He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse doesn't just describe a sudden stop to a storm; it emphasizes God's active silencing of the tempest and hushing the waves into stillness. This isn't merely the wind dying down, but a profound act of control, bringing a chaotic sea to a quiet, peaceful rest.
He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes sailors caught in a violent storm, their lives hanging in the balance as waves crash over their ship and they're tossed about helplessly. Their desperate cries lead to God's intervention, quieting the tempest and bringing a sudden, profound stillness to the sea. This dramatic rescue sets the stage for the mariners' immense relief and their eventual safe arrival at their desired destination.
Imagine being caught in a violent storm at sea, with waves crashing over you and the ship tossed about like a toy. What brings true peace in such moments?
This verse paints a powerful picture of God's absolute authority over the natural world. It's not just that storms sometimes stop; it's that God makes them stop. He isn't subject to the weather; He commands it.
A Word of Power
The original language here suggests God brings the tempest to a 'standstill' or 'silence.' It's like He speaks a word, and the chaos obeys. This isn't a gentle suggestion; it's a sovereign decree. When the Psalmist recounts this, he's not just describing a meteorological event; he's testifying to the might of the Creator who holds the very forces of nature in His hands.
More Than Just Weather
This power isn't limited to oceans. It speaks to God's ability to bring calm to any storm in our lives—whether it's inner turmoil, relational conflict, or overwhelming circumstances. His command has the power to hush the loudest inner storms, just as it silenced the raging sea.
What happens to people when the overwhelming fear of a storm suddenly gives way to perfect stillness?
Psalm 107 beautifully captures the journey of those caught in a tempest. They are tossed, terrified, and feel utterly helpless, their senses overwhelmed (as described in the wider context of verses 23-27).
Ask a follow-up
From Despair to Joy
Suddenly, God intervenes. The violent winds cease, the towering waves become flat. This isn't just a relief; it's a transition from the brink of disaster to the safety of a harbor. The focus shifts from the terrifying power of the storm to the joyous relief of its stillness.
A Divine Rescue:
The text emphasizes that this isn't a random occurrence. God orchestrates this change, bringing them 'to their desired haven.' This act of deliverance is meant to evoke profound gratitude and praise, recognizing that their lives were preserved by His direct intervention.
Understand the original words
se'arah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to a tempestuous disturbance of nature, often used metaphorically for divine judgment or intense life crises that overwhelm human strength.
This psalm likely emerged from the context of Israel's faith development, particularly during and after the Babylonian exile, where the remembrance of God’s power, even over the tumultuous seas, offered profound hope and assurance.
c. 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire at its Zenith
The powerful Assyrian Empire dominated the Near East, controlling vast territories and influencing regional politics and trade, including maritime routes in the Mediterranean.
c. 7th century BC
Assyrian Naval Power
Assyria developed a significant naval presence, particularly on the Mediterranean coast, using their fleet for trade, transport, and military purposes, engaging in voyages and facing the perils of the sea.
c. 7th century BC
Prophetic Oracles Against Maritime Nations
Prophets like Jonah and later Isaiah and Jeremiah delivered messages against various nations, some of whom were seafaring powers, highlighting God's sovereignty over all domains, including the sea.
c. 586 BC
Babylonian Exile Begins
The Babylonian conquest led to the exile of many Judeans. While not directly a sea voyage, the disruption of life and the widespread fear during this period underscored dependence on divine intervention.
c. 6th century BC
Exilic Period and Psalmody
During the Babylonian exile, the Psalter was likely compiled and expanded, with many psalms reflecting the experiences and faith of the exiles, including laments and songs of deliverance.
c. 5th century BC
Post-Exilic Reconstruction
Following the return from exile, the community faced rebuilding their lives and their nation. The book of Psalms continued to be a source of comfort and instruction, with themes of God's power over nature.
c. 5th century BC— this verse
The Psalms as Liturgical Texts
Psalms like 107 became integral to the worship of the restored Jewish community, recounting God's faithfulness and miraculous interventions, including deliverance from the perils of sea travel.
Jesus demonstrates His divine authority by directly commanding the storm and waves to be still, echoing the power seen in Psalm 107.
Jonah 1:15This passage describes sailors throwing Jonah overboard to quell a storm, highlighting human powerlessness against the sea's fury, which makes God's ability to bring calm even more profound.
Mark 4:39Similar to Psalm 107, Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea with His word, causing an immediate and powerful calm, underscoring His sovereign control over nature.
Nahum 1:4This verse describes God's power over the sea, rebuking it and making it dry, and causing its rivers to fail, showing His dominion over the waters beyond just calming storms.
pulpitPsalms 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Verse 29. - He maketh the storm a calm; i.e. he causes the wind to drop, and to be succeeded by a "great calm" (comp. Matthew 8:26). Such sudden changes do sometimes occur, not only in inland seas, but on the Mediterranean (see Jonah 1:15). So that the waves thereof are still; literally, the waves of them; i.e. of the great waters (see ver. 23).
clarkePsalms 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
He maketh the storm a calm - He causes the storm to stand dumb, and hushes the waves. See the original, where sense and sound emphatically meet: - גליהם ויחשו לדממה סארה יקם galleyhem vaiyecheshu lidemamah searah yakem He shall cause the whirlwind to stand dumb, and he shall hush their billows.
This verse doesn't just describe a sudden stop to a storm; it emphasizes God's active silencing of the tempest and hushing the waves into stillness. This isn't merely the wind dying down, but a profound act of control, bringing a chaotic sea to a quiet, peaceful rest.
This passage describes sailors caught in a violent storm, their lives hanging in the balance as waves crash over their ship and they're tossed about helplessly. Their desperate cries lead to God's intervention, quieting the tempest and bringing a sudden, profound stillness to the sea. This dramatic rescue sets the stage for the mariners' immense relief and their eventual safe arrival at their desired destination.
This passage describes sailors caught in a violent storm, their lives hanging in the balance as waves crash over their ship and they're tossed about helplessly. Their desperate cries lead to God's intervention, quieting the tempest and bringing a sudden, profound stillness to the sea. This dramatic rescue sets the stage for the mariners' immense relief and their eventual safe arrival at their desired destination.
"He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." — This verse doesn't just describe a sudden stop to a storm; it emphasizes God's active silencing of the tempest and hushing the waves into stillness. This isn't merely the wind dying down, but a pro…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026