Mark 4 41

Mark 4:41 kjv

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

Mark 4:41 nkjv

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Mark 4:41 niv

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Mark 4:41 esv

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Mark 4:41 nlt

The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"

Mark 4 verses

Mark 4 41 Meaning

Mark 4:41 captures the profound reaction of Jesus' disciples following His miraculous calming of a violent storm. After witnessing Him command the wind and sea to be still, their initial fear of the storm is replaced by an overwhelming, awe-filled dread regarding His true identity. They collectively ask, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" This question reveals their recognition of divine power and authority in Jesus, acknowledging Him as far more than just a man or a prophet. It is a moment of both profound wonder and unsettling confusion, hinting at the unique, divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Mark 4 41 Context

Mark chapter 4 presents Jesus primarily as a teacher, conveying the mysteries of the kingdom of God through parables. However, the concluding pericope (Mk 4:35-41) pivots sharply to demonstrate Jesus' authority over nature, thereby revealing a different facet of His identity – not just a profound teacher, but one possessing divine power. Jesus initiates the crossing of the Sea of Galilee, a journey often fraught with peril due to sudden, fierce squalls. A "great windstorm" arises, overwhelming the boat and its experienced fisherman occupants. While the disciples panic, Jesus remains asleep, showcasing His complete human weariness and divine peace amidst chaos. His calm rebuke to the storm, "Peace! Be still!" (Mk 4:39), brings immediate and absolute tranquility, an act universally attributed to God in Jewish thought. The disciples' subsequent terrified question, "Who then is this?", shifts the focus from the natural threat to the supernatural presence, revealing their incomplete understanding of His unique, unprecedented authority. This miracle serves as a critical Christological revelation within Mark's narrative, directly challenging the natural limitations of the world and any contemporary belief that might attribute such power to forces other than the Almighty Creator.

Mark 4 41 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, yet here it connects the disciples' bewildered reaction directly to the astounding event that just occurred, linking cause and effect in their experience.

• they were filled with great fear (ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν - ephobēthēsan phobon megan): This is a direct translation meaning "they feared a great fear." It is a strong Hebraism emphasizing the intensity and depth of their emotional response. This is not mere apprehension or the common fear of danger from the storm (which they experienced earlier). Instead, it denotes a profound sense of awe, reverence, and even terror (φός - phobos) experienced in the presence of the divine or supernatural, akin to a theophany. It signifies holy dread, acknowledging an overwhelming display of divine power and presence.

• and said (καὶ ἔλεγον - kai elegon): The imperfect tense "ἔλεγον" suggests an ongoing or repeated act of saying, indicating that this question was not a single utterance but perhaps a shared, bewildered exchange among them as they processed the event.

• to one another (πρὸς ἀλλήλους - pros allēlous): This highlights their shared bewilderment and the communal nature of their struggle to comprehend Jesus' identity. It's a conversation borne out of mutual astonishment and lack of explanation.

• Who then is this (Τίς ἄρα οὗτός ἐστιν; - Tis ara houtos estin?): The crucial question of the verse. "Τίς" (tis) means "who," but combined with "ἄρα" (ara - "then," "consequently," "therefore"), it emphasizes the logical conclusion drawn from what they witnessed: given this power, who then must He be? It denotes a profound inquiry into His very essence and identity. This question goes beyond mere human classification.

• that even the wind (ὅτι καὶ ὁ ἄνεμος - hoti kai ho anemos): The word "καὶ" (kai) translated as "even" highlights the sheer improbability and astonishing nature of the wind's obedience. Wind, in ancient understanding, was a powerful, unpredictable, and uncontrollable force of nature, often symbolic of chaotic forces or the very breath of God (like in creation or prophetic visions). The implication is: if He can control even this elemental power...

• and the sea (καὶ ἡ θάλασσα - kai hē thalassa): The sea, especially the notoriously treacherous Sea of Galilee, represented chaos, untamable power, and often the abyss (תְהוֹם - tehom in the Old Testament), the dwelling place of mighty creatures, or even an enemy. For Him to command the sea demonstrated power beyond human realm, control over forces often depicted as inherently rebellious or fearsome.

• obey him? (ὑπακούει αὐτῷ; - hypakouei autō?): "ὑπακούω" (hypakouō) literally means "to listen under," implying submissive hearkening and compliance to an authority. It signifies active obedience. The question marvels that non-rational, chaotic elements act as though they are hearing and willingly submitting to Jesus' command, implying absolute sovereignty.

• Word-Group Analysis:

  • "filled with great fear": This phrase contrasts sharply with their earlier fear of drowning. Their initial fear was human; this "great fear" is a spiritual and existential awe, indicating they recognized something divine in Jesus. This phobos megas is the biblical fear of the Lord.
  • "Who then is this": This interrogative statement represents the disciples' crisis of understanding. They had never encountered a teacher or prophet with this level of dominion over creation. It pushes them toward a new revelation of Jesus' unique status and divine identity, a theme central to Mark's Gospel.
  • "that even the wind and the sea obey him?": This emphasizes the extent of Jesus' authority. Unlike human authority that commands people or kingdoms, Jesus commands the most powerful, untamable forces of nature. The "even" is key; it implies a hierarchy of submission where even the elemental powers are subject to His will, revealing Him as Creator and Sustainer.

Mark 4 41 Bonus section

• The Sea of Galilee was prone to sudden, violent storms due to winds sweeping down from the surrounding hills. This made the disciples' experience of panic, as experienced fishermen, very realistic, highlighting the intensity of the danger and the profundity of Jesus' calming power.
• In ancient Near Eastern mythology, control over the waters, particularly unruly seas, was often a characteristic of divine kings or primordial deities who brought order out of chaos. By demonstrating His absolute power over the sea, Jesus symbolically asserts His unique divine authority, establishing order where there was chaos.
• The disciples' fear here, although "great fear," differs from sinful fear. It's the beginning of wisdom, acknowledging divine presence and power (Prov 9:10). Their confusion is a sign of their spiritual growth beginning, rather than simply spiritual dullness.
• The absence of Jesus' direct answer to their question immediately reinforces the idea that such a profound truth of His divine nature needs to be revealed progressively and experienced by the disciples and, implicitly, by the reader, rather than simply stated upfront. Mark's Gospel often lets Jesus' actions speak loudest about His identity.

Mark 4 41 Commentary

Mark 4:41 serves as the climactic response to Jesus' first major nature miracle, unequivocally declaring His unparalleled authority. The disciples' profound "great fear" is not the fear of perishing in the storm but the holy dread of confronting a power previously known only to belong to God. Their stunned question, "Who then is this...?", marks a pivotal moment in their spiritual journey. It reveals their human inability to categorize Jesus within their existing understanding of prophets or teachers. He wields divine dominion over the very elements of creation—wind and sea—forces that in biblical tradition are exclusively under God's control. This spontaneous question is an implicit, awe-filled confession of Jesus' divine identity, laying groundwork for later, more explicit confessions. It challenges the reader to grapple with the profound implications of who Jesus truly is—not merely human, but the Lord of creation, whose very word stills the chaotic forces of the world. It underlines a central truth: Jesus possesses ultimate power and authority, demanding absolute submission and faith.