Matthew 14 27

Matthew 14:27 kjv

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:27 nkjv

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 niv

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 esv

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

Matthew 14:27 nlt

But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here! "

Matthew 14 verses

Matthew 14 27 Meaning

This verse captures Jesus's immediate and authoritative response to His disciples' terror as they mistakenly believe He is a ghost while walking on water. Jesus, demonstrating His calming power and divine identity, assures them to take courage and not be afraid, revealing His presence and mastery over fear and circumstances. It is a moment of revelation, asserting His identity ("it is I") as the ultimate source of peace and security amidst life's storms.

Matthew 14 27 Context

Matthew 14:27 occurs within a significant series of events following John the Baptist's execution and Jesus's miraculous feeding of over five thousand people. After feeding the multitude, Jesus dismisses the crowds and compels His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat, while He withdraws alone to the mountain to pray. This solitary prayer highlights Jesus's divine dependence and intimacy with the Father. While the disciples are out at sea, a violent storm arises, pushing them far from shore and causing great struggle against the strong headwind through the night. It is in the pre-dawn hours, the "fourth watch of the night" (around 3-6 AM), that Jesus comes to them walking on the water. This context sets the scene for the disciples' extreme terror, mistaking Him for a ghost due to the supernatural sight and their desperate situation. Matthew 14:27 then captures Jesus's immediate response to their panic, offering both a divine declaration of His identity and a comforting command to dispel their fear. Historically, storms on the Sea of Galilee were common and often deadly for small fishing boats, adding to the disciples' profound distress.

Matthew 14 27 Word analysis

• But (δὲ - de): Connects this action directly to the disciples' previous reaction (terrified screaming). It introduces a swift and crucial shift from their fear to Jesus's intervention.
• immediately (εὐθὺς - euthys): Emphasizes the swiftness and urgency of Jesus's response. He did not delay in addressing their panic, demonstrating His compassionate and present intervention. This adverb is often used in Mark's Gospel to highlight immediate action, underscoring divine promptness.
• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The proper name of the Son of God, identifying the speaker as the Lord and Christ. His mere name carries authority.
• spoke (ἐλάλησεν - elalēsen): Implies a profound, meaningful utterance, more than just "said." It indicates communication that carries weight and intent, designed to impart understanding and calm.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Direct address to the distressed disciples, specifically comforting those in immediate need.
• saying, (λέγων - legōn): Introduces Jesus's direct quoted speech.
• "Take heart; (θαρσεῖτε - tharseite): This is a command to "be of good cheer," "be courageous," or "be confident." It is not merely an expression of sympathy but an imperative to change one's internal disposition from terror to reassurance. This Greek verb appears in other contexts where Jesus urges faith and courage in difficult situations (e.g., to the paralytic in Mt 9:2; to the woman with the flow of blood in Mt 9:22; or in Jn 16:33).
• it is I. (ἐγώ εἰμι - egō eimi): This is profoundly significant. While it literally translates to "I am I" or "It is I," in the Greek Septuagint and New Testament, particularly in Jesus's speech, it echoes the divine self-revelation of God as "I AM" from Exodus 3:14 (Hebrew: Ani Hu or Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh). In the context of the New Testament, especially John's Gospel, "Ego Eimi" is a declaration of Jesus's divine nature and identity. Here, it is not merely identification ("It's me, your teacher") but a declaration of divine authority and presence ("I am He who rules all, fear not"). Its power is evident in Jn 18:5-6, where those who came to arrest Jesus fell backward upon hearing Him say, "I am." It asserts His sovereignty over the elements and over their fear.
• Do not be afraid." (μὴ φοβεῖσθε - mē phobeisthe): This is a common biblical reassurance given in moments of divine encounter or crisis. It is a divine injunction to overcome terror. It’s an emphatic negation ("stop being afraid" or "do not become afraid"), linked directly to Jesus’s powerful presence and His egō eimi declaration. His very presence, as the divine Son, nullifies the ground for fear.

Words-group Analysis:

• "But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,": This phrase emphasizes the swift and purposeful communication from Jesus. He actively reaches out and breaks through their state of panic. The immediacy highlights His divine attentiveness and compassion.
• "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.": This tri-fold declaration is the core of the verse. It is a powerful antidote to their terror. "Take heart" addresses their inner turmoil and state of mind, urging a change in perspective. "It is I" reveals His divine identity and sovereign authority as the basis for this change. "Do not be afraid" is the direct command that results from His identity and presence, negating the possibility or necessity of fear in His presence. The order of these phrases is significant: a call to courage, then the divine grounding for that courage, followed by the specific command to dismiss fear.

Matthew 14 27 Bonus section

The immediate confusion of the disciples in perceiving Jesus as a "ghost" (phantasma) highlights their limited understanding at this stage of His true nature. They were accustomed to Him as a man, yet He demonstrated divine power. This misunderstanding served as a pedagogical moment for Jesus to reveal more deeply His identity, moving them from superstition to recognition of divine Lordship. This specific miracle, Jesus walking on water, is seen by many scholars as a deliberate manifestation of God's exclusive power and majesty, typically ascribed to Yahweh in the Old Testament (e.g., Job 9:8 "who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea"). By performing this act, Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as the one with divine power and authority over creation, an authority that ancient beliefs attributed to the gods, yet truly belongs to the God of Israel. It’s also important that this event happens after the miracle of feeding the multitudes, further escalating the demonstration of His power. The "immediate" response (euthys) emphasizes not just speed but decisiveness and divine purpose, underscoring Jesus's mastery of every situation.

Matthew 14 27 Commentary

Matthew 14:27 offers a profound theological and practical insight into the nature of Christ and the discipleship journey. The disciples, overwhelmed by a storm and the supernatural appearance of Jesus walking on water, are consumed by raw terror, mistaking their Lord for a spectral figure. Jesus's immediate response cuts through their panic with two powerful phrases: "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

"Take heart" (Greek: tharseite) is more than a gentle suggestion; it's a firm command to shift from despair to courage. This command is then anchored in the profound declaration "it is I" (egō eimi). This phrase, in its original Greek and within the wider biblical narrative, carries immense weight, echoing God's self-revelation ("I AM") to Moses in the burning bush. When Jesus speaks egō eimi, He is not simply identifying Himself as their familiar teacher; He is declaring His divine nature, His sovereignty, and His transcendent presence. It is a statement of divine authority that subdues the chaos of both the external storm and the internal fear. His being "I AM" is the very foundation for their hope and the dispelling of fear.

The concluding command, "Do not be afraid" (mē phobeisthe), is a common divine refrain throughout Scripture, often given when humanity encounters the divine. Here, it functions as a direct consequence of Jesus's revealed identity. The One who stands before them is not a mere man, nor a frightening specter, but the "I AM" who has power over all things—including wind, waves, and the human heart. His presence removes any legitimate reason for fear. This encounter teaches the disciples, and us, that true peace and courage in the face of life's "storms" come from recognizing and trusting in the true identity and authoritative presence of Jesus Christ. He does not just offer comfort; He is the comfort, because He is God present with His people.

For practical usage, this verse encourages believers to:

• Recognize Jesus's presence even when He seems obscured by circumstances (the "fourth watch" in the storm).
• Remember Jesus's divine identity ("it is I") as the ultimate truth that triumphs over illusions of fear.
• Respond to life's frightening situations not with panic, but with trust in Christ's authority to calm storms—both literal and metaphorical.