Greek word · G1055

γαλήνη

galēnē

calm

Stillness of the sea; a dead calm with no wind or waves. It can be used figuratively for calm of mind (common in philosophical writers such as Epicurus and later the Stoics), but its basic picture is a flat sea.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

γαλήνη, -ης, ἡ,

a calm: Matthew 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 8:26

Range of meaning

Stillness of the sea; a dead calm with no wind or waves. It can be used figuratively for calm of mind (common in philosophical writers such as Epicurus and later the Stoics), but its basic picture is a flat sea.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, YLT and ESV have 'a great calm'. BSB, NIV and NASB have 'perfectly/completely calm'. NLT has 'suddenly there was a great calm'. 'Perfectly calm' gives the degree well but loses Matthew's deliberate word 'great', which answers the 'great' storm of 8:24.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT only in this story (Matt 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24). Psalm 107:29 describes the same reversal for terrified sailors who cry to the LORD: 'He made the storm be still, and the waves were hushed' (the Septuagint uses different vocabulary there). In Jonah 1 the sea also 'ceases from its raging' once the cause is dealt with.

From the study of Mark 4:39

Range of meaning

Calm, stillness, especially a windless, glassy sea. In literature it is sometimes extended to calm of mind, but its basic home is weather at sea.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, ESV: "a great calm". BSB and NIV: "perfectly/completely calm". The "perfectly" versions give the right sense but drop "great", which links back to the "great windstorm" (v.37) and forward to the "great fear" (v.41).

Used elsewhere in the period

Homer, Odyssey 5.391–392: after Odysseus's storm "the wind ceased, and there was a calm (galēnē), windless." That is strikingly close in wording to Mark. In the Synoptic parallels: Matt 8:26 ("a great calm"), Luke 8:24 ("a calm").

From the study of Luke 8:24

Range of meaning

Stillness of the sea; a flat, windless calm. Philosophers also used it as a metaphor for an untroubled mind (the Epicureans spoke of the soul's “calm,” galēnismos, Diogenes Laertius 10.83).

Against the English

“A calm” (KJV, ESV, YLT) and “all was calm” (BSB) are accurate. The word is a sailor's word for flat water, not a religious word for “peace.”

Used elsewhere in the period

A standard term in Greek literature for a smooth sea after wind. In the Gospels it appears only in this story (Mark 4:39 and Matthew 8:26 say “a great calm”; Luke has simply “a calm”).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 8:26 γαλήνη a calm

    “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

    Here: The word for a sea lying flat and still, with no wind and no swell. In the New Testament it appears only in this story (also Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24).

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 4:39 γαλήνη a calm

    Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

    Here: The technical word for a dead-calm sea, flat and glassy, the opposite of a storm. It describes water, not a feeling.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 8:24 γαλήνη.¶ a calm.

    The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm.

    Here: The ordinary Greek word for a flat, still sea with no wind and no swell. The lake goes glassy.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.