Luke 8 25

Luke 8:25 kjv

And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Luke 8:25 nkjv

But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"

Luke 8:25 niv

"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

Luke 8:25 esv

He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

Luke 8:25 nlt

Then he asked them, "Where is your faith?" The disciples were terrified and amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!"

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 25 Meaning

Luke 8:25 recounts Jesus's direct challenge to His disciples regarding their lack of faith after He calms a violent storm. It then details their terrified awe and profound questioning of His identity, as they realize His unprecedented authority extends even over the forces of nature, which implicitly positions Him as more than a mere man.

Luke 8 25 Context

Luke 8:25 immediately follows Jesus's miraculous calming of a violent storm while He and His disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee (Lk 8:22-24). Jesus had been asleep in the boat, demonstrating a human weariness. The storm was so severe that it filled the boat with water, terrifying even experienced fishermen among the disciples. After being awoken, Jesus first rebuked the wind and waves, and they immediately ceased, followed by a great calm. This verse, then, records Jesus's question to His disciples and their reaction to His demonstration of unparalleled authority.

The broader context of Luke Chapter 8 portrays Jesus exercising various forms of divine authority: teaching in parables about the Kingdom of God and the importance of hearing and obeying the word (Lk 8:4-18), proclaiming new spiritual family relationships (Lk 8:19-21), and subsequently displaying power over nature (Lk 8:22-25), demons (Lk 8:26-39), disease, and death (Lk 8:40-56). The storm calming is part of a series of signs that collectively reveal His unique divine nature. Historically, the Jewish people understood God alone to possess absolute control over creation, especially the chaotic waters. For the disciples to witness a man commanding the elements to obey Him was a profound and shocking revelation that forced them to re-evaluate their understanding of who Jesus was.

Luke 8 25 Word analysis

• And he said to them, 'Where is your faith?'
  • And he said: Signifies a direct address following the preceding event.
  • to them: Refers directly to the disciples, His chosen followers who have witnessed His teaching and miracles.
  • Where is your faith?: Gr. Pou estin hē pistis hymōn? This is not merely an inquiry about a lack, but a rhetorical question challenging its absence or hiddenness at that critical moment. It implies that faith should have been present, particularly given who was with them. This question reveals Jesus's disappointment and functions as a teaching moment about their spiritual immaturity. The question probes the core of their response to crisis when divine power is present.
• And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?'
  • And they were afraid: Gr. phobēthentes (from phobeo). This fear is profound, bordering on terror, born from experiencing something beyond human comprehension – not fear of the storm now, but fear of the one who subdued it. It's a primal awe, a reverential fear mixed with terror in the presence of the divine. This fear contrasts sharply with the "faith" Jesus just mentioned.
  • and marveled: Gr. ethaumasan. To be utterly astonished, filled with wonder, dumbfounded. This points to a recognition of an extraordinary, supernatural act. Their astonishment goes beyond mere surprise to profound awe at the sheer magnitude of the power displayed.
  • saying to one another: Indicates shared bewilderment and the necessity for collective processing of an unprecedented event, as they tried to reconcile what they had just witnessed.
  • 'Who then is this': Gr. Tis ara houtos estin? The central theological question of the narrative. The Greek ara emphasizes the perplexity and the logical conclusion they are trying to draw. It is not "what" but "who" – implying identity and divine nature. This is a progression from their initial call of "Master, Master, we are perishing!" to an existential crisis regarding Jesus's very being. They have never encountered anyone with such inherent authority.
  • that he commands: Gr. epitassei (from epitaSSO). This verb means "to put in order, to command, to give an order, to lay a charge upon." It conveys absolute authority and irresistible power, not simply a plea or an influence. It suggests an inherent right to tell the natural world what to do, similar to God commanding creation (Gen 1:3; Ps 33:9).
  • even winds and water: Specific natural elements that were chaotic and deadly. The "even" emphasizes the sheer extent of His power, extending to forces beyond human control. These were instruments of chaos that only God was understood to master.
  • and they obey him?: The immediate and perfect obedience of the natural world confirms His unparalleled authority. It signifies the elements respond directly to His voice as if He is their ultimate sovereign. This concept is fundamental to understanding Jesus's divine nature, echoing the obedient creation found in the Old Testament when God speaks.

Luke 8 25 Bonus section

The disciples' question "Who then is this?" signifies a moment of theo-phanic understanding. It suggests that while they recognized Him as a great teacher and miracle-worker, they had not fully grasped His divine personhood until He demonstrated unique, divine authority over creation itself. This question anticipates later confessions of Christ's true identity, such as Peter's "You are the Christ of God" (Lk 9:20), but demonstrates that the realization was often spurred by His mighty deeds. The phrase "even winds and water" implicitly contrasts Jesus's power with anything they had known. For ancient peoples, untamed nature often represented forces beyond human mastery, or even pagan deities. Jesus's command demonstrates His supremacy over all such notions, aligning Him unequivocally with the Creator God of Israel who alone controls the tempest. The disciples' fear transitions from horizontal (fear of dying in the storm) to vertical (awe and trembling before divine authority). This shift is crucial for their developing discipleship, revealing their need to grow from intellectual acknowledgment to a faith that trusts implicitly in His inherent deity.

Luke 8 25 Commentary

Luke 8:25 serves as a pivotal moment in the disciples' journey, highlighting the chasm between their human fear and Jesus's divine authority. Jesus's initial rebuke of their faith is paramount; it underscores that true faith should lead to peace even in the face of apparent destruction, knowing God is in control. Their response—a shift from terror of the storm to awe and dread of Jesus's power—reveals the magnitude of what they witnessed. Their question, "Who then is this?", is the natural progression of wonder meeting the divine. It's not just intellectual curiosity but a theological epiphany forcing them to reconcile His humanity with His evident divine control over creation. This miracle, therefore, is less about a mere display of power and more about a revelation of Jesus's identity as the Son of God, sovereign over all things, prompting a necessary re-evaluation of their relationship with Him and their understanding of the Kingdom He proclaimed.

• Practical Usage Example: When facing overwhelming "storms" in life (financial crisis, health issues, relational breakdown), this passage challenges us, "Where is your faith?" It reminds us that Jesus, who calms the natural storm, is also sovereign over our personal "storms." Our response should move beyond fear to marvelling at His power, prompting us to inquire more deeply into His character and trustworthiness rather than solely focusing on the problem.