The Meaning of Luke 8:23 Explained

Luke 8:23

KJV: But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

YLT: and as they are sailing he fell deeply asleep, and there came down a storm of wind to the lake, and they were filling, and were in peril.

Darby: And as they sailed, he fell asleep; and a sudden squall of wind came down on the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in danger;

ASV: But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling with water , and were in jeopardy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  as they  sailed  he fell asleep:  and  there came down  a storm  of wind  on  the lake;  and  they were filled  [with water], and  were in jeopardy. 

What does Luke 8:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 8:16-25 - Hearing Doing Believing
Inconsistency, unkindly words and acts, disobedience to our known duty will prevent our light from shining. If Christ has illumined your wick, see that you trust Him to find for you your stand, from which you may emit the clearest rays. You are lighted to shine!
The closest relationship to Jesus is not that of nature but of grace. To listen in your heart to God's voice, to hear it in His Word and in Providence and then to do as it decrees, will bring you into the closest relationship with your Lord.
Be prepared for storms if you link your lives with Christ. But they cannot hurt you. Men and demons will rage against you; but there is a limit to their power. Jesus rules the waves. "The sea is His and He made it." If only you can include yourself and Christ in that pronoun we of Luke 8:24 you can never perish although there be as many demons against you as tiles on the house roofs. So Luther found it. See Isaiah 54:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 8

1  Women minister unto Jesus of their own means
4  Jesus, after he had preached from place to place,
9  explains the parable of the sower,
16  and the candle;
19  declares who are his mother, and brothers;
22  rebukes the winds;
26  casts the legion of demons out of the man into the herd of pigs;
37  is rejected by the Gadarenes;
43  heals the woman of her bleeding;
49  and raises Jairus's daughter from death

Greek Commentary for Luke 8:23

He fell asleep [απυπνωσεν]
First aorist (ingressive) active indicative of απυπνοω — aphupnoō to put to sleep, to fall off to sleep, a late verb for which the older Greek used κατυπνοω — kathupnoō Originally απυπνοω — aphupnoō meant to waken from sleep, then to fall off to sleep (possibly a medical use). This is the only passage which speaks of the sleep of Jesus. Here only in the N.T. [source]
Came down [κατεβη]
Second aorist active indicative of καταβαινω — katabainō common verb. It was literally true. These wind storms Mark‘s (Mark 4:37) vivid use of the dramatic present γινεται — ginetai (ariseth) is not so precise as Luke‘s “came down.” See note on Matthew 8:24. These sudden squalls were dangerous on this small lake.They were filling (συνεπληρουντο — suneplērounto). Imperfect passive. It was the boat that was being filled (Mark 4:37) and it is here applied to the navigators as sailors sometimes spoke. An old verb, but in the N.T. used only by Luke (Luke 8:23; Luke 9:51; Acts 2:1).Were in jeopardy Imperfect active, vivid description. Old verb, but in the N.T. only here, Acts 19:27; 1 Corinthians 15:30. [source]
They were filling [συνεπληρουντο]
Imperfect passive. It was the boat that was being filled (Mark 4:37) and it is here applied to the navigators as sailors sometimes spoke. An old verb, but in the N.T. used only by Luke (Luke 8:23; Luke 9:51; Acts 2:1). [source]
Were in jeopardy [εκινδυνευον]
Imperfect active, vivid description. Old verb, but in the N.T. only here, Acts 19:27; 1 Corinthians 15:30. [source]
He fell asleep [ἀφύπνωσεν]
Very graphic. He fell off ( ἀπό ) into sleep. [source]
Came down [κατέβη]
More vivid than either Matthew or Mark, who have there arose. The word describes the action of the sudden storms which literally come down from the heights surrounding the lake. See on Matthew 8:24. [source]
Storm [λαιλαψ]
See Mark 4:37. Matthew has σεισμὸς , a shaking. See on Matthew 8:24. [source]
They were filling with water [συνεπληροῦντο]
Used by Luke only. Mark, as usual, goes into minuter detail, and describes how the waves beat into the boat. Note the imperfects: they were filling; they were beginning to be in danger, contrasted with the instantaneous descent of the storm expressed by the aorist came down. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 8:23

Matthew 8:24 But he was asleep [αυτος δε εκατευδεν]
Imperfect, was sleeping. Picturesque scene. The Sea of Galilee is 680 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. These sudden squalls come down from the summit of Hermon with terrific force (σεισμος μεγας — seismos megas) like an earthquake. Mark (Mark 4:37) and Luke (Luke 8:23) term it a whirlwind (λαιλαπς — lailaps) in furious gusts. [source]
Mark 4:37 There ariseth a great storm of wind [γινεται λαιλαπς μεγαλη ανεμου]
Mark‘s vivid historical present again. Matthew 8:24 has εγενετο — egeneto (arose) and Luke 8:23 κατεβη — katebē (came down). Luke has also λαιλαπς — lailaps but Matthew σεισμος — seismos (tempest), a violent upheaval like an earthquake. Λαιλαπς — Lailaps is an old word for these cyclonic gusts or storms. Luke‘s “came down” shows that the storm fell suddenly from Mount Hermon down into the Jordan Valley and smote the Sea of Galilee violently at its depth of 682 feet below the Mediterranean Sea. The hot air at this depth draws the storm down with sudden power. These sudden storms continue to this day on the Sea of Galilee. The word occurs in the lxx of the whirlwind out of which God answered Job (Job 38:1) and in Jonah 1:4. [source]
Luke 8:23 Came down [κατεβη]
Second aorist active indicative of καταβαινω — katabainō common verb. It was literally true. These wind storms Mark‘s (Mark 4:37) vivid use of the dramatic present γινεται — ginetai (ariseth) is not so precise as Luke‘s “came down.” See note on Matthew 8:24. These sudden squalls were dangerous on this small lake.They were filling (συνεπληρουντο — suneplērounto). Imperfect passive. It was the boat that was being filled (Mark 4:37) and it is here applied to the navigators as sailors sometimes spoke. An old verb, but in the N.T. used only by Luke (Luke 8:23; Luke 9:51; Acts 2:1).Were in jeopardy Imperfect active, vivid description. Old verb, but in the N.T. only here, Acts 19:27; 1 Corinthians 15:30. [source]
Luke 8:23 They were filling [συνεπληρουντο]
Imperfect passive. It was the boat that was being filled (Mark 4:37) and it is here applied to the navigators as sailors sometimes spoke. An old verb, but in the N.T. used only by Luke (Luke 8:23; Luke 9:51; Acts 2:1). [source]
Luke 9:51 When the days were well-nigh come [εν τωι συμπληρουσται τας ημερας]
Luke‘s common idiom εν — en with the articular infinitive, “in the being fulfilled as to the days.” This common compound occurs in the N.T. only here and Luke 8:23; Acts 2:1. The language here makes it plain that Jesus was fully conscious of the time of his death as near as already stated (Luke 9:22, Luke 9:27, Luke 9:31). [source]
Acts 27:14 There arose against it [ἔβαλε κατ ' αὐτῆς]
Against what? Some say, the island of Crete; in which case they would have been driven against the island, whereas we are told that they were driven away from it. Others, the ship. It is objected that the pronoun αὐτῆς it, is feminine, while the feminine noun for ship ( ναῦς ) is not commonly used by Luke, but rather the neuter, πλοῖον . I do not think this objection entitled to much weight. Luke is the only New Testament writer who uses ναῦς (see Acts 27:41), though he uses it but once; and, as Hackett remarks, “it would be quite accidental which of the terms would shape the pronoun at this moment, as they were both so familiar.” A third explanation refers the pronoun to the island of Crete, and renders, “there beat down from it. ” This is grammatical, and according to a well-known usage of the preposition. The verb βάλλω is also used intransitively in the sense of tofall; thus Homer Iliad,” xi., 722), of a riverfalling into the sea. Compare Mark 4:37: “the the waves beat ( ἐπέβαλλεν ) into the ship;” and Luke 15:12the portion of goods thatfalleth ( ἐπιβάλλον ) to me.” The rendering of the Rev. is, therefore, well supported, and, on the whole, preferable' there beat down from it. It is also according to the analogy of the expression in Luke 8:23, there came down a storm. See note there, and see on Matthew 8:24. [source]
Acts 19:40 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day‘s riot [και γαρ κινδυνευομεν εγκαλεισται στασεως περι της σημερον]
The text is uncertain. The text of Westcott and Hort means “to be accused of insurrection concerning today‘s assembly.” The peril was real. Κινδυνευομεν — Kinduneuomen from κινδυνος — kindunos danger, peril. Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Luke 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:30. [source]
Acts 2:1 Was now come [εν τωι συνπληρουσται]
Luke‘s favourite idiom of εν — en with the articular present infinitive passive and the accusative of general reference, “in the being fulfilled completely (perfective use of συν — suṅ) as to the day of Pentecost.” Common verb, but only in Luke in N.T. In literal sense of filling a boat in Luke 8:23, about days in Luke 9:51 as here. Whether the disciples expected the coming of the Holy Spirit on this day we do not know. Blass holds that the present tense shows that the day had not yet come. It is a Hebrew idiom (Exodus 7:25) and Luke may mean that the day of Pentecost was not yet over, was still going on, though Hackett takes it for the interval (fifty days) between Passover and Pentecost. Apparently this day of Pentecost fell on the Jewish Sabbath (our Saturday). It was the feast of first fruits. [source]
1 Corinthians 15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? [τι και ημεις κινδυνευομεν πασαν ωραν]
We also as well as those who receive baptism which symbolizes death. Old verb from κινδυνος — kindunos (peril, danger), in N.T. only here and Luke 8:23. Paul‘s Epistles and Acts (especially chapter Acts 19) throw light on Paul‘s argument. He was never out of danger from Damascus to the last visit to Rome. There are perils in Ephesus of which we do not know (2 Corinthians 1:8.) whatever may be true as to an Ephesian imprisonment. G. S. Duncan (St. Paul‘s Ephesian Ministry, 1930) even argues for several imprisonments in Ephesus. The accusative of time (πασαν ωραν — pasan hōran) naturally means all through every hour (extension). [source]
2 Peter 2:17 Mists [ομιχλαι]
Old word for fog, here alone in N.T.Driven by a storm (υπο λαιλαπος ελαυνομεναι — hupo lailapos elaunomenai). Λαιλαπς — Lailaps is a squall (Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23, only other N.T. examples). See James 3:4 for another example of ελαυνω — elaunō for driving power of wind and waves.For whom Dative case of personal interest.The blackness (ο ζοπος — ho zophos). See 2 Peter 2:4 for this word.Hath been reserved Perfect passive participle of τηρεω — tēreō for which see 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Peter 2:9. [source]
2 Peter 2:17 Driven by a storm [υπο λαιλαπος ελαυνομεναι]
Λαιλαπς — Lailaps is a squall (Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23, only other N.T. examples). See James 3:4 for another example of ελαυνω — elaunō for driving power of wind and waves. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 8:23 mean?

Sailing then of them He fell asleep And came down a storm of wind on the lake they were being swamped were in danger
πλεόντων δὲ αὐτῶν ἀφύπνωσεν καὶ κατέβη λαῖλαψ ἀνέμου εἰς τὴν λίμνην συνεπληροῦντο ἐκινδύνευον

πλεόντων  Sailing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πλέω  
Sense: to sail, navigate, travel by ship.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀφύπνωσεν  He  fell  asleep 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀφυπνόω  
Sense: to awaken from sleep.
κατέβη  came  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταβαίνω  
Sense: to go down, come down, descend.
λαῖλαψ  a  storm 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: λαῖλαψ  
Sense: a whirlwind, a tempestuous wind.
ἀνέμου  of  wind 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνεμος  
Sense: wind, a violent agitation and stream of air.
λίμνην  lake 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: λίμνη  
Sense: a lake.
συνεπληροῦντο  they  were  being  swamped 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: συμπληρόω  
Sense: to fill completely.
ἐκινδύνευον  were  in  danger 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: κινδυνεύω  
Sense: to be in jeopardy, to be in danger, to put in peril.