14:24a
but: There is some contrast between Jesus alone on the mountain praying and the disciples together in the boat being tossed by the waves. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this contrast with the conjunction but. Other versions use another word to begin this verse. For example:
and (Good News Translation)
Some English versions do not have a conjunction here. In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here either.
already: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as already indicates that two events were taking place at the same time. At the same time that Jesus was praying, the boat had traveled a long way from land.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Meanwhile (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
by now (New Jerusalem Bible)
far from land: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as far from land is literally “many stadia.” (The Revised Standard Version says “many furlongs.”) This distance was at least several hundred meters. So, if the boat sank in the storm, it would be very difficult for the disciples to swim to shore.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
far out in the lake (Good News Translation)
-or-
far away from land (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
hundreds of meters from land
14:24b
buffeted by the waves: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as buffeted in this context means “tossed about.” The waves were crashing against the boat and making it sway and pitch/bounce violently.
This verb is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
was being tossed around by the waves (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
was being thrown around by the waves (God’s Word)
• Use an active verb. For example:
the waves were tossing/rocking the boat
-or-
the waves were swaying the boat
because: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because indicates that the following clause is the reason that the waves were tossing the boat. The waves were tossing the boat for/because the wind was blowing against them.
In some languages, it will be more natural to put the reason first. For example:
the wind was blowing against them, that is why the waves were tossing the boat
-or-
It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. (Contemporary English Version)
the wind was against it: This clause means that the wind was “blowing” against them or the wind was “blowing” in their face. The disciples were trying to row into the wind.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the wind was blowing against it (Good News Translation)
-or-
they were facing a strong wind
In Greek, this clause is literally “the wind was contrary.” There is no pronoun it. The Berean Standard Bible had added the pronoun it to make the sense more clear. This pronoun refers to the boat carrying the disciples.
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