Paragraph 8:26–27

8:26a

“You of little faith,” Jesus replied: The Berean Standard Bible places the words Jesus replied in the middle of what Jesus said. This is good English style. In some languages, it may be more natural to place these words at the beginning of 8:26a. For example:

And he said to them, “Why are you so afraid, O you of little faith?” (English Standard Version)

You of little faith: This expression is the translation of one Greek word. Jesus said this to the disciples. He spoke directly to them like calling them by name or by a title.

In many languages speaking like this is natural. But in some languages, it may be necessary to have a complete sentence. For example:

You have such little faith!
-or-
How little faith you have! (Revised English Bible)
-or-
You trust/believe ⌊in God⌋ so little!

This expression also occurs in 6:30d. You should translate the same way in both places.

why are you so afraid?: This is a rhetorical question. Jesus rebuked his disciples for being afraid of the storm. You should translate in a way that indicates a rebuke.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why are you so frightened? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement or command. For example:

You should not be afraid!
-or-
Stop being afraid!

8:26b

rebuked the winds and the sea: The word rebuked indicates that Jesus commanded the wind and the waves to stop. In some languages, a person can only rebuke another person. He cannot rebuke things like wind and water. So another verb like “commanded” or “ordered” must be used.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

ordered the winds and the waves to stop (Good News Translation)
-or-
ordered the wind and the waves to calm down (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
said to the wind and waves, “Be calm!”

winds: It may be more natural in your language to translate this plural word as the singular “wind.”

the sea: Here the phrase the sea refers to the waves. So some English versions use the word “waves” instead of sea here. It is also possible to simply say “water” here.

8:26c

it was perfectly calm: The word calm means that the wind stopped blowing and the water stopped making waves.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

a great calm came
-or-
suddenly all was calm (New Living Translation (2004))

-or-

the wind and lake became completely calm

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