And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Greek word for "ceased" here implies the wind didn't just stop, but grew weary and gradually subsided. This paints a picture of Jesus' presence not just calming the storm, but actively bringing a profound, almost gentle peace that settled over the turbulent waters. It highlights that Jesus' authority over nature is not merely forceful, but can also be expressed with serene power.
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, he sent his disciples out onto a stormy sea while he prayed alone, and then walked on the water towards them in the midst of the tempest. Upon Peter's brief moment of faith and subsequent sinking, Jesus caught him and brought him back into the boat, immediately ending the storm. This series of events culminates in the disciples recognizing Jesus' divine authority, worshipping him as the Son of God.
Ever felt like the struggle was too much, even after the danger passed? The Bible uses a beautiful word to describe the storm's end, revealing something profound about peace.
The original Greek word used for the wind 'ceasing' (ἐκόπασεν - ekopasen) literally means 'to grow weary' or 'to sink away.' It’s not just that the wind stopped, but that it subsided as if it were exhausted.
This is a powerful image! It suggests the storm didn't just vanish; it was subdued, its power depleted. This speaks to the absolute authority of Jesus.
Was the storm's end the only miracle that night? Discover how the disciples' journey home was also an act of divine intervention.
While Matthew focuses on the wind ceasing, the Gospel of John adds a crucial detail: the boat immediately reached its destination. This points to a coordinated display of Jesus' power.
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The sudden and complete cessation of the storm only when Jesus entered the boat powerfully underscores that He, not the elements, is truly in control. It highlights how His presence brings immediate peace and reveals His divine authority to His awestruck disciples.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus commissions disciples
Jesus sends out his disciples in pairs to preach and heal, a mission where they gain experience and witness Jesus' power.
c. AD 28-30
Miracle of the loaves and fishes
Jesus miraculously feeds a large crowd, demonstrating his power over nature and his compassion. This event immediately precedes the sea-crossing narrative.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Disciples forced into stormy sea
Jesus compels his disciples to board a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee, despite his intention to stay and pray. A storm quickly arises, tossing the boat.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus walks on water
Jesus appears to his disciples in the midst of the storm, walking on the water to reach their distressed boat. Peter briefly joins him but then begins to sink.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus calms the storm
Upon entering the boat with Peter, Jesus immediately causes the violent wind to cease, bringing a sudden calm to the sea.
c. AD 28-30
Disciples worship Jesus
The disciples in the boat, astonished by the series of miracles, acknowledge Jesus' divine identity, worshipping him as the Son of God.
This psalm poetically describes God's power over the sea, stating He 'made the storm be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed.' This echoes the immediate cessation of the storm when Jesus entered the boat, highlighting His divine authority over nature.
Jonah 1:15-16In this Old Testament account, the sailors cast Jonah overboard to calm the sea, and 'the sea ceased from its raging.' This passage serves as a powerful Old Testament parallel, showing that true peace from storms comes not from removing a perceived problem, but from the presence and power of God Himself.
Mark 4:39Mark's account of the same event emphasizes Jesus' command to the storm: 'Peace! Be still!' The immediate response of the wind and sea shows Jesus' absolute mastery. This verse, paired with Matthew 14:32, demonstrates that Jesus’ authority is both spoken and inherently present when He arrives.
Job 38:8-11God Himself questions Job about His power to control the seas, declaring, 'I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set a bar and doors, and said, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your waves be stayed.”' This highlights that Jesus, by calming the storm, was exercising the same divine prerogative.
vincentMatthew 14:32: "And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased."
Ceased (ἐκόπασεν)A beautiful word. Lit., grew weary; sank away like one who is weary.
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 Greek word for "ceased" here implies the wind didn't just stop, but grew weary and gradually subsided. This paints a picture of Jesus' presence not just calming the storm, but actively bringing a profound, almost gentle peace that settled over the turbulent waters. It highlights that Jesus' authority over nature is not merely forceful, but can also be expressed with serene power.
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, he sent his disciples out onto a stormy sea while he prayed alone, and then walked on the water towards them in the midst of the tempest. Upon Peter's brief moment of faith and subsequent sinking, Jesus caught him and brought him back into the boat, immediately ending the storm. This series of events culminates in the disciples recognizing Jesus' divine authority, worshipping him as the Son of God.
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, he sent his disciples out onto a stormy sea while he prayed alone, and then walked on the water towards them in the midst of the tempest. Upon Peter's brief moment of faith and subsequent sinking, Jesus caught him and brought him back into the boat, immediately ending the storm. This series of events culminates in the disciples recognizing Jesus' divine authority, worshipping him as the Son of God.
"And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased." — The Greek word for "ceased" here implies the wind didn't just stop, but grew weary and gradually subsided. This paints a picture of Jesus' presence not just calming the storm, but actively bringing a…
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Last reviewed October 2026