Luke 8:24

What does Luke 8:24 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 8:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 8:24 means

Luke 8:24 recounts the disciples waking Jesus in panic, saying, “Master, master, we perish.” Jesus awakens, rebukes the wind and water, and they cease. The rebuke demonstrates his authority over nature—he commands creation itself to obey. The disciples’ cry reveals their existential fear and recognition that they cannot save themselves. Jesus’ calm action both rescues them and teaches who he is: not merely a teacher but one with power to quiet chaos and preserve life, a sign pointing beyond physical rescue to spiritual deliverance.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then they came to him and, awaking him out of his sleep, said, Master, Master, destruction is near. And he, when he was awake, gave orders to the wind and the rolling waves, and the storm came to an end, and all was calm.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And having come near, they awoke him, saying, `Master, master, we perish;' and he, having arisen, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there came a calm,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they came and awaked him, saying: Master, we perish. But he arising, rebuked the wind and the rage of the water. And it ceased: and there was a calm.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and coming to [him] they woke him up, saying, Master, master, we perish. But he, rising up, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Context

This verse is the crisis’ climax and the first clear public miracle in the chapter’s sequence. It follows teaching about spiritual receptivity and precedes the disciples’ astonishment. The event functions as a practical demonstration of the authority behind Jesus’ words and is designed to provoke faith in the witnesses.

v.23But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.

v.24This passage

v.25And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 104:6

    Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a vesture; The waters stood above the mountains.

  • Psalms 69:1

    Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul.

  • Psalms 116:3

    The cords of death compassed me, And the pains of Sheol gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

  • Matthew 14:30

    But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.

  • Lamentations 3:54

    Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.

  • Nahum 1:4

    He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

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