What Does Luke 8:25 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The storm obeys Jesus while the disciples ask where their trust is, faith is exposed by the very danger that seems to contradict it.
THE MEANING
The wind and water are a real threat, and the disciples are afraid. Yet the forces they fear hear and obey Jesus, while his question exposes where their trust has gone. Fear and wonder occupy the same moment: the danger remains real, but it does not have the final word.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a real threat means trust has nowhere to rest: the storm is real, and it still answers Jesus.
THE ROOT
πίστις
pistis
GROWS FROM
πείθω
peithō
to persuade, convince; the word family carries the sense of being persuaded and trusting
“faith” in this verse is pistis. The Greek word πίστις (pistis, trust) belongs to a word family associated with πείθω (peithō, persuade or convince). Jesus’ question asks where that trust is anchored while the storm remains a real threat.
ALSO GROWS
pisteuō: to trust, believe, or entrust oneself
πιστεύω
The related verb makes trust an active response, not merely an abstract idea.
pepoitha: to be confident, to have trust
πέποιθα
This related form shows how persuasion can settle into confidence, the quality the question brings into focus amid the storm.
ὑπακούουσιν
hypakouousin
GROWS FROM
ἀκούω (akouō), within ὑπακούω (hypakouō)
ἀκούω (akouō) means to hear or listen; the compound adds ὑπό (hypo, under) and develops the sense of heeding or obeying
The verb behind ‘obey’ is ὑπακούω (hypakouō, hear under or obey), built from ὑπό (hypo, under) and ἀκούω (akouō, hear). Luke’s wording pictures wind and water hearing and responding to Jesus, giving the disciples’ question about trust a sharp edge: the elements answer the voice they fear.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: hearing, or what is heard
ἀκοή
The root keeps hearing inside the idea of obedience: the command is received and answered.
hypakoē: obedience, attentive response
ὑπακοή
This related noun preserves the same compound, showing obedience as hearing that responds.
THE PATTERN
Rising waters meet a voice with authority to set their limit and still them.
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.THE THREAD
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?Mark uses the same Greek noun πίστις (pistis, trust) that Luke renders ‘faith.’ Read together, their questions bring the location of trust into focus as Jesus’ authority over the storm becomes visible.
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