but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word translated "tossed" actually carries a sense of being "tormented" or "distressed," suggesting the waves weren't just rocking the boat but actively attacking and oppressing it. This detail emphasizes not just their physical danger but the intense, tormenting fear they must have been experiencing as they were pushed further from safety.
but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands, but then sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee while he prayed alone. Now, far from shore and battling a fierce headwind, the disciples are struggling, their boat violently tossed by the waves and facing a dangerous storm.
You're following Jesus' command, doing exactly what you believe He asked, and then bam! A storm hits. Does that make sense?
It's easy to think that if we're on the right path, doing God's will, everything should be smooth sailing. But here, Jesus commanded the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him. They weren't running away or disobeying; they were acting on His word. Yet, they found themselves 'in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary.'
This tells us a powerful truth: storms don't always mean we've done something wrong. Sometimes, God allows or even directs us into difficult circumstances. Why? Often, it's to prepare us for a greater display of His power and grace, to deepen our faith, and to teach us to rely on Him, not on our own strength or circumstances. As Benson notes, 'Christ designs hereby to manifest himself with the more wonderful grace to them and for them.'
The disciples were literally on the Sea of Galilee. But what does that stormy sea represent for us today?
The ancient commentators saw this storm-tossed boat as a powerful symbol. The 'sea' represents the world, and the 'waves' are the afflictions, troubles, and persecutions that believers often face. The 'contrary wind' is the opposition and hardship that blow against us.
This imagery is incredibly relevant. We live in a world that is often chaotic and turbulent. Even when we are journeying with Christ, we will encounter difficulties. As Benson puts it, 'Christ’s disciples may meet with troubles and afflictions in the way of their duty.' The key isn't avoiding the storm, but recognizing that God is with us, even when He seems distant or asleep, and He has a purpose in allowing these trials.
Ask a follow-up
The text doesn't just say 'it was windy.' It uses strong words to describe the disciples' distress. What does that intensity reveal?
The original language used to describe the boat's condition is powerful. Words like 'tossed,' 'vexed,' or 'tormented' (as seen in Ellicott and Vincent) paint a picture of a severe struggle. Clarke even notes a variant reading suggesting the boat was 'plunged under the waves,' 'frequently covered with them.'
This wasn't a minor inconvenience; it was a violent, potentially life-threatening situation. The disciples were exhausted from rowing, terrified, and feeling utterly helpless. This raw description helps us connect with their fear and desperation. It underscores that when God allows us into difficult seasons, they can be intense. This intensity isn't meant to break us, but to break us down—to strip away our self-reliance and drive us to cry out to the One who has the power to save.
This event occurred shortly after Jesus' miraculous feeding of the 5,000, a powerful sign of his authority. The disciples' dangerous journey across the Sea of Galilee, described here, highlights their struggle to understand Jesus' divine power, even after witnessing such a miracle.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus feeds the 5,000
Jesus miraculously feeds over 5,000 men plus women and children with only five loaves and two fish near the Sea of Galilee.
Evening of the same day
Disciples sent across the sea
Jesus compels his disciples to board a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee towards Bethsaida while he dismisses the crowd and goes to pray.
Night
Violent storm hits the Sea of Galilee
A strong, contrary wind arises, tossing the disciples' boat far from shore and causing them great distress as they struggle to row.
About the fourth watch of the night
Jesus walks on the water
Jesus appears to his struggling disciples by walking on the stormy sea, intending to pass by them, which terrifies them.
Following morning
Jesus and disciples reach the other side
After Jesus enters the boat and the storm ceases, they all arrive safely at their destination and are met by the people from the previous day's miracle.
This passage recounts the same event of Jesus coming to the disciples on the sea, providing a parallel narrative that deepens the understanding of their fear and Jesus's miraculous intervention.
Job 9:8This verse describes God treading on the waves of the sea, highlighting the ancient understanding of God's sovereign power over the chaotic forces of nature, which Jesus demonstrates here.
Psalm 107:23-30This psalm beautifully illustrates God's power to calm storms at sea, paralleling Jesus's authority over the elements and offering a theological framework for understanding His actions.
1 Peter 5:7This verse encourages believers to cast their anxieties on God, speaking to the disciples' fear in the storm and reminding us that even in turbulent times, we can find peace by trusting in God's care.
barnesMatthew 14:24: "But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary."
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea - John says they had sailed about 25 or 30 furlongs. About 7 1/2 Jewish furlongs made a mile; so that the distance they had salted was not more than about 4 miles. At no place is the Sea of Tiberias much more than 10 miles in breadth, so that they were literally in the midst of the sea.
calvinMatthew 14:22-33: "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away."
- And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to embark, and to go before him to the opposite bank, till he had sent away the multitudes. 23. And when he had sent away the multitudes, he went up into a mountain alone to pray; and when the evening came, he was there alone. 24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tosse…
The word translated "tossed" actually carries a sense of being "tormented" or "distressed," suggesting the waves weren't just rocking the boat but actively attacking and oppressing it. This detail emphasizes not just their physical danger but the intense, tormenting fear they must have been experiencing as they were pushed further from safety.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands, but then sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee while he prayed alone. Now, far from shore and battling a fierce headwind, the disciples are struggling, their boat violently tossed by the waves and facing a dangerous storm.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands, but then sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee while he prayed alone. Now, far from shore and battling a fierce headwind, the disciples are struggling, their boat violently tossed by the waves and facing a dangerous storm.
"but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them." — The word translated "tossed" actually carries a sense of being "tormented" or "distressed," suggesting the waves weren't just rocking the boat but actively attacking and oppressing it. This detail em…
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Last reviewed October 2026