Bible Strands
Matthew 8:26
“You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus, reclining in a boat, addresses the disciples who have just roused him from sleep amid a storm (v. 25). He speaks before acting: the rebuke of the winds and sea follows the words.
The words — δειλοὶ (deiloi) carries the sense of "fearful, cowardly," a stronger charge than mere fright; ὀλιγόπιστοι (oligopistoi) is a compound noun used as a direct address, "you little-faithed ones," making the deficiency a personal identity, not a passing emotion.
The thread — The pattern of God stilling the sea appears in Psalms 65:7 and 107:28, where the cry in distress is answered by divine intervention. Isaiah 41:10 frames the same move: the prohibition of fear is grounded in God's presence, which is precisely what the disciples had in the boat and failed to register.
Why it lands — The question "why are you afraid?" is not rhetorical comfort; it is an accusation that the reader's fear is a verdict against the One present. It asks the reader to name the specific trust they are withholding.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Psalms 65:7 You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.
- Psalms 107:28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.
- Psalms 89:9 You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.
- Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
- Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm.
- Mark 4:39 Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.
- Romans 4:20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
- Isaiah 50:2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
- Job 38:8 Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,