Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just rescue Peter; he immediately pulls him closer, highlighting that falling into doubt doesn't sever connection, but rather exposes a vulnerability that Christ's hand is always ready to meet. The question, "Why did you doubt?" isn't an accusation of failure, but an invitation to examine the root of our wavering, pointing out that even with an expressed command and a taste of divine power, the mind can still falter.
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, and now he sends his disciples across the sea while he dismisses the crowd and goes to pray. A storm hits the boat, and in the dark of night, Jesus appears walking on the water, which terrifies the disciples until he reassures them. Peter, bold as ever, asks to join Jesus on the water, and Jesus permits it, but Peter's faith falters when he sees the wind and waves, causing him to sink.
Jesus doesn't always call us to what's easy or comfortable. Sometimes, He calls us to step out onto the water.
Peter’s bold request to walk on water wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment impulse. It was born from a genuine desire to be closer to Jesus, even if it meant facing the impossible.
Jesus honored Peter's request, not because it was perfectly wise, but because it was a step toward Him, and because Jesus knew it would ultimately reveal both Peter's weakness and Jesus' own sustaining power.
When the storm hits, even strong faith can feel like it's not enough. What does Jesus mean by 'little faith'?
Peter's experience is a powerful reminder that even with faith, doubt can creep in, leading to a spiritual "sinking."
Ask a follow-up
When we're sinking, who is there to grab our hand? Jesus is always quicker than our fall.
The most comforting part of this story isn't Peter's faith, but Jesus' immediate, unwavering response.
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
An active, personal trust and reliance upon God. In the New Testament, it signifies the conviction of the truth of God's Word and a complete dependence on Jesus Christ for salvation and daily guidance.
distazo · Greek Verb
To waver, hesitate, or be divided in one's mind; it often implies a struggle between trust and fear or uncertainty regarding God's power or character.
c. AD 30
Jesus feeds the 5,000
Jesus miraculously feeds a crowd of over 5,000 men with only five loaves and two fish. This event deeply impressed the crowd and His disciples.
c. AD 30
Jesus prays alone on the mountain
After feeding the 5,000, Jesus sends the disciples across the Sea of Galilee while He withdraws to a mountain to pray, leaving them to face the sea alone.
c. AD 30
Disciples struggle in a storm
The disciples' boat is caught in a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, struggling against strong winds and high waves as they row.
c. AD 30
Jesus walks on the sea
Jesus comes to His struggling disciples by walking on the surface of the stormy sea, an act intended to pass by them.
c. AD 30
Peter walks on water
At Peter's request, Jesus allows him to walk on the water towards Him, demonstrating a moment of great faith.
c. AD 30— this verse
Peter doubts and sinks
When Peter notices the strong wind and waves, he becomes afraid and begins to sink, crying out to Jesus for help.
c. AD 30
Jesus saves Peter and calms the storm
Jesus immediately reaches out, catches the sinking Peter, rebukes his lack of faith, and then calms the storm as they board the boat.
This passage speaks to Jesus' ability to help those who are being tempted, directly paralleling His immediate action to save Peter from sinking.
Isaiah 41:10This verse offers God's promise not to fear, as He will strengthen and uphold us, much like Jesus did for Peter when he began to sink.
Psalm 23:4The imagery of God's presence and rod and staff comforting us, even in the valley of the shadow of death, echoes Jesus' protective hand reaching out to Peter in his moment of crisis.
Mark 9:24The father's cry, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' beautifully captures the struggle with doubt that Jesus addresses in Peter, highlighting the common human experience of wavering faith.
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…
pulpitMatthew 14:31: "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"
Verse 31. - And immediately. Without any waste of time, just as in ver. 27. Jesus stretched forth his hand. So that St. Peter had come up to him (ver. 29). And caught him; and took hold of him (Revised Version, ἐπελάβετο αὐτοῦ: cf. Hebrews 2:16; Hebrews 8:9). And said; saith (Revised Version). The writer passes to more vivid narration. Unto him,…
Jesus doesn't just rescue Peter; he immediately pulls him closer, highlighting that falling into doubt doesn't sever connection, but rather exposes a vulnerability that Christ's hand is always ready to meet. The question, "Why did you doubt?" isn't an accusation of failure, but an invitation to examine the root of our wavering, pointing out that even with an expressed command and a taste of divine power, the mind can still falter.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, and now he sends his disciples across the sea while he dismisses the crowd and goes to pray. A storm hits the boat, and in the dark of night, Jesus appears walking on the water, which terrifies the disciples until he reassures them. Peter, bold as ever, asks to join Jesus on the water, and Jesus permits it, but Peter's faith falters when he sees the wind and waves, causing him to sink.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, and now he sends his disciples across the sea while he dismisses the crowd and goes to pray. A storm hits the boat, and in the dark of night, Jesus appears walking on the water, which terrifies the disciples until he reassures them. Peter, bold as ever, asks to join Jesus on the water, and Jesus permits it, but Peter's faith falters when he sees the wind and waves, causing him to sink.
"Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”" — Jesus doesn't just rescue Peter; he immediately pulls him closer, highlighting that falling into doubt doesn't sever connection, but rather exposes a vulnerability that Christ's hand is always ready…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026