What Does Mark 4:39 Mean?
Two renderings of the same sentence, the verses it belongs to, and what the passage is doing — so you can decide what it means rather than take someone's word for it.
"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39, King James Version
The same verse in modern English
"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." Mark 4:39, Berean Standard Bible
What it sits inside
A verse quoted on its own is the commonest way one gets misread. Here it is with what comes immediately before and after, in the King James Version.
Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mark 4:38 And 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?
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
A conversation built on it
The storm was never a sign He'd left. He was in it with you the whole time — and He's the reason it doesn't get the last word.
Questions people ask
What does Mark 4:39 mean?
In modern English (Berean Standard Bible) it reads: “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.” The King James rendering most people know is: “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
What is the context of Mark 4:39?
The verses immediately around it read: (Mark 4:37) And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (Mark 4:38) And 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? (Mark 4:39) And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:40) And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:41) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
How is Mark 4:39 used in a conversation about this?
The storm was never a sign He'd left. He was in it with you the whole time — and He's the reason it doesn't get the last word.
Reading it is one thing. Saying what it stirs up is another.
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