What Does Matthew 8:26 Mean in the King James?

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8:26 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Greek names their trust as small, not absent: fear is present, but it does not get the final word.

THE MEANING

Fear can rise while trust is still present, though small: the verse names “little faith,” not no faith. Jesus addresses the winds and sea, and the disturbance gives way to a great calm. Your alarm is real, but it is not the only force present.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

If fear is present, trust must be absent.

THE ROOT

ὀλιγόπιστοι

oligopistoi

GROWS FROM

πείθω

peithō

To persuade, win over, or bring to trust.

The Greek address means “you of little faith”; its faith element belongs to pistis, from peithō, “to persuade, to win over.” This word family holds trust as being persuaded and relying on what holds, so the verse can name trust as small without calling it nonexistent.

ALSO GROWS

pisteuō: To trust or believe.

πιστεύω

This verb shows the trust at the heart of “little faith” as reliance, not merely agreement with an idea.

pistos: Trustworthy, reliable.

πιστός

This branch brings trust into view as something placed in what is reliable.

THE PATTERN

The raging sea becomes still when confronted by a voice with authority over it.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Psalm 107:29 · KJVThe storm’s raised waters give way to calm.

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

Psalm 89:9 · KJVThe sea’s rising does not exceed the authority that stills it.

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.

Mark 4:39 · KJVJesus speaks to wind and sea, and their disturbance ceases.

THE THREAD

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:30 · KJV

The same Greek address, oligopistoi, appears when you worry about provision. It links fear in a storm with fear about daily needs: different pressures reveal the same small, still-present trust.

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