Devine Scripture

Matthew 8:25

What does Matthew 8:25 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 8:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 8:25 means

Overwhelmed by fear and believing they are perishing, the disciples wake Jesus, crying out for Him to save them. Their desperate plea, "Save, Lord; we perish," reveals their panic in the face of the storm's power and their recognition of Jesus’ ability to intervene, even though they don’t fully comprehend His full divine authority. Their plea is born of immediate physical danger, not necessarily deep spiritual understanding.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they came to him, and, awaking him, said, Help, Lord; destruction is near.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and his disciples having come to him, awoke him, saying, `Sir, save us; we are perishing.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the disciples came and awoke him, saying, Lord save: we perish.

Context

This verse illustrates the disciples' terror and their desperate appeal to Jesus, directly following the description of the raging storm and Jesus' deep sleep. It sets the stage for Jesus' rebuke of their fear and His subsequent powerful command over the elements, highlighting their lack of faith despite witnessing His earlier miracles.

v.24And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

v.25This passage

v.26And 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

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

  • Psalms 10:1

    Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

  • Mark 4:38

    And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?

  • Psalms 44:22

    Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:11

    And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

  • Luke 8:24

    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.

  • Jonah 1:6

    So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.

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