What Does Matthew 14:30 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.
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30, King James Version
The same verse in modern English
"But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”" Matthew 14:30, 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.
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Matthew 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
A conversation built on it
Panic strips away the words, and then you feel bad about having none. Peter managed three, mid-sink, and they were enough. The account says help came immediately — not after he composed himself, and not after he explained.
Questions people ask
What does Matthew 14:30 mean?
In modern English (Berean Standard Bible) it reads: “But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”” The King James rendering most people know is: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
What is the context of Matthew 14:30?
The verses immediately around it read: (Matthew 14:28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (Matthew 14:29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:31) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:32) And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
How is Matthew 14:30 used in a conversation about this?
Panic strips away the words, and then you feel bad about having none. Peter managed three, mid-sink, and they were enough. The account says help came immediately — not after he composed himself, and not after he explained.
Reading it is one thing. Saying what it stirs up is another.
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