John 6:18 kjv
And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
John 6:18 nkjv
Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
John 6:18 niv
A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
John 6:18 esv
The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
John 6:18 nlt
Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough.
John 6 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 89:9 | You rule the surging sea... | God's control over the sea |
| Ps 107:25 | For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted the waves of the sea. | God's power to send and control storms |
| Ps 107:29 | He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. | God's power to calm storms |
| Job 9:8 | who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea... | God as sole master of creation, including seas |
| Job 38:8-11 | "Who shut in the sea with doors... and prescribed limits for it... | God's establishment of bounds for the sea |
| Isa 43:16 | Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea... | God's power to part the sea and create paths |
| Mk 4:37 | And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat | Synoptic parallel of a sudden, strong storm on the sea |
| Mk 4:39 | And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" | Jesus' power to command nature and calm storms |
| Mt 8:24 | And behold, a great tempest arose on the sea... | Synoptic parallel description of a great sea storm |
| Mt 14:24 | But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. | Synoptic parallel to the wind against the boat here |
| Mt 14:26 | When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified... | Jesus walking on water |
| Lk 8:23 | a squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in danger. | Synoptic parallel to danger on the lake |
| Jonah 1:4 | But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest | God sending a storm to achieve His purpose |
| Gen 1:2 | ...and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. | Primal chaos of waters before divine ordering |
| Pss 65:7 | you quiet the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves... | God as the ultimate quieter of chaos |
| Rev 21:1 | ...and the sea was no more. | Symbolic removal of chaos/danger in new creation |
| Ps 18:10 | He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. | God's mastery and use of the wind |
| Prov 30:4 | Who has gathered the wind in his fists? | Rhetorical question emphasizing God's control of wind |
| Nah 1:4 | He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; he dries up all the rivers. | God's command over water elements |
| 1 Cor 10:1-2 | All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea... | Symbolic significance of crossing water/sea |
| Hab 3:8 | Was your wrath against the sea, O LORD, when you rode on your horses... | God's triumph over the sea (chaos) |
| Acts 27:14 | ...a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon, struck her. | Perilous storms faced by early believers |
John 6 verses
John 6 18 Meaning
John 6:18 describes a perilous natural event on the Sea of Galilee. It tells us that as the disciples were rowing in the boat, the sea began to churn violently due to a strong and persistent wind blowing across it. This verse sets the stage for a miraculous intervention by Jesus, highlighting the disciples' physical struggle and vulnerability in the face of natural forces, and preparing the reader for a dramatic demonstration of Jesus' divine authority over creation.
John 6 18 Context
John 6:18 follows directly from Jesus feeding the five thousand and the subsequent attempt by the crowd to make Him king (Jn 6:1-15). Jesus, knowing their intentions, withdrew to a mountain by Himself to pray. He then instructed His disciples to get into a boat and cross to Capernaum (Jn 6:16-17). This verse depicts the immediate challenge the disciples faced after embarking on their journey. They rowed for a considerable distance, but by then darkness had fallen, and a fierce storm began to rage. The Sea of Galilee is prone to sudden, violent storms because it lies 700 feet below sea level, surrounded by steep hills that create strong wind funnels. The disciples were far from land, struggling against overwhelming natural forces, without Jesus physically present in the boat, which emphasizes their human limitation and foreshadows the dramatic appearance of Jesus walking on water.
John 6 18 Word analysis
- καὶ (kai) – "And": A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding narrative. It smoothly transitions from the disciples getting into the boat (Jn 6:17) to the onset of the storm, emphasizing the immediate continuation of events.
- ἡ θάλασσα (hē thalassa) – "the sea": Refers to the Sea of Galilee, a significant location in Jesus' ministry. In biblical thought, the sea often symbolizes chaos, danger, and the untamed forces of nature, contrasting with God's ordered creation. This specific designation signals a setting for divine intervention.
- ἀνέμου (anemou) – "of wind": From anemos, meaning wind or spirit. In this genitive form, it describes the source of the sea's agitation. Wind in scripture can represent the power of God (e.g., Gen 8:1) or destructive forces (e.g., Ps 107:25), here illustrating its formidable natural power.
- μεγάλου (megalou) – "strong/great": A descriptor modifying "wind." From megas, signifying something of great size, intensity, or importance. This highlights the severity of the wind, making it clear that this was no ordinary breeze but a powerful force that created significant danger for the small fishing boat.
- πνέοντος (pneontos) – "blowing": A present participle from pneō, meaning "to blow" or "to breathe." The present tense conveys continuous action, indicating the wind was continually blowing, sustaining the turbulent condition of the sea. This emphasizes the relentless nature of the storm, not a momentary gust.
- διεγείρετο (diegeireto) – "was becoming rough / was being stirred up": This is an imperfect passive/middle indicative from diegeirō, which means "to awaken," "to stir up," or "to rouse." The imperfect tense points to an ongoing, developing situation – the sea wasn't rough instantly but was progressively becoming rougher. The passive/middle voice implies that the sea was being acted upon or stirring itself up under the force of the wind, conveying a vivid image of escalating turmoil and demonstrating the irresistible power of nature over the boat.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- καὶ ἡ θάλασσα (and the sea): Connects the narrative to the journey and introduces the main natural element under attack, setting up a confrontation with the forces of chaos.
- ἀνέμου μεγάλου πνέοντος (because a strong wind was blowing): This genitive absolute phrase provides the causal explanation for the sea's condition. It describes the intense and persistent force behind the gathering storm, portraying an uncontrollable natural power that underscores the disciples' helplessness.
- ἡ θάλασσα ... διεγείρετο (the sea was becoming rough): The combination of the subject "sea" and the verb "was becoming rough" portrays the natural element itself in a state of active, intensifying agitation. The sea is not just an object but an environment transforming into a menacing force.
John 6 18 Bonus section
The image of a storm-tossed sea where the disciples struggle without Jesus resonates deeply with the experiences of believers facing life's "storms" of anxiety, doubt, or overwhelming circumstances. Their predicament in the middle of the sea (Jn 6:19), far from shore and far from Jesus, emphasizes a period of acute vulnerability and spiritual testing. This specific incident is not merely a display of Jesus' power but also a symbolic representation of His ever-present watchfulness and ability to appear precisely when human efforts fail and hope wanes, reinforcing His role as the ultimate Deliverer in times of deepest distress. The struggle against the wind points to their futile labor until Jesus' arrival.
John 6 18 Commentary
John 6:18 is a concise yet profoundly significant verse, serving as the setting for Jesus' later manifestation of divine power. It paints a picture of stark reality: human effort (rowing) is pitted against overwhelming natural forces (a great, blowing wind stirring up the sea). The imperfect tense of "was becoming rough" accentuates the mounting peril, creating a sense of increasing struggle and desperation for the disciples. This natural, formidable storm underscores a crucial theological point: human frailty in the face of creation's power. It prepares the reader to witness Jesus, who soon appears walking on these very waters, not as someone subject to these forces, but as one with sovereign authority over them. This verse subtly contrasts the vulnerable state of humanity, even Jesus' own disciples, with the immense, unfathomable power of God, soon to be revealed in the person of Jesus Himself. It serves as a narrative pivot, transitioning from physical need to supernatural intervention, highlighting the limits of human strength and the boundlessness of divine omnipotence.