What Does Matthew 14:30 Mean in the King James?
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
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 cry for deliverance rises while Peter is still sinking, before he is out of the water.
THE MEANING
When the wind fills your attention, fear and sinking arrive together; the verse holds both in view. From inside the danger, the cry is direct: “Lord, deliver me.” The plea comes before the water has stopped.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that fear disqualifies a cry for help: Peter is afraid, and he still cries to the Lord.
THE ROOT
σῶσόν
sōson
GROWS FROM
σωζ-
sōz-
Bring safely through; rescue or preserve.
“save” in this verse is sōson. The Greek word-family joins the cry to be rescued with deliverance and the deliverer. Here, the plea is not spoken from safety; it asks to be brought through while the danger is still present.
ALSO GROWS
sōtēria: Rescue or deliverance.
σωτηρία
It names the deliverance Peter asks for with the same word-family as his cry.
sōtēr: One who rescues or delivers.
σωτήρ
The family links the appeal “save me” with the one addressed as Lord, the deliverer.
diasōzō: Bring through safely; preserve.
διασῴζω
This related verb makes visible the sense of rescue as being carried through peril, not merely addressed after it has passed.
THE PATTERN
A cry for deliverance rises from within the peril, before the peril has passed.
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.THE THREAD
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.The disciples use the same Greek verb, sōzō, for “save” as Peter does here. Matthew repeats the cry in another storm scene, placing the plea for deliverance inside the danger, alongside the words “we perish.”
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us