λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction and καὶ G2532 Conjunction cried out ἔκραξαν G2896 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural in ἀπὸ G575 Preposition - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular fear φόβου G5401 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 27

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction Jesus Ἰησοῦς» G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular spoke up ἐλάλησεν G2980 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural at once Εὐθὺς G2112 Adverb - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - «ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Take courage Θαρσεῖτε G2293 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural It is εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular I ἐγώ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular [Do] not μὴ G3361 Adverb be afraid φοβεῖσθε G5399 Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Verse 28

Original words

Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular if εἰ G1487 Conjunction [it] is εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular command κέλευσόν G2753 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular to come ἐλθεῖν G2064 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active to πρὸς G4314 Preposition You σὲ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural water ὕδατα G5204 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 29

Original words

Come Ἐλθέ G2064 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular said [Jesus] εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Then Καὶ G2532 Conjunction Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular got down out καταβὰς G2597 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular of ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular boat πλοίου G4143 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular walked περιεπάτησεν G4043 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural water ὕδατα G5204 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction came ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular toward πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦν G2424 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 30

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction when he saw βλέπων G991 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular strength ἰσχυρὸν G2478 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular of the wind ἄνεμον G417 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular he was afraid ἐφοβήθη G5399 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction beginning ἀρξάμενος G756 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular to sink καταποντίζεσθαι G2670 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive cried out ἔκραξεν G2896 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular save σῶσόν G4982 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Literally when he saw the strong wind; NE and WH do not include strong.
Verse 31

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction Immediately Εὐθέως G2112 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular reached out ἐκτείνας G1614 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [His] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular hand χεῖρα G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and] took hold ἐπελάβετο G1949 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular of [Peter] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular [You] of little faith Ὀλιγόπιστε G3640 Adjective - Vocative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He said λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular why εἰς G1519 Preposition . . . τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular did you doubt ἐδίστασας G1365 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 32

Original words

And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction when αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural they had climbed back ἀναβάντων G305 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular boat πλοῖον G4143 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular wind ἄνεμος G417 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular died down ἐκόπασεν G2869 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 33

Original words

Then δὲ G1161 Conjunction those who [were] οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular boat πλοίῳ G4143 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular worshiped προσεκύνησαν G4352 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular saying λέγοντες G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Truly Ἀληθῶς G230 Adverb You are εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular the Son Υἱὸς G5207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.