Mark 4:39

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܘܩܳܡ ܘܰܟ݂ܐܳܐ ܒ݁ܪܽܘܚܳܐ ܘܶܐܡܰܪ ܠܝܰܡܳܐ ܫܠܺܝ ܙܓ݂ܺܝܪ ܐܰܢ݈ܬ݁ ܘܫܶܠܝܰܬ݂ ܪܽܘܚܳܐ ܘܰܗܘܳܐ ܢܰܘܚܳܐ ܪܰܒ݁ܳܐ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he arose: Exodus 14:16, Exodus 14:22, Exodus 14:28, Exodus 14:29, Job 38:11, Psalms 29:10, Psalms 93:3, Psalms 93:4, Psalms 104:7-9, Psalms 107:29, Psalms 148:8, Proverbs 8:29, Jeremiah 5:22

rebuked: Mark 9:25, Nahum 1:4, Luke 4:39

the wind: Psalms 89:9, Lamentations 3:31

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:27 - must be awaked Isaiah 17:13 - rebuke Isaiah 50:2 - at my Habakkuk 3:8 - the Lord Matthew 8:3 - I will Matthew 8:9 - Go Matthew 8:25 - and awoke Matthew 8:26 - and rebuked Mark 1:41 - I Mark 6:51 - and the Luke 8:24 - and rebuked

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he arose and rebuked the wind,.... He arose from off his pillow, and stood up; and in a majestic and authoritative way reproved the wind, as if it was a servant that had exceeded his commission; at which he shows some resentment:

and said unto the sea, peace, be still; as if that which was very tumultuous and boisterous, and threatened with shipwreck and the loss of lives, had raged too much and too long:

and the wind ceased, and there was a great calm; which was very unusual and extraordinary; for after the wind has ceased, and the storm is over, the waters of the sea being agitated thereby, keep raging, and in a violent motion, for a considerable time; whereas here, as soon as ever the word was spoken, immediately, at once, the wind ceased, and the sea was calmed: a clear proof this, that he must be the most high God, who gathers the winds in his fists, and stills the noise of the seas and their waves.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 8:18-27.

Mark 4:36

Even as he was in the ship - They took him without making any preparation for the voyage; without providing any food or raiment. He was sitting in a ship, or boat, instructing the people. In the same boat, probably ill fitted to encounter a storm on the lake, they sailed. This would render their danger more imminent and the miracle more striking.

There were with him other little ships - Belonging probably to the people, who, seeing him sail, resolved to follow him.

Mark 4:39

Peace, be still - There is something exceedingly authoritative and majestic in this command of our Lord. Standing amid the howling tempest, on the heaving sea, and in the darkness of night, by his own power he stills the waves and bids the storm subside. None but the God of the storms and the billows could awe by a word the troubled elements, and send a universal peace and stillness among the winds and waves. He must, therefore, be divine. The following remarks by Dr. Thomson, long a resident in Syria, and familiar with the scenes which occur there, will farther illustrate this passage, and the parallel account in Matthew 8:18-27, and also the passage in Matthew 14:23-32. The extract which follows is taken from “The land and the Book,” vol. ii. p. 32, 33: “To understand the causes of these sudden and violent tempests, we must remember that the lake lies low - 600 feet lower than the ocean; that the vast and naked plateaus of the Jaulan rise to a great height, spreading backward to the wilds of the Hauran and upward to snowy Hermon; that the water-courses have cut out profound ravines and wild gorges, converging to the head of this lake, and that these act like gigantic “funnels” to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.

On the occasion referred to we subsequently pitched our tents at the shore, and remained for three days and nights exposed to this tremendous wind. We had to double-pin all the tent-ropes, and frequently were obliged to hang with our whole weight upon them to keep the quivering tabernacle from being carried up bodily into the air. No wonder the disciples toiled and rowed hard all that night; and how natural their amazement and terror at the sight of Jesus walking on the waves! The faith of Peter in desiring and “daring” to set foot on such a sea is most striking and impressive; more so, indeed, than its failure after he made the attempt. The whole lake, as we had it, was lashed into fury; the waves repeatedly rolled up to our tent door, tumbling over the ropes with such violence as to carry away the tent-pins. And moreover, those winds are not only violent, but they come done suddenly, and often when the sky is perfectly clear. I once went in to swim near the hot baths, and, before I was aware, a wind came rushing over the cliffs with such force that it was with great difficulty I could regain the shore. Some such sudden wind it was, I suppose, that filled the ship with waves so that it was now full, while Jesus was asleep on a pillow in the hinder part of the ship; nor is it strange that the disciples aroused him with the cry of Master! Master! carest thou not that we perish.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. Peace, be still. — Be silent! Be still! There is uncommon majesty and authority in these words. Who but God could act thus? Perhaps this salvation of his disciples in the boat might be designed to show forth that protection and deliverance which Christ will give to his followers, however violently they may be persecuted by earth or hell. At least, this is a legitimate use which may be made of this transaction.