Mark 4:35-41 · Bible study

Mark 4:35-41 Commentary: Jesus Calms the Storm and Tests Faith

Greek · 10 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

Explore Mark 4:35-41 with scholarly depth: Jesus stills the storm, reveals his divine identity, and calls disciples to faith.

Research Summary

Meaning: Jesus intentionally leads the disciples into a storm to reveal his divine authority and to call them to a faith that trusts him in crisis.
Key words: λαῖλαψ (violent squall), σιώπα (be silent), πεφίμωσο (be muzzled/perfected imperative), κοπάζω (ceased, grew weary), φόβον μέγαν (great fear).
Main debate: Whether the storm was sent by Jesus to test the disciples or simply a providential event he used. Most agree he intended to teach faith.
Theological theme: Christology, Jesus shares in the divine power that commands creation (cf. Psalm 89:9; 107:29).
Best use: Teaching on faith during times of crisis, and helping believers recognize who Jesus truly is.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

³⁵When that evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side.”

³⁶After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Jesus with them, since He was already in the boat. And there were other boats with Him.

³⁷Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped.

³⁸But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

³⁹Then 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.

⁴⁰“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

WEB World English Bible 2000

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”

³⁶Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

³⁷A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.

³⁸He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

³⁹He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

⁴¹They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

KJV King James Version 1769

³⁵And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

³⁶And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

³⁷And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

ASV American Standard Version 1901

³⁵And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.

³⁶And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.

³⁷And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.

³⁸And 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?

³⁹And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?

⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

³⁵And he saith to them on that day, evening having come, `We may pass over to the other side;'

³⁶and having let away the multitude, they take him up as he was in the boat, and other little boats also were with him.

³⁷And there cometh a great storm of wind, and the waves were beating on the boat, so that it is now being filled,

³⁸and he himself was upon the stern, upon the pillow sleeping, and they wake him up, and say to him, `Teacher, art thou not caring that we perish?'

³⁹And having waked up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, `Peace, be stilled;' and the wind did lull, and there was a great calm:

⁴⁰and he said to them, `Why are ye so fearful? how have ye not faith?'

⁴¹and they feared a great fear, and said one to another, `Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea do obey him?'

Darby Darby Bible 1890

³⁵And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side:

³⁶and having sent away the crowd, they take him with [them], as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him.

³⁷And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled.

³⁸And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing?

³⁹And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith?

⁴¹And they feared [with] great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Verse in Context

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

34 Without a parable he didn’t speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”

36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.

38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and asked him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?”

39 He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

41 They were greatly afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Original Language (Koine Greek)

New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 4:35

Καὶ Kai G2532 And

λέγει legei G3004 He says

αὐτοῖς autois G0846 to them

ἐν en G1722 on

ἐκείνῃ ekeinē G1565 that [very]

τῇ tēa G3588 <the>

ἡμέρᾳ hēmera G2250 day

ὀψίας opsias G3798 evening

γενομένης· genomenēs G1096 having come;

διέλθωμεν dielthōmen G1330 let us pass over

εἰς eis G1519 to

τὸ to G3588 the

πέραν. peran G4008 other side.

Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.

Scholars' Consensus

Across the supplied commentaries, interpreters agree that this passage reveals Jesus' divine authority over creation. The storm on the Sea of Galilee was real and violent, a sudden squall (λαῖλαψ, a hurricane-like wind) that filled the boat with water. Jesus sleeps in the stern on a cushion, showing his genuine human weariness after a day of teaching. When awakened, he commands the wind and sea with two verbs: σιώπα (be silent) and πεφίμωσο (be muzzled, as if rebuking a raging beast). The wind immediately ceased (ἐκόπασεν, lit. grew weary) and a great calm followed. The disciples' response shifts from fear of death to a deeper awe, 'Who then is this?' They recognize that the power to calm creation belongs to God alone (cf. Psalm 89:9; 107:29). On the main interpretive question, why Jesus deliberately led them into danger, the commentators note that Jesus uses the storm to expose their insufficient faith and to teach them who he truly is. Matthew Henry observes that Christ does not rest after labor but exposes himself to danger, teaching that the end of one toil may be the beginning of another.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Low

What is clear: Jesus calms the storm by his own authoritative word, demonstrating that he shares the divine power over creation and calling his disciples to trust him in danger.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
Nature of the storm	The storm was a real, sudden squall common on the Sea of Galilee, threatening the boat.	Some stress that Jesus knowingly led them into the storm as a teaching opportunity; others see it as a providential event he used.
Jesus' sleep	Jesus was genuinely asleep, exhausted from ministry, showing his full humanity.	Some emphasize his sleep as evidence of perfect trust in the Father; others as a narrative set-up for the miracle.
Disciples' faith	The disciples lacked the faith to trust Jesus in the moment, though they had seen other miracles.	Some interpret 'no faith' as absolute; others as 'not yet' a mature faith that acts under pressure.

Historical & Cultural Context

The Sea of Galilee lies roughly 600 feet below sea level, surrounded by hills and mountain gorges that act as natural funnels for cold winds. Dr. Thomson, a long-time resident quoted by Barnes, describes how these winds can turn the lake into a fury within minutes, often when the sky is clear. The boat Jesus used was likely a fishing vessel with a leather cushion at the stern for the steersman. Mark alone notes that 'other small boats' were also present, adding vividness to the scene (Vincent). Jesus says 'Let's go over to the other side' in the evening, after a full day of teaching parables (Mark 4:1-34). The eastern shore was less populated, offering a place for rest. But the sudden storm, a laelaps, or violent squall, caught them mid-cross. The boat began to fill with water despite the crew's experience. Jesus' sleep on the cushion indicates both his physical exhaustion and his complete trust in the Father. The disciples, including seasoned fishermen, were terrified, understandable given the lake's reputation. This historical backdrop makes the miracle more striking: the same forces that could sink them in minutes became instantly calm at Jesus' word.

Textual Notes

The supplied sources note no significant textual variants that affect interpretation of Mark 4:35-41. Gill mentions that one copy reads βυθιζεσθαι (to sink) in verse 37 instead of γεμίζεσθαι (to be filled), but this minor difference does not change the sense: the boat was in grave danger. The passage is well preserved across manuscripts.

Reception History

Throughout church history, this passage has been read as a central revelation of Jesus' divine identity. Early church fathers, such as Chrysostom and Augustine, saw in the stilling of the storm a type of Christ calming the chaos of the soul and the world. The story inspired numerous hymns, including 'Peace, Be Still' (by Mary Baker, 1874), and has been a staple of lectionary readings in both eastern and western traditions. In art, the scene often contrasts Jesus' serene sleep with the disciples' panic, highlighting the call to trust. The passage continues to be used in teaching on fear, faith, and the sufficiency of Christ in life's trials.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

The Storm Comes (vv.35-37). Jesus initiates the crossing. A violent squall fills the boat. The disciples face real danger.
The Sleeping Savior (v.38). Jesus sleeps on a cushion in the stern, showing his humanity and his peace. His calm contrasts with their panic.
The Divine Command and the Real Lesson (vv.39-41). Jesus rebukes the wind, calms the sea, then questions the disciples about their fear and lack of faith. The story ends not with a safe arrival but with a question: 'Who then is this?'

Five-point outline

Jesus deliberately leads the disciples into the storm (vv.35-36).
The disciples' terror and accusation: 'Teacher, don't you care that we perish?' (v.38).
Jesus' authoritative command to wind and sea: 'Silence! Be still!' (v.39).
Jesus' rebuke of their fear and their missing faith (v.40).
The disciples' shift to reverent fear and the question of identity (v.41).

Illustration hooks

A family facing a sudden illness that fills the 'boat' with worry; it feels like Jesus is asleep.
A church trying to navigate internal conflict with no immediate resolution, can they trust the One who promised to bring them to the other side?
An overdue season of uncertainty at work or school where prayer seems silent.

Questions your congregation is asking

Why does God allow storms when I'm trying to follow him?
Is my fear a sign that I lack faith, or is it just human?
Who is Jesus, really, and does he have the power to handle what I'm facing?

Leading a Discussion

This passage confronts us with the question the disciples asked: 'Who then is this?' It also asks us about our own fear and faith when storms come. The setting is familiar, a boat, a storm, a sleeping Jesus, but the stakes are life itself. As you discuss, notice each detail Mark includes that the other gospels omit.

Discussion questions

What details does Mark add that Matthew and Luke do not? How do these affect the way you read the story?
Why do you think Jesus slept through the storm? What does his sleep reveal about his trust in the Father?
The disciples accuse Jesus: 'Don't you care that we perish?' Have you ever felt that God was not paying attention to your crisis? How did you handle that feeling?
Jesus speaks two commands to the storm: 'Peace! Be still!' The second verb, πεφίμωσο, means 'be muzzled.' What does this language suggest about Jesus' view of the storm?
Jesus rebukes the disciples' fear and asks about their lack of faith. In what sense did they have faith but fail to use it in the moment? How is that like our own experience?
After the calm, they are 'greatly afraid.' Their fear has shifted from the storm to Jesus himself. Why is that kind of fear appropriate? How does it differ from panic?
If you had been in the boat, what would you have learned about Jesus that you didn't know before?

What the Commentators Say

8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832

Barnes focuses on the sheer authority of Jesus' command "Peace, be still" spoken amid a furious storm. He argues that only the God who rules the winds and waves could silence them with a single word, and therefore this act proves Jesus is divine. The disciples' lack of preparation only makes the rescue more striking.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880

Cambridge Bible Schools points out that Mark alone records Jesus' direct, instantaneous command to the storm. The Greek perfect imperative demands an immediate result, and the word for "ceased" literally means "grew tired," emphasizing the storm's complete and unnatural submission. These details highlight Jesus' authority over nature at a moment of deep exhaustion.

Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748

Gill emphasizes that the immediate calm after Jesus rebuked the wind and sea proves He is truly God, since normally the waters continue raging long after a storm ends. He also notes that the disciples' words were not a prayer but a reproachful complaint, while the mariners' terrified question shows they recognized Jesus as more than a man.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871

JFB highlights that the disciples cried out in terror while One who had just shown divine authority over wind and sea was asleep in their boat. Their fear betrayed unbelief, for they did not yet grasp that the same power the Psalms ascribe to Yahweh was present with them in human form.

Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857

Lange sees the storm as revealing two layers of disorder: the disciples charge Jesus with neglect before seeing his plan, while he rightly rebukes their faithlessness. For Lange, nature's wild independence mirrors humanity's lost dominion, and the real anarchy lies in the human heart.

Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710

Henry points out that Christ set out on this stormy night immediately after a full day of preaching, showing that faithful service means moving from one task to another rather than seeking rest. The ship that served as his pulpit receives special protection and cannot sink, even when swamped. Christ also proposed crossing at night to lose no time, eager to keep doing good on the other side.

Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887

Vincent highlights how Mark's account is far more vivid than Matthew's or Luke's, personifying the sea as a raging monster that Jesus rebukes with the command "Be silent, be muzzled." He also notes the picturesque word for "ceased," which pictures the sea sinking to rest as if exhausted by its own beating.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754

Wesley highlights the precise meaning of Jesus' words to the storm. He interprets "Peace" as a command for the sea to stop tossing, and "Be still" as literally "Be gagged," silencing the storm's roar. He also clarifies that the "pillow" refers to the part of the vessel near the rudder where Jesus lay.

Word Study

The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.

αὐτός autos it/s/he G0846 · Greek → γίνομαι ginomai to be G1096 · Greek → διέρχομαι dierchomai to pass through G1330 · Greek → εἰς eis toward G1519 · Greek → ἐκεῖνος ekeinos that G1565 · Greek → ἐν en in/on/among G1722 · Greek → ἡμέρα hēmera day G2250 · Greek → καί kai and G2532 · Greek → λέγω legō to say G3004 · Greek → ὁ ho the/this/who G3588 · Greek → ὀψία opsia evening G3798 · Greek → πέραν peran other side G4008 · Greek →

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Matthew 8:18	Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side.
Matthew 8:23	When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
Matthew 8:27	The men marveled, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Matthew 14:22	Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Mark 5:21	When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea.
Mark 6:45	Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
Mark 8:13	He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
Luke 8:22	Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.

Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.

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